Chapter 13

I believed my life would settle down after that incident.

However, there was Jack, lingering outside the office branch one day.

He stood there, clutching a bouquet of roses, dressed in a pristine white shirt, a poignant reminder of a time we couldn't recapture.

I acted as if I didn't see him and continued chatting with my colleague about the day's conference.

He remained quiet, but his presence felt imposing just behind me.

As my coworker departed, he finally approached me.

He insistently tried to give me the flowers, but I took them and tossed them directly into the garbage.

What good are belated flowers?

All those occasions meant for couples—Valentine's Day, anniversaries—Jack was always trapped at work.

"Too occupied," he'd claim.

But once I browsed Lily's social media, everything became clear. She was right beside him on those days.

The roses that should have been mine were plastered across her pictures, her captions brimming with obvious fondness.