Chapter 2

"Yes, yes, yes."

Geoffrey pulled me into a seat and sat down across from me.

Only then did I realize he'd sat down across from Alexandra, while the seat across from me was empty.

"My two little empresses, order already."

Geoffrey turned the QR code menu around and pointed it at Alexandra.

Alexandra took the code as if it were the most natural thing and asked Geoffrey, "Should we get the poached fish in spicy broth? Didn't you say you wanted it last time?"

Geoffrey hummed in agreement, and when he glanced up at me his expression was a little awkward.

He coughed a few times and scooted closer to me.

"Leo, do you want some cilantro beef?"

The moment I heard the word "cilantro," the whole world went silent for me.

"Geoffrey, have you forgotten that I don't eat cilantro?"

For as long as I can remember, the one thing I've never liked is cilantro.

Geoffrey has picked I don't know how much cilantro out of my bowl over the years. He even changed his gamer tag to "Hates Cilantro" for me.

But now, he'd forgotten.

No, he hadn't forgotten. He'd remembered that Alexandra loves cilantro most of all.

"Of course I haven't forgotten. I just thought you might try it. If you don't want it, then never mind."

Geoffrey waved his hand and went on ordering.

Alexandra chatted with him on and off, about the car and about work.

Over the five months of my pregnancy, their relationship had changed in a fundamental way, and I hadn't noticed a thing.

The whole meal tasted like ash.

When we finished, I walked out first.

Looking at the two of them, I actually felt like I couldn't breathe.

Alexandra's voice came from behind me. "Go up and smooth things over with her. She's looked unhappy for a while now."

"She always needs coaxing. I'm sick of it."

"Just leave her alone. This time I'm not coaxing her!"

There was a note of suppressed anger in Geoffrey's voice.

The steps I took forward felt like they'd been filled with lead.

All kinds of images flashed through my mind, some of me and Geoffrey, some of me and Alexandra.

The more I remembered, the more it hurt.

When I reached the door, no one had come after me.

I couldn't help turning around to look for them, and my gaze froze on the farthest corner.

Alexandra was facing me, and Geoffrey had his head bent, working the zipper on her skirt.

"Hurry up!"

"You're so annoying! I told you to keep your hands off—now you've broken my zipper!"

Alexandra's playful, pouting words carried a hint of a laugh.

Landing in my ears, they grated.

I just stood there staring at them until they both looked up at me.

Our eyes met, and Alexandra flushed with embarrassment.

Geoffrey walked toward me without any change in his expression. "Lexie's zipper broke. I was helping her with it."

I didn't respond, and looked at Alexandra.

"Leo, I was just about to call you over, but you didn't turn around or answer me."

I'm not deaf.

She hadn't called me.

Before I could say anything, Geoffrey put his arm around me and walked me into the elevator.

Looking at the three of us in the elevator mirror, my heart sank all the way down.

There was a time when I fought with everything I had to bring the three of us together.

But now that the lines between us have blurred, all that's left is bitterness.

The whole way there I kept my face cold and said nothing.

"Leo, are you still angry about what just happened?"

"Let me apologize to you, okay? You're pregnant now, you can't let yourself get upset."

Alexandra spoke to me with a hurt look on her face.

I gave a half-hearted "mm."

"Leonora Henson!"

Geoffrey shouted, and the car jerked to a sudden stop.

I instinctively shielded my belly and looked at the furious Geoffrey with my brows drawn together.

Before I could get a word out, Geoffrey had already blown up.

"You had a long face the whole time at the dealership, and at dinner you acted like everyone there owed you millions."

"If you're really this unhappy, then get out of the car!"

In the cramped car, Geoffrey's accusations rang back and forth in my ears.

Outside the window, the drizzling rain looked like it was only going to get heavier.

No matter how much I could endure, in that moment I couldn't keep my eyes from going red.