Chapter 10

Inside the café-bakery, a soft and warm ambiance prevailed, with the enticing aroma of freshly ground coffee and crispy pastries filling the air. Gloria and Samson sat at a table near the window, the morning light bathing their table in a golden hue. A waitress quickly approached, a professional smile on her lips.

— Good morning, welcome. May I take your order?

Samson, true to his gallant nature, turned to Gloria with a sly smile, waiting for her to make her choice. But Gloria seemed elsewhere, lost in her thoughts, her eyes fixed on Samson with an indefinable glow. Not to mention that she had noticed furtive glances turning toward them.

In a corner of the room, a few people were checking videos on their phones, trying to confirm if this woman, Gloria, was indeed the one circulating on social media, the woman who had humiliated a young man with a public marriage proposal rejection.

— Gloria? Do you want to have something in particular? Samson asked gently, his concerned gaze piercing the bubble of her unease.

Gloria, startled, shook her head slightly to return to reality.

— Oh, sorry... Yes, I’ll have a latte and a croissant, please, she finally replied, her voice soft but a little hesitant.

Samson, perceptive as always, couldn’t help but notice her discomfort. He quickly placed his own order and waited for the waitress to walk away before placing his hand on Gloria’s, a protective and reassuring gesture.

— Something’s really bothering you, Gloria. Talk to me. Is it because of what happened with your sister this morning?

Gloria sighed deeply, playing with the silver spoon in front of her. She looked up, meeting Samson’s eyes.

— It’s not just Charlotte... I feel like everything’s overwhelming me right now. I’ve made choices that are making me overthink. People talk, they judge, and I’m wondering if I made the right decision…

Samson gently squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with understanding.

— Don’t let other people’s opinions affect you. What matters is how you feel. If you followed your heart, it was the best decision. You know I’m here for you.

Gloria, touched by his words, gave a sincere smile this time. The looks around them faded, the moment became intimate, their bubble of tenderness isolating them from the rest of the world.

At Jacob’s place...

Meanwhile, at Jacob’s residence, the tantalizing smell of breakfast prepared by Sophia floated through the house. Mousse, awakened by the aroma, slowly sat up on the couch where he had spent the night. Still slightly groggy, he got up and headed to the kitchen, where he found Sophia focused on her preparations. She greeted him with a warm smile.

— So, did you sleep well, Mr. Who-Preferred-to-Sleep-on-the-Couch? Sophia asked with a wink.

Mousse rolled his eyes, amused but still a little groggy.

— Sophia, please, spare me your morning teasing. Did you check on how Jacob is this morning?

— Yes, he’s still asleep. I think a little more rest will do him good. What about you? Aren’t you supposed to be at work today?

Mousse stretched before replying.

— Yeah, and what about you? Don’t you have classes today? Mousse asked.

— Of course I do, but I’m wondering if I should go or not. I don’t like the idea of leaving Jacob alone at home, especially with everything he’s going through right now. That woman broke his heart. He loves her so much, Gloria was everything to him.

Mousse thought for a moment before responding, his voice soft and comforting.

— Listen, you can go to class without worrying. If you want, I can even drop you off. I’ll stay here with Jacob, I’ll keep an eye on him. I don’t have much urgent work at the office today, so I can catch up later. Actually, I’m going to call my assistant to let her know I won’t be in, then I’ll take a quick shower before enjoying the breakfast you’re preparing. With that enticing smell, I can’t wait to taste it.

Sophia smiled, amused by his enthusiasm.

— We’ll see if you’ll like it as much as you say. The table will be ready in a few minutes.

— Great! Mousse replied with a beaming smile before slipping away to the guest room to get ready.

On Jacob’s side...

Jacob, who had just finished getting dressed, adjusted his suit in front of the mirror, his thoughts on Gloria. He came and sat on the edge of the bed, thinking out loud.

— “What is Gloria really looking for in a man that I don’t have? I really thought she saw a future with me… I don’t even know if I want to go to this meeting, especially with that video circulating everywhere… But I can’t let that bring me down. She doesn’t want me, so fine. I’ll turn this page and pray that she finds what she’s looking for, that it makes her happy.”

With a deep sigh, he got up and grabbed his work bag. As he left his room, he crossed paths with Sophia, who was coming toward him with a meal tray.

— What? Jacob? Sophia asked, surprised. Don’t tell me you’re really going to work?

Jacob replied with a smile, hiding his true emotions.

— Good morning, little sister. I have an important meeting today, I can’t miss it. If that tray is for me, take it to the dining room. I prefer having breakfast there. And hurry, I’ll drop you off at university.

Sophia, confused, searched for her words.

— Jacob... are you really sure you want to go to work today?

He nodded, determined.

— Don’t worry about me. What’s done is done. You warned me, and I ignored your advice. I just need to move on now.

On Samson and Gloria’s side, they had breakfast in silence, but the atmosphere was becoming increasingly heavy for Gloria. She could feel the persistent glances and hear the whispers spreading around them. She realized that people were gossiping because of her. Samson had also noticed the agitation in the café but still didn’t understand what was happening. With his brows slightly furrowed, he observed Gloria, clearly uncomfortable.

Feeling the situation slip away from her, Gloria suddenly got up, almost knocking over her cup in her haste.

— Sam, we should go. I completely forgot about something urgent I need to do at the office, she said, her voice tense.

Samson raised his eyebrows, a little surprised by her behavior, but nodded. After settling the bill, he joined Gloria, who was already standing next to the car, her face marked by worry.

They both got in the car, but before starting the engine, Samson turned to Gloria, determined to understand what was going on. He took a deep breath before speaking in a calm but firm tone.

— Gloria, I know we’ve only known each other for a short time, but I really don’t like it when people hide things from me. What’s going on? You seemed uncomfortable in there, and I saw those women looking at you strangely. It’s about you, right? What did you do?

Gloria, lost in her thoughts, tried to find a way to avoid this scene happening again. Hearing Samson’s question, she snapped back to reality, her fingers tightening slightly on her bag.

— What do you mean by that, Sam? she asked, trying to buy some time.

— That you’re hiding something from me, Gloria. I saw their reactions. What’s the story? Are you one of those girls who... Well, what did you do to get so much attention?

Gloria felt her heart race. She knew she could no longer hide the truth. In a panic at the thought of losing Samson because of this story, she took out her phone and, without a word, opened the TikTok app to show him the video that was circulating.

Samson, eyes fixed on the screen, watched closely as the video played, showing Gloria in the middle of the rejection scene with Jacob, under the watchful eyes of the customers at the Romatica restaurant. He clicked on "play," watching the embarrassing scene unfold before his eyes.

Jacob’s residence...

Jacob was quietly enjoying his breakfast, sitting at the dining table. Sophia, standing beside him, was trying to convince him to stay home. She kept glancing at him with concern, thinking that he wasn’t fully recovered from the previous night and the public humiliation he had suffered.

— Jacob, listen to me, she insisted, placing a hand on his shoulder. You’re not fully recovered yet. You should take a day or two to rest, especially mentally. It’s not a weakness to stay home, you know.

But Jacob, with a determined look, nodded while taking another bite of his croissant.

— Sophia, I really appreciate everything you’re doing for me. But I’m not going to stay here feeling sorry for myself. I’m a man, a man who knows his worth. Gloria made her choice, and as painful as it is, I’m not going to act like it’s the end of the world. I have a life to live.

At that moment, Mousse appeared, joining them at the table. He had barely opened his mouth to say something when Jacob, guessing his intentions, spoke up first.

— My buddy, come sit down. Sophia told me everything, and I want to thank both you and her for everything you’re doing for me. But I’m telling you, I’m not staying home.

Mousse smiled as he sat down at the table, impressed by the new energy Jacob was radiating. He looked like someone who had decided not to let himself be brought down.

— Are you sure everything’s okay? Mousse asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.

— I’m doing great, my brother, Jacob affirmed confidently. You guys need to stop worrying about me. Sophia, you should get ready for your classes. I’ll drop you off afterward. I don’t know why you have such a hard time believing me.

Mousse then turned to Sophia with a sly smile.

— See? He’s in good shape and good spirits. He knows what he’s doing. So, just relax a little.

Sophia, still hesitant, nodded without saying a word. She cast one last look at her brother, who continued eating, before leaving the room to get ready.