Chapter 8

“Keira, Mr. Johnston is looking for you.”

Demi Young, who had followed me, held out her phone. I had truly underestimated Jace’s persistence. With no other choice, I took the call. “Mr. Johnston, what can I do for you?” I asked formally.

“Rea,” Jace’s voice was hoarse and full of guilt. “Why’d you leave so early today? I didn’t see you when I got back.”

Realizing this wasn’t a work call, I stepped away. “I went out for breakfast.”

“I’m sorry, I… I couldn’t leave last night, so I didn’t come back.”

A cold chill ran through me, and a mocking smile played on my lips. “Why couldn’t you leave?”

Jace went silent. I held my breath, giving him an out. “Was it because you couldn’t find a caregiver?”

“Yes…”

I didn’t say anything else, but Jace continued, “Rea, when will you be done there? I can pick you up, and we can grab lunch together.”

We hadn’t had a meal together in a long time. According to Brad, Jace had been spending his time with Tanya. So, this sudden lunch invitation—was it to make up for last night or just a sudden pang of guilt? I didn’t know, nor did I want to waste brain cells guessing. I replied blandly, “I’m not sure when I’ll be done, maybe around noon… but it might drag on. Besides, don’t you have something to do every noon these days?”

“Rea,” Jace said heavily. He must have caught the sarcasm in my voice. After a two-second pause, he added, “Don’t overthink it.”

He pulled up his pants and left when we were halfway there. What does he expect me to think?

It was work time, and I didn’t want to discuss personal matters with him. “I’m busy now. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

He didn’t speak, so I hung up.

Today’s fieldwork included discussions with our partners and an on-site inspection. After finishing the discussions at ten in the morning, Demi and I headed to the site. This was an amusement park construction project, and I was responsible for overseeing everything. The project was already eighty percent complete, and I needed to check if the progress matched the design blueprints. The partners were following the blueprints precisely, so the chances of issues were small, but I still had to go through the procedures.

After making the rounds, my feet were swollen and my toes ached. I found a place to sit and rest. Demi noticed something was wrong. “Keira, are you okay?”

“My feet hurt,” I admitted. If we weren’t outdoors, I would have taken off my shoes to give my feet a good rest.

Demi looked at me. “Do you feel sick besides your feet hurting?”

I was slightly taken aback. Demi pointed to her own face and added, “You don’t look good.”

Of course, I didn’t look good. After barely sleeping last night, it would be strange if I did. No amount of makeup could hide a woman’s bad mood.

“Maybe it’s because my period is coming,” I found an excuse, then took out my phone, pretending to check messages. Demi was a talkative girl, and I feared if she kept asking, I’d run out of lies.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over me. Thinking it was Demi, I didn’t pay attention until I felt a familiar warmth on my ankle. I looked down to see a familiar hand. Jace had taken off my shoes, placing my foot on his knee, massaging it gently. “Are your shoes uncomfortable?”

I didn’t speak, my throat tightening. He looked up at me. “Still mad?” His voice was low and soothing.

“No,” I said, trying to pull my foot back. Jace didn’t let go, continuing to massage my foot. “It won’t happen again…”

Today, he was wearing a royal blue suit with a white shirt underneath. The custom cufflinks gleamed in the sunlight, standing out just like him. He massaged my left foot, then moved to the right, ignoring the people walking by. Some girls glanced over enviously, whispering about seeing such a charming and attentive boyfriend.

I admit, I was moved too. My frustrations from last night started to melt away with his massages.

“Keira, you’re so lucky!” Demi mouthed from a distance.

Jace had gone to such lengths. If I kept holding on to last night’s incident, I’d not only seem petty but also like I was desperate for sex.

“What do you want for lunch?” Jace asked me.

“Anything,” I replied. I didn’t really have an appetite, even though I was feeling a bit better.

“I’ll take you to have grilled fish. They also serve grilled foie gras; it’s really good,” Jace said as he helped me into the car.

I was just about to fasten my seatbelt when he leaned over, his soapy scent brushing past my nose, making my breath hitch. Noticing my reaction, he chuckled and fastened my seatbelt for me. As he straightened up, he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Rea, you look shy just like you did when you were a kid.”

I was taken aback. Though it was just a brief peck, it lifted my spirits entirely. I had always been so easily pleased. A little kindness from him, and I’d be overjoyed.

Thinking of Tanya, I asked, “How is Tanya now?”

“…She’s fine, discharged from the hospital.”

I didn’t say anything else, and Jace glanced at me. “Why aren’t you talking?”

“I don’t know what to say,” I answered honestly.

As I said it, his words from a previous conversation with Steve—“we just know each other too well”—flashed in my mind.

Exactly, we just know each other too well, to the point where we know everything about each other, to the point where there’s nothing left to say, I muttered inwardly.

Jace took me to a restaurant. The waiter led us to a window seat where a bouquet of white roses—my favorite—was already set. He had reserved the table in advance. Grilled fish, foie gras, and my favorite desserts were served. This meal clearly showed his effort.

I took a picture, posting it on social media—food, flowers, and Jace’s long, slender, beautiful hands. My colleagues from the company immediately liked the post. Demi sent a pouting emoji with a teasing comment: [Why didn’t you take me along?] Jace had told her to handle her own lunch and submit the receipt for reimbursement later.

Lena saw it too. She didn’t like it but sent me a DM: [Given his effort, I can tell he knew he was wrong. Not bad. I asked the nurse on duty last night, and he really was just in the ward. Nothing happened.]

I didn’t reply to her.

“Hey, stop looking at your phone and eat,” Jace reminded me, placing a piece of foie gras he had cut in front of me.

I picked up my fork, about to take a bite, when a familiar figure caught my eye. Tanya saw me too and walked over with a smile. “Hi, Keira.”

Then she turned to Jace. “Jace, you’re here too?” she said, as if surprised to see him.

As if my fiancé not being here would make sense.

“What a coincidence. What brings you here?” I asked directly.

“I went to Desmond’s grave and happened to pass by. The smell of foie gras tempted me,” Tanya said with her delicate features and soft voice.

“You’re alone?” Jace asked.

“Yes, so if you don’t mind, can I join you?” Tanya said, already placing her coat on the seat next to Jace.