“Last year, I mentioned once that I liked this limited edition watch,” she said casually. “I didn’t even remember saying it. But a week later, he flew overseas just to get it for me. It wasn’t even available locally.”
My fingers slowly curled.
“He showed up at my place in the middle of the night,” she added, smiling faintly. “But I was still mad at him back then, so I didn’t even let him in. I told him to leave and threw the box back at him.”
Her tone was light. Like it was nothing. Like his effort was something she could just throw away.
My mind went blank for a second.
Because I remembered. That same time. He told me he had a business trip abroad. Three days. When he came back, he handed me a watch. Just like that. No explanation. No emotion.
“Take it,” he said. “Saw it. Thought it suited you.”
I’d been so happy. I didn’t even wear it. I kept it safe, tucked away like something precious I didn’t deserve to ruin.
And now? It was just something she didn’t want. I didn’t realize my nails were digging into my palm until it started to hurt.
Amber didn’t notice. Or maybe she did and just didn’t care.
“And there was this one time,” she continued, peeling another strip, her voice softening again. “I got into a fight with my ex. It was really bad. I blocked everyone, and disappeared for a few days.”
She glanced at me, like she was about to share something intimate.
“Hudson went crazy trying to find me. When he did, he dragged me out of that place himself. He was so angry, I thought he was going to kill someone.” She laughed lightly. “He kept cursing, saying, ‘You think you can just disappear on me like that? I’ll tear this whole city apart if I have to.’”
My heart twisted. I remembered that night too.
New Year's Eve.
He came home late. Different. Rough. Like something inside him had snapped. He didn’t say much. Just claimed me in, over and over again, like he couldn’t stop.
I thought…
I thought maybe he finally wanted me. That maybe, he was starting to feel something.
I was so stupid.
The next morning, when I woke up, the bed beside me was already cold. I told myself he had urgent business. That was normal, right?
But now? Now I know. He wasn’t busy. He was running to her. Always her.
Amber finished peeling the apple and finally handed it to me. “Here.”
I didn’t take it.
She didn’t mind. She just set it down beside me and looked at me with that same soft, harmless expression.