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Novel Catalog
Chapter_8
Unexpected Company
The following morning, I forced myself out of bed, my dark circles glaring back at me in the mirror. Matthew immediately noticed my haggard appearance and asked in surprise, “Are you sick, Coco? You look so pale.”
“You kept me up all night,” I retorted, not in the mood for pleasantries.
He was taken aback but quickly pulled me into a hug, giving me a shy grin. “No more drinking for you. Exercise would help instead—it’s better for sleep.”
Something about his words unsettled me, and my stomach churned. I hurried to the bathroom, vomiting and fighting back tears.
Matthew rushed in behind me, his voice laced with concern. “What’s wrong? Maybe I should take you to the hospital.”
I pushed him away gently and lied, “It’s nothing. I just didn’t sleep well. You should take Ava to kindergarten. I’ll be fine once I get some rest.”
He reluctantly agreed, lifting me back onto the bed and pulling the blanket over me. “Okay, get some rest. I’ll take Ava to school. Just call me if you need anything, okay?”
I nodded, listening to the soft sounds of their chatter as they left. Once the door clicked shut behind them, I got out of bed and moved to the window. I watched as Matthew helped our excited daughter into the car.
I didn’t look away until the car had disappeared from sight. Tears welled up in my eyes as I wondered if things could ever go back to the way they were. After a moment, I changed into jeans and a t-shirt, tying my hair into a ponytail and donning a cap.
I headed to the café across from Galar Tower, settling into the most strategic spot facing the entrance. It felt foolish, but it was the only plan I had.
For the next three days, I returned home empty-handed. I couldn’t catch a glimpse of Matthew, having failed to notice one key detail: he used the underground parking, which had a direct passage to the lobby.
On the fourth day, I finally saw Matthew hurrying out of the building, phone in hand. He seemed to be talking as he made his way toward Crowne Square. My heart pounded as I followed him from a distance.
It wasn’t lunchtime, and he hadn’t driven, so I knew he wasn’t going far. At an intersection ahead, he crossed the road and entered a café with a charming atmosphere. It was a haven for the city’s elite, a place where business deals were discussed over coffee.
I guessed Matthew was meeting someone there. As I watched, I saw a familiar figure sitting by the window on the second floor. The woman wore a stunning rose-pink pantsuit, bold and graceful—Ivanna. She looked even more beautiful than usual today.
I chuckled to myself. What a coincidence that she was there too. It meant I wouldn’t have to put in much effort—Ivanna could see who Matthew was meeting. With that thought, I quickly dialed her number.
I saw Ivanna pick up the phone and, to my surprise, noticed Matthew sitting across from her at the window. Ivanna signaled him to stay quiet before her voice came through the phone, “Are you bored or something?”
The words cut deeper than I expected. In the past, I might have thought it was playful teasing between friends, but today I could detect a mocking tone beneath her words. It stung more than seeing her with Matthew.
I steadied myself before asking, “Where are you?”
“I’m in a meeting at the office. I’ll call you back later.” Ivanna’s gaze lingered on Matthew as she spoke, her answer leaving me speechless.
I never thought my best friend would do this to me.