Affected

"It's Hannah,"Elijah responded with smile.

I inhaled deeply, attempting to banish those pessimistic thoughts from my mind. Elijah's rendezvous with Hannah was strictly professional, I reassured myself. Yet, a tiny fraction of me couldn't shake off a hint of envy.

However, I refused to let those feelings spoil our day, so I plastered on a smile and remarked, "I wish you success in your meeting with Hannah."

Elijah flashed me a comforting grin and leaned closer, planting a swift peck on my lips. "No need to fret, it's just a brief gathering."

I observed the car departing, carrying Elijah along. Letting out a sigh, I shifted my focus back to the lovely flowers in my grasp. A delightful blend of lilies and roses, my favorites.

Lost in contemplation, I failed to see Sofia's car approaching until her voice brought me back to reality.

"Marcus?" she called out, her voice laced with astonishment.

I pivoted to meet her gaze, only to find her stepping out of the car and striding towards Marcus.