Chloe patiently waited for Adrianna's arrival, who said she would arrive at her house soon. Although what she was doing was also to calm her frustration over Leonel's recent behavior. Not just earlier in the afternoon or in the morning. That was nothing compared to Leonel's actions in the evening, just before Chloe left. She intentionally left early, but unfortunately, Leonel was already in the parking area.
His hair looked neatly groomed. His face appeared much fresher than earlier in the afternoon. Was Leonel doing this on purpose to make Chloe fall for him again? Stupidly, Chloe stared at Leonel. Her ex-husband looked even more handsome than she remembered. Which, it turned out she still had a lingering feeling for Leonel.
Chloe closed her eyes. This experience was making her even more dizzy. She became confused about her feelings. Even the pouring rain that drenched her body earlier couldn't alleviate the whirlwind of confusion she was experiencing. The alternating voices of Peni, Leonel's behavior, her conflicted feelings, and Darren's face danced like a random film reel stirring Chloe's mind.
Her feet, submerged in the swimming pool, started to feel cold. But Chloe wasn't ready to end her seat by the poolside. The night grew late, and the chilly wind made her shiver, but she still didn't want to go inside. She was waiting for Adrianna in the dining room or simply passing the time by watching a drama series.
"What's wrong with me?" she murmured unconsciously, her gaze drifting far away.
"Chloe, come on," Leonel coaxed again. "I truly want to repay your kindness earlier this afternoon. Making my lunch amidst your busy schedule was priceless. I know. I don't measure it in terms of money, Chloe."
"Then what?" Chloe retorted sharply. Her hands crossed while her eyes glared fiercely at Leonel. They were no longer talking in the cafe but in the parking lot! Good Lord! Like two people bickering about something trivial! But what could she do? Leonel was truly testing Chloe's patience.
"Come with me, and you'll find out the answer."
"Ugh!"
"Chloe," Leonel wouldn't give up. "Just once. Afterward, you're free to decide whether I'm allowed to be by your side, get closer to you, and have a chance to make you believe that I have changed. You determine all of that after you come with me."
Chloe fell silent.
"I'm serious. I'm not joking, Chloe." Leonel reached out his hand, hoping that Chloe would accept it warmly. He knew it would be challenging to obtain. His hand remained open for a while, greeted only by a gentle breeze, and Leonel started to doubt if Chloe would genuinely follow his request.
But his wait yielded results. His hand received a response he never expected. He thought that Chloe would walk ahead even if Chloe didn't hold his hand, allowing him to fulfill his intentions. However, this time, the hand that was willingly given to Leonel would no longer be taken for granted.
She remembered the two in front of the altar, exchanging vows where Leonel's heart reluctantly uttered them. When Chloe's eyes sparkled with happiness as she married him. And the hand Chloe willingly gave without considering the future of their married life. Leonel destroyed all of it. Good Lord! Thinking about it made Leonel feel suffocated.
So this time, he would use the presence of the hand he was holding now. That promise echoed in Leonel's heart.
"Thank you, Chloe," Leonel whispered.
"Hurry up. I still have things to do."
"What's kept you busy since you opened the cafe?" Leonel asked, opening the car door for Chloe, making sure she got in carefully. He also watched outside the car to ensure Chloe's head didn't hit anything.
"It's none of your business," Chloe said, her gaze fixed ahead. She was already comfortably seated in Leonel's luxurious sedan. Not long after, her ex-husband was by her side. He smiled slightly, asking Chloe to fasten her seatbelt. But before Leonel started the car, Chloe didn't expect a beautiful bouquet behind the vehicle.
Not big, nor too small. But the arrangement was stunning. A card was tucked in there.
"For you," Leonel said.
Chloe sighed in annoyance, but she still accepted the delicate pink flowers. Leonel had never brought her a single stem before. All she had received from Leonel were thorns in her life. For so long, she had longed for Leonel's warmth, and now, when they were already separated, and there were so many things Chloe couldn't forgive, he made all her dreams come true.
"Let's go now," Leonel said as he started the engine. "I hope you enjoy your evening drive."
"Beautiful flowers, but unfortunately, I don't want to enjoy the beauty you're giving me, Leonel."
Leonel smiled sourly. The idea of giving the bouquet was purely Chris's. Leonel had doubts, but he still went along with it. And the result? It was Chris's doing! "I know. But at least you accepted my gift."
"It's better for you to find another woman than to disrupt my life again."
"Goodness, Chloe," Leonel turned incredulously. "You just extinguished the spark of enthusiasm in my life."
"It's up to you what you say, Leonel."
Leonel chuckled. "That was Chris's idea. I didn't like it because it seemed like it wasn't just me."
Chloe had already suspected that. "So if I throw away this bouquet, it doesn't matter, right?"
Leonel smiled faintly. "As long as you read the card. I wrote that myself, Chloe."
Chloe furrowed her brow, but Leonel's words also piqued her curiosity. She slowly removed the card tucked in the right corner of the bouquet still in her grasp. She put the beautiful flowers back in their original position. In the backseat.
Dear Chloe Delilah.
I wanted to start with, "Hi, my wife." Unfortunately, that's not possible.
The closeness that I am building could crumble just like that. Once again, due to my selfishness.
I won't dwell on my mistakes or the apologies that have always been on my lips. I know both of those have ravaged my soul to its lowest point. I can't do anything about it. I watched you leave my house a few months ago.
So, I often think about how lucky I am to have you by my side—sharpening my foolishness to its peak, where I never cared about you. The punishment? I don't know what to say; it might seem like I'm making excuses, but I'm tormented.
Very tormented.
Although it's late, what I'm saying is not a lie. I love you. My heart is thoroughly engraved with your name. It has been a short time, but it's different from before. I'm willing to endure the punishment God has given me. I don't care about any discipline.
As long as I can love you once again. Together.
"ARGH!!!!"
"Chloe?" Adrianna's voice immediately greeted Chloe's ears. "What's wrong with you?"
Adrianna's face looked pale and worried. She arrived at her friend's house, where Peni and Tia warmly welcomed her, then showed the place where Chloe secluded herself. Adrianna became suspicious about what was going on. But instead of getting an answer, she heard Chloe scream.
Her worry grew.
"Have you arrived?" Chloe asked, surprised. She quickly got out of the pool.
"Are you okay, Chloe?" Adrianna repeated.
Chloe shook her head immediately. "No, I'm not okay."
Adrianna didn't believe her. "But why did you scream?"
Chloe couldn't hide her distress any longer. She immediately rushed into Adrianna's embrace and cried there.
***
"Have you been waiting for me for long?" Chloe approached Adrianna, who gave her a faint smile. Chloe felt somewhat guilty towards Adrianna for her behavior earlier. After crying her heart out, Chloe retreated to her room. She composed herself and normalized her feelings. Why did she have to cry, anyway?
How foolish of Chloe!
"No, I was treated to a lot of delicious food. Where did I keep you waiting?" Lili asked Chloe with a playful tone. Right in front of her, indeed, there was a delicious dinner served. Chloe didn't mind because she had prepared all of this for Adrianna.
"Where's Sam? I haven't been introduced to him yet, Adrianna."
Adrianna looked around. "He said he was going to the restroom. Maybe he got lost."
"Nonsense," Chloe chuckled amusedly.
"You look thin, Chloe," Adrianna said as she took a bite of a dim sum.
"Is that true?" Chloe immediately touched her face. "I don't think so. Aren't you the one who's getting thinner?"
Adrianna scoffed. "You've been too busy lately. Not paying attention to your food intake?" Adrianna squinted her eyes suspiciously. "Or too stressed to even remember to eat?"
Chloe sighed softly. "No." She took a portion of the still-steaming dim sum. A sign that it was still warm and delicious to eat. "I'm not busy, but I have a lot of work and, well... you're right. There are many things on my mind. Even the past suddenly reappeared without being asked," Chloe explained to Adrianna, who furrowed her brow in confusion, not understanding what her friend was talking about.
"Oh yeah, what do you mean? I don't understand," Lili asked Chloe again.
"Wait, I want to enjoy this dim sum first. Don't let it get too cold. It wouldn't taste as good," Chloe said, looking hungry. Did crying and overthinking make her quickly hungry? Ah, probably not. It was most likely because Tia's homemade dim sum was genuinely delicious. One or two pieces would be enough to make Chloe feel better.
"Whose past are you referring to? Leonel?" Adrianna asked confidently, which made Chloe nod quickly.
"Of course, Leonel is back, but in a different version. You know, now he pays more attention to me than I expected when we were still married. Not only that, he also gives me excessive attention, causing strange turmoil in my heart again. Meanwhile, I already have Darren, who fills my days and understands me more than Leonel," Chloe explained to Adrianna, who looked astonished.
"Leonel? Back?" Adrianna repeated in disbelief. "Goodness, does that person have no shame?"
"I don't think so," Chloe shrugged. "Well... he's back. The worst part is, he's in Beverly Hills now."
"What?"
Chloe nodded, confirming Adrianna's surprise. It also made Adrianna shake her head in disbelief. They let the time between them be filled with spoons clinking and small praises about the dim sum they were enjoying.
"Don't you realize you still have feelings for Leonel deep inside yourself?" Adrianna said to Chloe again, causing the woman to fall silent. "Have you ever asked yourself about this?"
"I don't know."
Adrianna sighed softly. "I know. I despise Leonel to the core. You know that, right? But why did he return just as you were moving on with Darren? Don't you find it suspicious?"
"But, Ly, for some reason, what I wanted from Leonel in the past is exactly what he's showing now."
"Have you asked your heart, Chloe?" Adrianna asked firmly. This time, her friend looked at Chloe intently.
"I have. I've asked it repeatedly. What does my heart want? I'm also aware of it, but I can't possibly say it. I need to know Leonel's true intentions, Adrianna. Is he teasing me again, or is he bored enough to approach me? Besides, Leonel is just a past that hurt me," Chloe said again.
"Is that true?" Adrianna asked with a probing tone.
"Do you not believe me?"
Adrianna shook her head firmly. "My eyes don't say that."
Adrianna's words made Chloe smile bitterly, realizing she couldn't hide anything from her best friend anymore. "I still love him," Chloe whispered. "As much as I hate him. Even though I've tried to hate him, getting him out of my heart is difficult, Adrianna."
Sudden tears accompanied Chloe's words. Again.
"I've even tried hard to divert my attention to Darren. But my mind is still filled with thoughts of Leonel-Leonel-Leonel. I can't keep hiding this, Ly. It's as if Leonel still haunts my mind, and you know that while I've been with Darren, my thoughts are still focused on Leonel?" Chloe explained to Adrianna with a profoundly distressed expression. "I'm tormented, Adrianna. Very tormented."
Adrianna shook her head softly because her friend couldn't move on from her past. She patted Chloe's shoulder sympathetically.
"I don't blame you if your feelings are anchored to anyone. Whether it's Darren or another man. I don't want to mention your ex-husband's name again," Adrianna looked frustrated. "Remember the past when Leonel left a bad mark in your heart and mind, Chloe! It's better to turn a new page with someone new than to repeat the pain with an older adult who might inflict the same hurt. Wake up, Chloe!" Adrianna exclaimed, shaking her friend's body.
"But I do want to get rid of these feelings, Adrianna. I don't care how strong my feelings for Leonel are, I've tried to hate him with all my might, but I still can't do it," Chloe concluded as Adrianna shook her head softly. Her eyes looked genuinely sad.
"You must realize that Darren loves you more than that man does! Leonel only comes when you're at the top. It could be a test of your love for Darren," Adrianna continued.
Chloe fell silent.
"Remember what Darren has given you. He's been there for you, encouraging you to ignore what others say and not let your mental state weaken! He never left you, no matter what happened. Right? While Leonel... Goodness, Leonel is in the past!" Adrianna said firmly to Chloe, who was left speechless.
Adrianna's words did hold some truth. Peni's questions were not without merit either. Chloe realized she made a mistake by allowing her feelings for her ex-husband to resurface. She vividly remembered the deep wounds Leonel had inflicted upon her. Chloe couldn't forget the pain he had caused her, even up until now.
But...
"What should I do then?" Chloe asked Adrianna again, covering her face.
"If you still consider me your friend, Chloe, listen carefully to my words," Adrianna said firmly. Chloe should never allow herself to feel anything for Leonel! There should be no lingering feelings for that man! Your position right now is different from the Chloe Delilah of the past. Remember, Leonel only wants you now that you're at this point in your life. I know Leonel won't be lacking in material matters. But why didn't he do this earlier when Ester was sent to prison? Did he pursue you? Prove himself? Wait for a whole year?" Adrianna said, displeased. "If he claims to love you, Chloe, that love is too late! And remember the pain he once caused you! The wound that will never heal, Chloe."