Chapter 5

After hearing those two words—"You didn't."—I didn't walk in.

I stood outside the study for a few seconds.

Then I turned around and went back to the bedroom.

By the time Alex finished his meeting, it was almost eleven.

He came in, took a shower, and got into bed.

Just like the past few nights, he asked:

"What time are you going to the foundation tomorrow?"

"Nine."

He placed his phone on the nightstand.

"I'm flying to Chicago tomorrow afternoon."

I turned my head.

"Another business trip?"

"Two days. The final round of negotiations for the project."

"Claire is going too?"

The question came out before I could stop myself.

Alex looked at me.

"There are also legal and project team members going."

He didn't answer directly.

And I didn't ask again.

The next afternoon, he left.

At a little after nine that night, Alex called me.

"Just got back to the hotel."

"How did it go?"

"Pretty good. We should be able to finalize everything tomorrow."

I heard the sound of a door opening on his end.

Then someone said something.

Alex replied.

And I heard Claire's voice.

"Is that Claire?"

"She came to drop off tomorrow's materials."

"So late?"

Alex went quiet for a moment.

"Evie."

"I was just asking."

"We're all working."

I held the phone without saying anything.

In the end, Alex changed the subject first.

"How was your day?"

"Good."

We talked for a few more minutes.

Or more accurately—Alex asked, and I answered.

Before hanging up, he said:

"If we close the deal tomorrow, the team might go out to celebrate."

"Okay."

"I'll call you later."

"Alright."

The next night at ten, I still hadn't received his call.

So I sent him a message.

Did it go through?

Twenty minutes later, he replied.

Yeah. Finally.

That's great.

Alex sent a heart emoji.

Then nothing else.

I placed my phone beside the bed and turned off the light.

The next morning at 6:40, my phone vibration woke me up.

It was Alex.

"Did I wake you?"

His voice sounded slightly rough.

"What time is it?"

"Almost seven for you."

I opened my eyes.

"What time did you get back last night?"

"Pretty late."

"Did you drink?"

"Only a little."

I sat up.

"How was the celebration?"

"Fine."

"Everyone went?"

"Yeah."

I don't know why I asked the next question.

"Did Claire go too?"

There was a pause.

Then:

"Everyone did."

I stared at the sunlight slipping through the curtains.

"What's wrong?"

"What?"

"You sound a little strange."

"I didn't sleep well last night."

"Is that all?"

"What else would it be?"

He laughed softly.

It sounded normal.

Almost exactly like usual.

But I didn't laugh with him.

"When are you coming home?"

"Afternoon flight. I'll be back tonight."

"Okay."

Just before the call ended, Alex suddenly called my name.

"Evie."

"Yeah?"

There was a short silence.

"Nothing. See you tonight."

The call ended.

I stared at the screen for a while.

That day, his flight was delayed.

By the time Alex arrived home, it was almost eleven.

I was sitting in the living room reviewing documents.

The moment he walked in, he came over and hugged me.

His arms were tighter than usual.

"Did you miss me?"

"It was only two days."

"So?"

He looked down at me.

"Did you miss me?"

I smiled.

"Yes."

Alex lowered his head and kissed my forehead.

Then he went into the kitchen to get water.

His phone was left on the coffee table.

The screen lit up once.

I didn't touch it.

By the time Alex came back, the screen had already gone dark.

He looked at his phone.

His footsteps paused slightly.

"Who messaged you?" I asked.

He picked it up.

"Claire."

"Work this late?"

"She was confirming tomorrow's meeting."

He locked the screen after saying that.

I looked at him.

"Wasn't the project already finished?"

"There are still some follow-up details."

He sat down, but something about him felt distracted.

A few moments later, he suddenly said:

"I might make some changes to the team."

"Which team?"

"The people around me."

I waited.

"Claire?"

Alex looked up.

"Maybe."

This was the first time in months that he had brought up moving Claire away from him.

"Why?"

"No particular reason. It's normal to redistribute responsibilities after a project ends."

"Wasn't she doing a good job?"

"She was."

"Then why suddenly move her?"

Alex frowned.

"I was just saying."

"You didn't sound like you were just saying it."

"Evie."

That familiar impatience appeared in his voice again.

I didn't back down.

"Did something happen?"

"No."

"Then why are you acting differently since you came back?"

"I'm tired."

"Alex."

He looked at me.

"Did something happen on this trip?"

Alex was silent for two seconds.

Then he said:

"No."