“How about that? Didn’t I tell you President Camden and Hallie weren’t that kind of couple? I saw President Camden’s girlfriend at the hospital yesterday; he was feeding her soup, mouth to mouth.”
“President Camden even reserved an entire floor of the hospital for his girlfriend. You can’t even begin to describe how much he adores her.”
“But Hallie’s really pitiful. She chased after President Camden for so.long. I heard she even gave up the chance to study abroad just to become his special assistant.”
My thoughts drifted back to what my professor had said to me years ago; his voice filled with disappointment.
“You’re my brightest student, but you gave up a once–in–a–lifetime opportunity abroad for a man who doesn’t even love you. One day, you’ll regret this.”
Back then, I had stubbornly shaken my head, swearing I would never regret it.
But now, the weight of those words crashed down on me, and I realized just how foolish it had been to sacrifice my future for a man.
The gossip around the office buzzed relentlessly.
“They say that woman is President Camden’s childhood sweetheart. She’s been abroad for seven years, and he’s never stopped thinking about her. No wonder there hasn’t been a single woman around him all these years except Hallie.”
I had been with Jasper for seven years, but we had never made our relationship public.
He never once acknowledged my existence in front of others.
When I asked him why, he simply said it was to avoid trouble.
So, despite living together and working in the same company, we had never arrived or left work together.
To my coworkers, I was just the assistant clinging to the president, shamelessly lingering in his shadow.
I submitted my resignation to HR, but they awkwardly informed me that it required Jasper’s signature.
Reluctantly, I bought a container of chicken soup and made my way to the hospital with the file in hand.
Outside the hospital room, I could hear Josie Camden, his mother, shouting in a fury.
“She’s a drama queen who thrives on pity! Today, she dares to hurt Nora with a knife; tomorrow, she might just kill me with one! When Nora was abroad, I didn’t care if you messed around with her, but if you actually married a woman like that, I’d never agree! Break up with her right now, and set a wedding date with Nora as soon as possible!” Through the glass, I could barely make out the expression in Jasper’s lowered eyes. Nora looked at him with expectation, but Jasper remained silent.
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16:04 Mon, 19 Mayo G.
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Josie’s anger grew fiercer. “What are you waiting for? Haven’t you been pining for Nora’s return all these years? Now that she’s finally back, why are you still holding on to that woman?”
“But I promised Hallie I’d marry her.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut; how laughable.
So, Jasper actually remembered.
He turned to Nora, his gaze soft but laced with conflict, though his words were tender.
“Nora, give me just a little more time, okay? I’m afraid Hallie won’t be able to accept it right away. We can start planning our wedding; just wait a bit before we tell her.”
A flicker of malice flashed in Nora’s eyes, but she nodded with a submissive smile.
“Okay, I’ll do whatever Brother Jasper says.”
As footsteps echoed in the hallway, I turned silently and brushed past Josie.
Just as I was about to knock, Nora caught sight of me. Her eyes locked onto mine, and her lips curled into a faint, almost taunting smile.
She tilted her head back and pressed her lips to Jasper’s, her hands sliding up into his sleeves.
His body stiffened, but he didn’t push her away.
As his breath deepened, Nora suddenly gasped, feigning surprise.
“Sister Hallie, what brings you here?”
I stood motionless, unaffected by the scene unfolding before me. With a quiet push, I opened the door and placed the thermos on the table, my expression blank.
Jasper stood up quickly, a flash of discomfort crossing his face. He glanced at me casually, his voice cold and distant.
“What are you doing here?”
I handed him the folder, keeping my tone strictly professional.
“There’s a contract that needs your urgent signature.”
Jasper studied me, his gaze lingering as if trying to gauge whether I’d seen what had just transpired. But my face gave nothing away.
He couldn’t find a trace of emotion, and for a moment, he exhaled in relief. But then, even if I had seen it, what did it matter? After all, I loved him more than anything.
Yet, there was a flicker of disappointment in Jasper’s eyes, as if he’d hoped for a reaction from me.
His frustration grew, and with a quick motion, he snatched up the pen and signed the document without a second thought.
“You can go now.”
Just as I reached the door, I heard him call out after me.
16:04 Mon, 19 May G
“Hallie, I’ll be home tonight.”
I didn’t pause. What he didn’t know was I wouldn’t be going home.
I left the hospital and hailed a cab, heading straight for the airport.
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Little did I know, the last thing Jasper ever said to me was just another lie.
His phone rang the moment he stepped out of the shower, ready to head back to the company to find me. He rehearsed in his mind how to explain why he hadn’t come home the night before.
On the other end of the line, his assistant spoke with quiet respect.
“President Camden, who should take over Hallie’s position now that she’s resigned?”
Jasper’s face darkened instantly as he stood before the mirror, shaking off a hand that had slipped around his chest.
“What did you say?”
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