Chloe felt that something was off because Leonel was now paying attention to her. It was not like when she was still his wife. Not only that, but Chloe also felt that Leonel's behavior now was warmer than the previously grumpy, cold, and rude Leonel. Leonel's face was what Chloe had been observing for the past five years. Chloe couldn't deceive herself; she could tell what was genuine and what was not.
Even though Chloe couldn't see, she could sense that there had been a change in Leonel. It was not just out of pity or Leonel feeling burdened by Chloe's situation. He felt he had a role to play in what had happened. It was like redemption, but Chloe didn't want to perceive it as a form of forgiveness.
Just like this morning. Chloe lets Leonel do whatever he wants while giving numerous judgments about his intentions.
"If you also want to go to the café, come with me! I'll take you there!" Leonel said to Chloe, but she quickly shook her head.
"No need. Besides, I have my vehicle. And I don't want to inconvenience you," Chloe said to Leonel. "There's one thing you should know, Leonel." Chloe leaned slightly towards Leonel, who was staring at her intently. "I don't know what your purpose is here. Go back to my peaceful life. If you plan to seek my attention, you're wasting your time."
Leonel chuckled at her words. Chloe's gaze was so firm yet adorable at the same time. Leonel shrugged his shoulders. He disregarded Chloe's warning. Even though he knew the car Chloe was driving, he would use every trick in the book to get his ex-wife into the sedan he was going.
"I know you have your vehicle. But I want to make sure you arrive safely at your destination! Moreover, your driver can take you there if you don't want to go with me. Right?" Leonel said to Chloe again; hearing that, Chloe fell silent and murmured.
"Do you already know why you're asking?" Chloe prepared to leave Leonel, who looked ridiculous in her eyes.
"I just want to hear you talk, Sa."
"You have too much free time," Chloe replied, displeased.
"Let me take you today, Sa." Leonel stood up as well. Before the woman could leave him, Leonel rudely held onto Chloe. He touched her arm, covered by a long-sleeved shirt, without permission. It made Chloe stare at him in disbelief at his behavior.
"You!"
"Just for today," Leonel said confidently. He took a step closer to Chloe, who widened her eyes. Leonel was genuinely insane!
"What about your work? Aren't you still a big shot at Mountain? Aren't you busy? Don't you have any meetings?" Chloe herself was astonished as to why she was asking these things to Leonel. She had longed to ask him everything in the past, but she was afraid of bothering her husband. No matter when Leonel came home, Chloe always welcomed him with a genuine smile, regardless of how heavy her eyes were with sleepiness. As long as she could see Leonel, nothing else mattered.
Now? How could someone she knew so well suddenly be so free, willing to do trivial things like drive her to the café? Chloe felt that something had collided with Leonel's mind.
To put an end to all her thoughts, Chloe said, "Besides, I'm already an adult. I can be alone without your company!" Chloe concluded while slightly pulling her hand away. "Let go of me, Leonel. I don't want people to see what you're doing," she said, her tone softening from her usual sharpness. When Darren was around, Chloe felt cold and distant towards Leonel. Although deep down, whenever she saw her ex-husband, there was a strange turmoil in her chest, especially when they were physically close.
"You don't have to think about all the questions you just asked," Leonel chuckled. Did he comply with Chloe's request? Of course not. Instead, he moved closer to his ex-wife. The scent of Chloe's perfume reached his nostrils and filled his senses. "Some of my other team members are currently handling my work in Beverly Hills," Leonel stated firmly. From his tone, Chloe guessed Leonel didn't want to let her go alone to the café. In the moments when Darren was gone for a week, she felt Leonel's presence as a complement and a substitute for her loneliness.
"But I still don't want to inconvenience you! I want to be here and go to the café alone, without bothering anyone else," Chloe said, pushing Leonel's body slightly. "There shouldn't be any disturbances, but there have been since earlier." Chloe's statement made the grin on Leonel's lips slowly fade away. "Thank you very much for your offer, but it's unnecessary!" Chloe reiterated as she quickly approached her car and headed to the café.
However, Leonel quickly held Chloe's hand, causing her to stumble slightly. She turned around and almost collided with Leonel's chest. Chloe's eyes widened in surprise. "Leonel!"
"Yes, Chloe?" Leonel didn't care if Chloe's hand ended up hitting his face. He endured the slap because, once again, Leonel had touched Chloe without manners. And once again, he was affected by the overwhelming scent of Chloe's perfume.
"Even before we finished talking, you already wanted to leave!" Leonel said softly to Chloe, causing her to startle and in disbelief.
"What else do you want to talk about?" Chloe asked Leonel again. Chloe tried to free herself, but Leonel wouldn't let her go so quickly.
"There are many things we can talk about. Don't you miss the past when we first met?" Leonel asked Chloe, who quickly shook her head and gave a bitter smile.
"Miss the past we had when we first met?" Chloe asked, then Leonel dryly chuckled, seeing Chloe's perplexed smile. "You're truly insane!"
"Why are you laughing?" Leonel asked Chloe again.
"What should I say? Our first meeting? You're ridiculous!" Chloe felt like shaking Leonel's head with full force. "Even back then, when I wanted your attention like this, you ignored me. But strangely, now that we no longer have any ties, you come closer and seek my attention? Is that so? Asking about a past that I think doesn't need to be remembered anymore?"
Leonel fell silent.
"I'm like a beggar for your attention, Leonel. I know you gave me everything. I always had everything. But I needed to improve in receiving your attention. Have you forgotten me?"
"I never forgot, Chloe," Leonel said softly, full of regret. "That's why I want to make amends."
"By what means?!" Chloe couldn't hold back anymore. "By intruding back into my life without permission? Giving me what I used to long for? Smiling at me as if you know my current life? Even your attitude towards me now is completely different from before, Leonel! And that's very confusing," Chloe said to Leonel, who then fell silent. Chloe's eyes were now full of wounds, reflecting her inner turmoil and anger.
"Stop it, Leonel. Please," Chloe pleaded. "I can't handle it if you keep pressuring me like this."
"I know I made mistakes, and my behavior shouldn't be like this. But every human has the awareness and desire to change. I want to fix it!" Leonel firmly stated to Chloe. "You ask how? I don't have an answer. I don't know if my actions and decisions are right. Or if they make the situation worse. I don't know."
A tear rolled down Chloe's cheek. It startled Leonel, but he quickly wiped it away with his thumb, with a slow movement that brought them closer and made their gaze fixated on each other. Chloe tried to control herself, gazing into Leonel's eyes, which seemed sincere. There was no hiding behind each word Leonel had uttered.
"I truly love you, and I will fight for the love I have, Chloe."
Boom! Chloe's feelings became even more unsettled upon hearing Leonel say those words. She hurriedly left the restaurant to reach her car. Luckily, Leonel didn't hold her back anymore. She couldn't bear the strange vibrations and wanted to arrive at the café quickly.
Moreover, Chloe couldn't linger in that place considering the ticking clock, especially if she had to face her ex-husband. Chloe had seen everything she desired from Leonel. But that was in the past. Furthermore, after not seeing Leonel for a long time, her ex-husband seemed different for some reason. The handsomeness that Chloe often acknowledged in Leonel multiplied several times. However, Chloe didn't want to admit that.
It could make Leonel even more arrogant.
Leonel sighed softly, then gave a bitter smile as he watched his ex-wife walk away. But then, he replaced that smile with a wide grin. "I have plenty of time to fight for you, Sa." Of course, Leonel didn't intend to remain idle. He promptly followed Chloe's steps. His initial purpose for coming here was to follow Chloe.
To trail her without pause.
When the woman reached her car, Chloe took a long breath, ignoring the bewildered look in Brad's eyes.
"Shall we go now, Miss?"
Chloe blinked slowly, trying to regain composure. "Yes, let's go now. It's getting late."
"Alright, Miss."
The car engine was started, emitting a soft hum. It slowly moved back onto Beverly Hills Road, their designated destination. Chloe leaned back against the car seat, massaging her temples gently. She felt relieved to have escaped from Leonel's pursuit. She wondered where the idea came from for him to be around her now. Even without her asking, Leonel appeared in her life just like that. She was acting opposite to what she experienced in the past.
Budi drove the car at an average speed. They didn't talk much. Chloe allowed herself to drift off somewhere while enjoying the relatively smooth road of Beverly Hills. Unlike Budi, who maintained his focus, Chloe's mind wandered elsewhere. She tried to push away the shadows of Leonel from her thoughts to focus on her work for the day. Her schedule was packed, including testing out new menu items that she would showcase to Adrianna. She hoped Adrianna's visit today would be worthwhile. But every time Chloe fell silent, she remembered Leonel's presence lingering in her mind. And she already had Darren, her current boyfriend. She should be thinking about Darren, right?
Up until now, there had been no news from Darren at all. Chloe should start worrying and wondering what happened to him.
"Shit! Why do I have to think about that foolish guy?" Chloe muttered as she tapped her forehead to dispel the thoughts of Leonel from her mind.
A few minutes passed, and they finally arrived in the cafe parking lot, where Chloe carried out her daily activities. Meanwhile, Leonel also followed Chloe inside. He was slightly puzzled. Did Chloe not realize she had been followed since leaving the fast-food restaurant? Or was her mind not focused? Leonel should have paid more attention to it. The most important thing was that Chloe arrived safely at the cafe. And he didn't want to leave Chloe, even for a second. He also wanted to know everything Chloe did, especially when Darren was not in Beverly Hills.
"Good morning, Miss," one of the employees in Chloe's cafe greeted her. Chloe responded with the friendliest smile she could muster. She quickly made her way to her office, wanting to avoid lingering or wasting time because there was a lot she needed to accomplish to complete her work.
"Phew!" Chloe sighed as she settled into her work chair, leaning against it. The reality didn't match her expectations. She had hoped for a peaceful, free day, but Leonel's presence made everything different. Then she checked a flat object inside her bag, hoping for a notification from Darren. Unfortunately, Chloe's hopes were dashed. There was nothing. Not a single message.
"Why hasn't Darren contacted me at all?" Chloe wondered.
Meanwhile, she noticed several stacks of papers on her desk and some folders that she still needed to revise or double-check. Peni had given her a lot of work. However, when it came to warehouse matters and financial issues, Chloe had entrusted them to Peni. Until now, she had always been able to rely on that woman.
Chloe sighed repeatedly, hoping that the image of Leonel in her mind would disappear soon and not disturb her focus. After checking these reports, she needed to execute the new menu ideas swirling in her head. Not only that, but Chloe also tried to neutralize her feelings, which seemed different when she saw her ex-husband. Being busy could divert her attention from what occupied her mind. But that was just a plan.
She repeatedly tried to focus, but Leonel's smile and voice interrupted her. Her increasingly unsettled feelings made Chloe want to confide in someone about what was in her heart. The name Adrianna popped into her mind, a friend who always listened to all her rants and thoughts.
Chloe immediately reached for her phone to find Adrianna's name, to make sure her friend was doing better, and to remember everything Adrianna had shared recently. The annoying guy explained to Chloe why he treated Adrianna that way, especially if it meant drawing her friend's attention. When she recalled their conversations and how Adrianna responded, Chloe couldn't help but smile.
"I hope Adrianna isn't busy," she whispered. Chloe even felt uncomfortable keeping these feelings to herself. Without waiting long, Chloe finally obtained Adrianna's contact number and sent her a message. She slid her finger on the screen twice but didn't receive any response from Adrianna.
Ah, why was she so foolish? At this hour, Adrianna was probably still teaching. Finally, she decided to send a brief message. Hopefully, Adrianna s
[Adrianna, are you coming to Beverly Hills?]
Send.
Then Chloe placed her phone next to the illuminated computer screen. She chose not to wait because she knew Adrianna was probably busy. Leaning back, closing her eyes, and resting her head on her hand that's what Chloe did now. She was lucky that Adrianna would be here soon. Talking face-to-face would be much better.
The sound of a knock on the door made Chloe groan tiredly. "Yes?" But she couldn't ignore it.
"Miss, someone is looking for you."
Chloe furrowed her brow. "Who?"
"I don't know, Miss. They're quite annoying. Always complaining," said the employee named Drea with a pouty face. "They want to meet the Manager."
Chloe sighed wearily. "Okay." There was nothing she could do but meet them, right? She didn't want that person to make other customers uncomfortable. She needed to resolve it quickly. Chloe hurriedly descended the stairs to where customers enjoyed their orders and the ambiance. Soft music filled the air, creating a comfortable atmosphere that should make customers feel at ease. But Chloe couldn't deny that there was always someone causing trouble. Until ...
"Leonel?"