Chapter 5

~ In the Midst of Silence~

After descending from the rooftop, I didn't know if my chest felt lighter or heavier. Especially with Eli returning and stirring up my life again. Honestly, I wanted to listen to him, but my mind was telling me I was done. I was tired of being a fool, tired of believing him.

The surroundings were quiet, but inside, I was a mess. I couldn't think straight about what I should do. Until Lucas and I got into the elevator together, both of us silent. I felt ashamed towards Lucas because of what Eli did. It felt like I was the one who should be embarrassed now, like I couldn't speak.

In the elevator, Lucas and I were just silent. He had his hands in his pockets, just quiet, but I could feel his gaze scrutinizing me. I wanted to talk to him and apologize for what Eli did, but...

When we reached the ground floor, he still hadn't said a word. I spoke first.

"I'm sorry, Lucas."

"Never mind." His face was formal.

I stopped in front of my car, saying, "I never imagined he would come back again, and you got dragged into it."

"I'm not trying to fix you," he said, looking at me. "I just don't want you to be alone in that war."

I laughed, but chose not to show it to him. Yes, I was happy to have met someone like Lucas.

"You know what I hate the most?" I asked. "Being pitied."

"Then don't mistake concern for pity," he replied.

He stepped closer to me. "Do you still love him?"

I looked at him straight in the eye, swallowing hard. I didn't know what to answer.

"Lucas..." I said softly.

"I'm asking because..." he took a deep breath, "if I'm the one by your side, I don't want to be a rebound."

What was this man talking about?

"You're not by my side," I replied. "You're just an investor."

"Then tell me to stay that way," he said seriously.

"Lucas—"

"Just say it, Celine. Tell me not to interfere. Tell me I have no right to protect you."

I couldn't answer because, honestly... I didn't know what to answer either. Nothing had passed between Lucas and me except that he was my investor. I also wasn't the type to show him that I liked him. Yes, he was handsome, fit, smart, clean, and rich, but...

"Then until you do, I'll stay."

And he left me standing there speechless. I could only sigh as I watched him leave.

~ Words Left Unspoken ~

It was already night, but I was still in the office, while the entire floor of Valaire Tower was silent. Only my desk lamp was on as I finished the papers that had been piling up since earlier. Annoying! Why wouldn't what happened earlier leave my mind?

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and I frowned. Who could be knocking? Lesley?

It knocked three times, but it was a soft knock that wasn't irritating.

I sighed, thinking it was Lesley, maybe she had left a file behind. But when I opened the door, it wasn't her who appeared, but a familiar man, none other than Eli.

He just stood there, remaining silent like a puppy looking for comfort from its mother. Gone was his former confidence. He was holding an envelope, or maybe it was another apology letter.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my face emotionless.

"Can we talk?" he said, looking pleadingly to be heard.

"You have nothing left to say," I replied. I was tired of listening to him, so what was there for us to talk about?

"But there's something you need to hear," he said.

I silently turned away and went back to my chair, but I didn't close the door.

He slowly entered and sat in the chair across from my desk, but he didn't speak immediately.

I was the first to speak, and I said...

"I thought we were done," I whispered. "I thought... I could do it."

"I didn't come here to bother you," he said. "I came because... I can't find peace anymore. Every day, I think about whether you felt enough to fight."

I laughed, painfully, bitterly.

"Why, Eli? What else is there for us to talk about? You hurt me! You left me in tears!" My voice seemed to rise, echoing throughout the office. Maybe it was good that he was here because I had so many things I wanted to throw at him. "...You don't know how much you hurt me, you don't know how much I suffered, Eli!"

I wanted to cry so I could release all my resentment, but I chose not to.

"If you had only given me a chance to explain, but you didn't want to listen to me," he said, remaining downcast.

"Explanation? Three years, Eli? For three years, I waited for an answer from you! But where were you? Nowhere... you suddenly disappeared..."

He looked down. I felt a little pity for him, but no. I shouldn't pity him. I was Celine, who had no mercy, right?

"Celine..." He seemed to want to say something, and he looked at me. And tears were welling up in his eyes. I didn't know if it was just his drama.

"...I know I hurt you, Celine, I know I caused you countless painful wounds... I'll say it again, I hope you can forgive me," he said, crying. "...If you want to slap me, kick me, curse at me, I'll accept it, I understand you," he said while crying, but I chose not to be affected, maybe it was just his drama again.

But I was only human, with a heart and soul, and I cried too. My tears fell, and I didn't stop them.

"I gave you everything," I whispered. "Even my heart and soul, I didn't hold anything back, Eli. Then you left me... without explanation... On our wedding day." I started sobbing, making it hard to breathe.

He looked up, his eyes also wet.

"I thought back then, I was leaving you for your own good. But now, I understand... I should have told you the truth," he said, crying.

"What is the truth, Eli?!"

"Celine... I suffered from cancer..."

And my world stopped when I heard what he said, and he handed me an envelope.

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