The aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped the cozy ambiance of the old-fashioned café, luring me into a nostalgic trance. Lost in the confines of my thoughts, I sat at the corner table, tracing the rim of my cup absentmindedly, reminiscing the whirlwind of emotions that had defined my past with him.The memories flooded back—the clandestine meetings, the whispered promises, the entangled lives we led. My mind danced through the moments we shared, the laughter, the tears, and the echoes of our last conversation etched vividly in my mind.In the midst of my reverie, a sudden sense of disorientation washed over me. I blinked, the realization dawning upon me like a sudden jolt—a startling revelation that shook me to my core.Five years had passed since our last encounter in that car, the memories now veiled in the mist of time. I had not seen him, heard from him, nor crossed paths in what felt like an eternity. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, a pang of longing mingled with

As I settled into the car, the familiar hum of the engine enveloped me while I dialed my secretary's number. "Hi, it's me. Any updates on the client?"My secretary's voice crackled through the phone. "Yes, I've gathered information about Mr. Kho. But oddly, there are no photos in the database.""No pictures at all?" I replied, a tinge of unease creeping into my tone. It was an unusual situation, one that stirred a hint of discomfort within me.I took a sharp intake of air as I pondered what was going on. Normally, it would be an easy thing to find a data about a person or even huge companies. It's my forte, after all. However, it was a wonder why my team was unable to hack into this person's personally information. What the fuck?"None," she confirmed. "It's all just text-based information—business history, achievements, but no visuals."The absence of any visual reference left me feeling oddly unsettled. In a world where information was readily available, the absence of a photo felt

"How are you, Rosey?"As I entered the familiar corridors of our home, my father, Xavier, met me with a stern yet concerned gaze. His imposing figure, though intimidating, couldn't conceal the subtle worry etched on his face. Without a word, I closed the distance and enveloped him in a tight hug, feeling his strong presence comforting me in ways words couldn't express."I'm fine, Dad," I murmured, even though my fatigue weighed heavily on me. The encounter with Khein had drained me, but I couldn't bring myself to disclose that to my father. "Just tired and in need of rest.""Do not pressure yourself too much, sweetheart, hmm?"I smiled at his thoughtfulness and couldn't help but to melt. His fatherly love never failed to catch my fragile and soft heart."Yes, dad," I answered sweetly.He ruffled my hair.Curious about my mother's whereabouts, I asked, "Where's Mom?" His gesture directed me to the garden where I found her, tending to the vibrant blooms with her characteristic grace.

I stood in the kitchen, gripping the handle of the coffee mug tightly, my fingers shaking as I mixed it.The tension in the air was almost palpable, suffocating me with its weight. How could I have allowed him inside? My mind raced with self-criticism, regretting the hasty decision I'd made moments ago.With each stir, I cursed myself for being so impulsive. This was a mistake—a grave one, at that. Yet, no amount of regret could undo my actions now.I just allowed him in. Fuck it.Inhaling deeply, I fought to compose myself. Erasing any trace of emotion from my face, I managed a neutral expression as I poured the coffee into the mug. It's too late to regret my impulsive decision. I had already embarrassed myself too much.Approaching him, I handed the steaming cup, careful to maintain an air of collected composure. My heart was pounding in my chest that I could literally hear it in my own ears.I silently cleared my throat.Sitting opposite him in the living room, I tried to exude an

Sitting quietly beside Khein, I gazed out the window, feeling torn as we headed toward the airport. Leaving without explaining properly to my parents felt like a tough call, but I needed to go and didn't want to burden them with my reasons. Maybe Dad saw through my excuse about a week-long meeting, but thankfully, he didn't protest my leaving.As I sat there beside Khein, my emotions were all jumbled up. I felt nervous, a bit happy, a little sad, and a whole lot of confusion. I couldn't make sense of it all, so I decided to just keep quiet.I had so many thoughts in my head, running around like a squirrel running through a spin without any specific destination to go to.I was just thinking...Some people may think that it is overacting of me to react such way for a mere cat. But they can never understand this pain in me.Joni, the cat that I adopted, helped me in so many ways I couldn't imagine. He was there during the darkest moments of my life. He was there when I felt the happiest