Hannah had already fled hundreds of miles away to marry someone else.
Yet here was Nathan, treating it like a simple argument while comforting his childhood sweetheart.
Nathan chuckled. “What else could it be? You don’t think she’d actually break up with me?”
Linda wanted to call him an idiot but held back. Instead, she said: “I’ll be outside Nina’s building in thirty minutes. Come down.”
She hung up.
Nathan stared at his dark screen, confused.
Must be urgent company business.
Thirty minutes later, after reassuring Nina, he went downstairs.
+15 BONUS
A red car sped up and stopped before him,
Linda got out and held out her hand. “Give me the pendant Hannah gave you.”
Nathan didn’t move. “Why?”
“Hannah says it’s meant for her future spouse, from her family.”
Linda repeated Hannah’s words: “Now that you’ve broken up, it’s not appropriate for you to keep it.”
Nathan’s heart sank. “Break up?”
“I never agreed. How can she just decide that?”
“Nathan, as your friend of many years, I’ll spare you the harsh words.”
Linda looked at him. “But I’ll say this – have some dignity. You’re the one who messed up, so let her go cleanly.”
“Messed up?”
“What else would you call it?”
Linda snapped, anger bursting forth: “You think calling it ‘childhood friendship‘ makes what you did with Nina pure and innocent? Everyone at the company can see what’s going on. Business trips together, expense reports showing one room – we’re all adults here, don’t tell me you were playing hide and seek!”
“One room?”
Nathan froze.
Linda didn’t want to hear excuses. Hannah had moved past all this.
As her friend, there was nothing more to say.
She just wanted the pendant. “Enough. Just give me the pendant.”
““Tell Hannah to get it herself.”
Nathan refused to return the pendant.
He had a growing feeling that this wasn’t like Nina said – just Hannah throwing a tantrum about breaking up.
Hannah truly wanted to leave him.
If he returned this pendant, he might… really lose her forever.
Linda pressed her lips together. “She can’t come.”
“Why not?”
Nathan didn’t believe it. “Let me use your phone to call her.”
He thought Hannah just needed an apology from him.
He decided to give her one.
They’d reconcile quickly, like after every other fight.
Linda: “Can’t you call her yourself?”
‘She blocked me.”
“Fine, I’ll go home and talk to her myself.”
Nathan couldn’t wait anymore.
An unfamiliar uncertainty gripped him, his heart in his throat.
Linda stopped him. “Hannah’s not at home.”
Then where? A hotel?”
“Nathan…”
Linda sighed. “How many days has it been since you went home?”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t assume Hannah was still there.
Waiting for him, like all those other times.
Fear surged through his chest. Nathan shouted, “Mind your own business!”
“I’m not trying to interfere.”
Linda had never seen him like this. “I just want you to know that whatever Hannah does to you, you brought it on worse. ↑
She turned to get in her car.
Nathan grabbed her arm. “Where is she? You still haven’t told me where Hannah is.”
“Not in that home you never wanted to return to.”
Linda shook him off and got in her car.
After she drove away, Nathan snapped back to reality. He rushed upstairs.
Grabbed his car keys at the entrance.
Nina caught his arm. “Nathan, where are you going…”
“Let go!”
Nathan yanked his hand free and ran out without looking back, almost frantically
Too impatient for the elevator.
He took the stairs, stumbling and falling
ne once.
nothing m
But except getting home.
He drove recklessly.
Racing home like a madman.
He had to confirm immediately that Hannah was there.
That she was just upset.
Waiting for him to make things right.
That was all.
Just that.
Author Trophies