CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Angelie, are you okay?”

Jeffery’s voice cut through the tension as he stepped forward. The sound of the cup shattering on the marble floor had drawn his attention. He rushed to her, concern plastered on his face.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, bending to pick up the broken pieces, avoiding his gaze. “I was clumsy. I’ll go now.”

She didn’t wait for a reply. She turned and hurried away, the hot tears already clouding her vision.

She barely made it to her room before the dam burst. Her hand trembled as she shut the door, leaning against it for support. The tears wouldn’t stop, even though she kept wiping them away, again and again, as if she could scrub away her feelings.

On the other side of the hall, Anita smirked to herself. She had seen the look in Angelie’s eyes, and it was satisfying. She had planned it perfectly. Just as Jeffery turned to scold her, she quickly buried her smug smile.

“Don’t ever do that again,” Jeffery said sharply.

He didn’t wait for her response. He walked away, leaving Anita alone in the hall, her lips curling into a secret, satisfied grin.

***************************

“Are you going to stand there all day?”

Lucas didn’t need to open his eyes to know who it was.

The scent hit him before her voice. Victoria’s Secret. Lizzy’s favorite. She always wore it like a shield and a statement,  feminine, bold, unforgettable.

“You sent for me, Mr. Lu,” she said formally, stepping further into the office.

He stood from his chair, walked toward her, and without hesitation, lifted her and placed her gently on the edge of his desk.

“Don’t play cute with me,” he murmured.

She raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“You got married to her, I have been doing your bids all along.”

“You know that was for a reason”

His voice dropped even lower. “How about I take you for a special treat?”

She could hear the change in his breathing, feel the shift in his body.

“Lucas…” she started, but her voice faltered as he leaned in and kissed her softly.

She planned to resist, to keep her boundaries clear, but her body betrayed her.

He pulled her close, arms sliding around her waist, and she melted into the kiss. The warmth, the hunger, the years of knowing each other, it all came rushing back.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispered, pressing her forehead to his.

The office, the world outside, it all faded. It was just them. And for a few stolen moments, that was enough.

************

Angelie stepped into Julia’s tiny apartment. The familiarity of it made her chest tighten with bittersweet emotion.

Nothing had changed. The medicine packs on the table, the clunky couch, the half-filled tea mug. It all felt like a different lifetime.

“Someone doesn’t look happy,” Lizzy teased, jumping on Angelie and wrapping her in a bear hug.

“Oof …you’re heavy,” Angelie groaned, pretending to stumble.

“Excuse me? I weigh exactly 90kg and I carry it well,” Lizzy joked, swatting her shoulder.

Angelie cracked a smile. “You came early, Mrs. Lu.”

“Say that again and I’ll spank you,” Angelie said, pretending to reach for a shoe.

“Come help in the kitchen. You’re just in time.”

They walked in, laughter filling the tiny space. Julia pulled out two chairs and started slicing vegetables like she’d done it a thousand times.

“How’s your mum?” Angelie asked.

“She’s fine. I bought her meds. That good Samaritan helped a lot. She just needs more greens in her life.”

Angelie’s smile wavered.

“I’m glad you got help when you needed it,” she said. Her voice was low, sad.

Lizzy didn’t let it slide.

“Angelie,” she said softly. “Stop blaming yourself. You did what was best for Tim. Your parents would be proud.”

The tears came fast. Angelie turned her face, but Julai saw them anyway. She stepped forward, hugging her.

“Thank you,” Angelie whispered. “Right now, Tim is all I care about.”

“He’s doing better. And you know I’ll be with him more now that you will be gone for few months, but don’t forget to visit often.”

Angelie nodded. “Of course, I will. I know how much you care.”

“I’ve always had a crush on him, remember?” Lizzy winked.

Angelie laughed through her tears. “You’re impossible.”

They sat for a while in silence, the chopping sounds filling the room.

“Do you think things would’ve been different if you told Jeffery how you felt?” Lizzy asked gently.

Angelie didn’t answer at first.

“He’s been amazing,” she finally said. “But I was scared. What if he only saw me as charity? I couldn’t take that kind of rejection. I’m just a poor orphan.”

She stood abruptly and started pacing the kitchen.

Lizzy watched her quietly, then spoke. “Pacing won’t solve this. You need to tell Jeffery why you married Lucas.”

“To what end? It won’t change the past.”

Lizzy walked over, took her hands, and wiped away her tears.

“You’re hurting. And it shows.”

“It hurts so much,” Angelie sobbed. 

“I know. But you’re in the Lu family now. Financially, you’re safe.”

“Seriously?” Angelie pulled back. “That’s not why I did it.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. But you do need help. You can’t carry everything alone.”

“Marrying Lucas was the best choice?” Angelie’s voice cracked.

“It wasn’t the worst.”

“What about my feelings? What about my heart?”

“You need to stop mourning what’s gone, Angelie. You’re married to Lucas. Not Jeffery. The sooner you accept it, the better.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“I know. But you didn’t have a choice. No banks would help. No relatives. I was barely surviving with Mum.”

“Did someone just call me poor?” Angelie joked through her tears.

“I heard that too,” Julia laughed.

They both burst out laughing, the kitchen echoing with it, then went quiet.

“Thank you,” Angelie whispered. “Without you, I’d lose my mind.”

“I’ll visit as often as I can. Take care of Tim for me, okay?”

“You got it.”

********************

Angelie stepped out of the cab in front of the culinary school in New York, dragging her suitcase behind her. Her heart raced.

This was her dream. A real chance, her answered prayer.

The entrance was lined with tall glass doors, students chatting, laughing, and rushing in and out. She adjusted her blouse, her bag slipping from her shoulder, and took a deep breath.

She looked at the campus map on her phone, trying to find the registry office.

With one hand holding her suitcase and the other scrolling on her phone, she turned a corner

and collided hard with someone.

Her suitcase tipped, and her phone flew.

“Oh! I’m so sorry…”

She looked up.