Chapter 0027
Billâs POV
I told Tyler, my driver, to take me to the restaurant where Sarah saw Serena. Here I am, still in a cast, and sheâs already out on a date with some rich, older guy. Unbelievable.
âTyler, can you step on it? Iâve got to meet someone,â I say, realizing Iâm absentmindedly tapping my fingers on my legs. I want to catch Serena with the guy he left me for. Maybe Iâll have a few words with him.
âWeâre here, Sir,â Tyler informs. I remain seated in the car, eagerly awaiting Serenaâs exit from the restaurant. But after 15 minutes pass, thereâs no sign of her. Tyler looks at me with a confused expression, so I decide to get out of the car.
I dial Sarahâs number and demand, âWere you just messing with me, Sarah?â My fingers grip the phone tightly.
âSorry? What do you mean, Bill?â Sarahâs voice comes through confused.
âSerena⦠Sheâs not here.â
âOh, that. Look, I was telling you the truth. I can send you the proof right now,â Sarah insists.
A ding interrupts us; my phone lights up with a message from Sarah.
âNow, if you can excuse me, boss, my man and I are having some alone time,â she adds.
âI didnât need to know that. Bye,â I reply. I end the call, anxious to see what Sarah sent me.
The message is a picture of Serena, looking stunning. My heart skips as I see her, the first time since she stormed out of my hospital room. She seems happier. Her hair is up in a loose bun, with curly strands framing
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her face. Her smile is genuine, her eyes sparkling as she raises a glass in a toast with the man in front of her.
The man facing away from the camera looks older. Heâs wearing a fancy Thom Browne suit, clearly showing heâs rich.
My hands shake as I look at the photo. I feel like punching this guy the moment he comes out of the restaurant.
To my surprise, the next person to walk out of the restaurant isnât Serena, but Calvin, in the exact suit from the photo. My stomach drops as it hits me that heâs the one who just had dinner with Serena. I feel like Iâve been punched in the gut.
He heads to his car alone. Maybe things between them arenât that serious, and theyâre just casually dating. Still, it bothers me theyâre doing this behind my back.
And now Iâm thinking, maybe Calvinâs been giving Serena money, which is why she didnât ask for any financial settlement during our divorce.
But then, a part of me tries to give Calvin the benefit of the doubt. Maybe heâs just trying to help out Serena in his own way. Heâs always been the nice guy in the family, the one everyone can rely on. He may see Serena as a sort of charity case, someone to help without expecting anything in return.
It wouldnât be the first time Calvin stepped in to lend a hand without ulterior motives. Maybe, just maybe, this dinner was his way of offering support, nothing more.
I couldnât stand it anymore, so I decided to approach him. âOh, Uncle Calvin! Didnât expect to see you here,â I say, acting like I just ran into him by chance.
Calvinâs face shows a flicker of surprise before he smooths it into a composed smile. âBill, this is a surprise! Just had a bit of dinner here,â he responds, trying to sound casual as we stand in the restaurantâs
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parking lot. âWhat brings you here?â
âIâm here to meet a client,â I reply, keeping my voice even. I donât want to give away my true reason for being here. âHow about you?â
Calvin pauses, thinking, before answering. âI guess you could say the same for me. You know, always looking for new ways to expand my
business here in the US.â
He says this with a straight face, but I can tell heâs lying. I donât get what this is all about. Is he trying not to hurt my feelings because he was having dinner with Serena?
âHuh? This seems like a pretty intimate place for a business meeting,â I point out.
âYou really think so?â Calvin replies, his tone calm and subtly inquisitive.
Even though he doesnât outright ask, I can tell Calvinâs implying a question of his ownâwhy Iâm here for a client meeting in such a place if
I call it âtoo intimate.â
âYeah, my client is an old couple. Theyâre really fond of this place,â I say, deciding that two can play this lying game.
Calvin nods and says, âAh, I see. Well, I wonât keep you from your meeting then. Donât let me hold you up.â
âDonât worry, the meeting isnât for another 30 minutes,â I mention casually. Then, adding as if just remembered, âOh, I forgot to mention, Serena said you gave her a gift while I was in the hospital. Iâll send it over to you once I get the chance.â
Calvin doesnât even seem surprised when I mention the gift. Did Serena already tell him about it? âThat would be great, Bill. I look forward to it,â he responds smoothly.
I try to read Calvinâs expression, but itâs hard to tell what heâs thinking. I
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Chapter 0027
just have this unsettling feeling heâs hiding something from me.
âAs much as Iâd like to stay and chat, Bill, Iâve got some business to take care of,â he says. âI guess Iâll see you around.â
I nod, choosing not to say anything more. Watching silently, I see Calvin walk to his car and drive off into the night.
I step into the restaurant, looking around for Serena, but sheâs nowhere to be found. It becomes clear she left earlier.
Over the next few days, I called Serena multiple times, but there was no response. She seems to be busy, almost too busy.
I keep wondering, is Serena really happy without me?
Every time she doesnât answer, it feels like sheâs saying yes.
Itâs tough thinking she might be moving on, making a new life where I donât fit anymore.