Chapter 2
Around noon at work, I headed to view an apartment when I stepped into the elevator and unexpectedly encountered Lucian and Ophelia.
Her hair was tousled, and Lucian helped her gather it neatly.
The moment Ophelia spotted me, she placed her hands on her hips, pouting dramatically. “Savannah, you‘ re just in time! Look at Lucian! He keeps tugging at my hair like a little kid. It’s so infuriating!”
Before I could interject, Lucian playfully pinched Ophelia‘ s nose. He teased,
“Little liar, keep spinning your tales, and that nose of yours will stretch like
Pinocchio‘ s.
31
Ophelia’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and finally, Lucian turned to me as if struck by inspiration.
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“Savannah, what a delightful coincidence; let’s have lunch together.”
Over the five years we‘ d’worked in the same building at different companies, Lucian had never once asked me to join him for lunch.
Meanwhile, Ophelia couldn’t resist flaunting every meal they shared on social media.
Remembering this, I smiled and replied,
“You two go ahead. I’ve got things to take care of.”
Lucian’s surprise was evident, his expression darkening just as the elevator lurched and the lights flickered out.
Turning on my phone’s flashlight, I caught sight of him comforting Ophelia, his voice soft and reassuring.
It wasn’t long before the elevator jolted back to life, and as we reached the ground. floor, Lucian offered to give me a ride.
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Chapter 2
However, before I could respond, Ophelia suddenly collapsed.
Without a moment‘ s hesitation, Lucian brushed past me, scooped Ophelia onto his back, and hurried her to the hospital.
Picking up my cracked phone, I signaled for a cab and continued to my apartment viewing.
Later that evening, Lucian personally dropped off a dessert at my desk.
Thirty minutes earlier, I had come across Ophelia’s new post: [Loving someone resembles caring for flowers; one could never finish this, never!]
The post featured a lavish spread of French desserts. I thanked Lucian but left the
dessert box sealed.
He looked perplexed.
“Savannah, why the sudden politeness?” he asked, but I didn’t reply directly.
Instead, I said, “If there’s nothing else, I
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Chapter 2
need to print some documents.”
When I returned with my resignation letter in hand, Lucian had already vanished, leaving behind a sticky note that urged me to come upstairs to see him once I was finished.
I tossed the sticky note and the dessert into the trash before heading to my boss‘ s office to submit my resignation.
My boss attempted to change my mind, but once he recognized my resolve, he accepted my resignation letter.
Following the standard procedure, I would be free to leave after completing this week‘ s tasks.
At ten that evening, while mingling with colleagues at a gathering, Lucian called.
A male coworker accidentally answered, and when I took the call, Lucian’s voice was cold. “Savannah, where are you at this hour?”
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Chapter 2
I simply replied. “Out.”
“Send me your location. I’m coming to get you,” he commanded before abruptly hanging up.
After sending him my location, I waited until the store closed, but he never showed
- up.
Checking Ophelia‘ s social media, I found a post about her feeling ill and attached to an IV, which didn’t surprise me.
I took a cab home alone, took a shower,
and went to bed.
Around three in the morning, Lucian
returned, dusty and exhausted, shaking me
awake.
He said coldly, “Savannah, I’m hungry.
Make me some tacos.”
He had never been fond of tacos, but I knew who he wanted them for.
I attempted to withdraw my hand, but I felt the scar etched into the back of his hand.
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If it hadn’t been for Lucian that day the
school auditorium caught fire, I would probably be dead.
A life spared for a simple bowl of tacos seemed a fair exchange.
As I slipped into my coat, ready to step out, Lucian’s hand caught my arm, a rare
uncertainty clouding his voice.
“Maybe… maybe this can wait till morning?” he ventured, his words trailing off, almost pleading.
I gently cut him off, my voice calm but insistent, “Besides tacos, is there anything else she’s craving?”
For a brief moment, he stood in silence, then released my arm, his gaze softening.
“No, that’s it.”
