Chapter 11

Nathan purchased the establishment outright but allowed the previous owner to continue managing it.

The aged wooden furniture and azure plastic seats remained unaltered, as if suspended in time.

For half a year following Olivia's departure, Nathan Reed immersed himself in liquor, dulling his anguish daily. His relatives eventually stepped in, admitting him to a medical facility after a life-threatening episode of alcohol overconsumption. They prohibited him from drinking, but this small shop became his haven, his final retreat.

In this place, it seemed as though time had ceased, preserving the moment he and Olivia first encountered each other.

He could still visualize her clearly: the ivory frock she donned, her tresses gathered in a high ponytail. She had been seated at an adjacent table, casting furtive glances in his direction. When their gazes intersected, she would swiftly avert her eyes, but the rosy tint at the tips of her ears betrayed her.