Chapter 3

Jonathan was just out of Emilia's league. He was the founder of an investment company, worth over a hundred million dollars. He rolled with luxury cars and designer watches, and everyone around him was either rich or influential.

And Emilia was just a regular college student, working at a café, just trying to get by, wearing cheap T-shirts that cost only a few bucks, and splitting rent with a roommate because that's all she could afford.

The gap between them wasn't just a street or a city. It was a whole world apart.

Emilia kept her crush locked away in the deepest corner of her heart, never breathing a word to anyone. The only time she ever let it slip was when she got wasted with Nylah.

That night, Nylah had just gone through a breakup and dragged Emilia out to drink—after half a case of beer, they were both totally drunk and stumbling around.

Emilia hugged Nylah's arm, slurring, "Nylah, I've liked someone for so, so long... but I just don't have the guts to tell him."

Nylah, barely awake, mumbled, "Who is it?"

Emilia didn't answer. She closed her eyes, and all she could see was Jonathan leaning against the café window, sunlight pouring over his shoulders.

It was the most breathtaking sight she'd ever laid eyes on.

But even the most beautiful moments eventually shatter.

The last time Jonathan came to the café, he had company—a woman.

Emilia stood behind the counter, watching as the woman walked in, holding Jonathan's arm and flashing a playful smile. "Jonathan, is the coffee here really that good? You come here every day. Don't tell me it's because of some girl working here?"

Jonathan didn't respond and just cast an indifferent glance toward the bar.

Emilia ducked her head, pretending to be busy with the coffee beans.

The woman was Sasha, Jonathan's sister. Emilia would only realize later that Sasha was just joking, but that casual tease stabbed right into the softest part of her heart.

Emilia thought, 'Yeah, right. Like that would ever happen to someone like me.'

She was practically invisible to him.

After that, Jonathan never came back to the café.

Emilia didn't know why he stopped coming. But every day at three, her eyes would always drift to that window seat, and seeing it empty made her chest tighten with a dull pain.

She thought about texting him. She had his number saved in her phone, though she couldn't even remember when, and she'd never once dialed it.

But she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't know what she could even say. "Mr. Thomas, why don't you come by anymore?" Like she was just some lovesick fool, begging for scraps of attention.

So Emilia kept quiet and swallowed her feelings down.

She locked that feeling away deep inside and kept on with her life—studying, working, just getting by.

But every now and then, when she walked past the café, she'd slow down and peek through the window at that seat by the glass.

It was empty.

And so was her heart.

*****

Three years later, Emilia married Kasen.

Kasen and Jonathan couldn't be more different. Jonathan was the quiet, mysterious type. She never really knew what he was thinking.

Kasen was outgoing and charismatic; his smile was like sunlight, and she just couldn't help but be drawn to him.

Emilia thought marrying Kasen would help her leave Jonathan behind for good.

She was wrong.

Getting over someone wasn't about finding someone new. It was like slapping a Band-Aid on a wound. It didn't mean it was healed, just hidden. Underneath, the ache never really goes away.

Three days after the divorce, Emilia moved into the guest room at Nylah's place.

Nylah worked at a law firm. She was sharp, had a wicked tongue, and was fiercely protective of her friends. When she saw Emilia show up at her door with a suitcase, she didn't ask a single question.

She just pulled Emilia inside, sat her down on the couch, wrapped her up in a blanket, and headed to the kitchen to make a bowl of hot noodles.

"Eat," Nylah said, plopping the bowl in front of her and handing her a pair of chopsticks. "You can cry after you've had something in your stomach."

Emilia didn't cry.

She kept her head down, eating the pasta slowly, bite after bite. When she finished, she set the bowl aside and said, "Nylah, I need to work."

Nylah blinked, then nodded. "Alright, I'll help you out."

Emilia didn't mention what kind of job she was looking for, and Nylah didn't ask. After ten years of friendship, some things just went without saying.

Five days after the divorce, Emilia got a call about a job interview.

It was for an administrative supervisor position at a mid-sized company. The pay was good, and it was just a short distance from Nylah's place.

Emilia changed into a black business dress, put on some light makeup, and checked herself out in the mirror. The woman staring back at her was noticeably thinner. Her jaw was sharp, her cheeks hollowed, but her eyes were calm.

She smiled at her reflection and said quietly, "Emilia, you've got this."

The interview went smoothly. The interviewer, Eleanor Houghton, was a stern-looking woman in her forties.

She fired off a series of professional questions, and Emilia answered each one without missing a beat. As Eleanor scanned Emilia's resume, she suddenly asked, "You're Kasen's wife?"

Emilia paused and then corrected her, keeping her composure, "Ex-wife."

Eleanor looked up, her eyes lingering on Emilia with a hint of curiosity, but she didn't press further. She simply nodded and went on to the next question.

In the end, Emilia got the job.