Chapter 2

The next morning, I'd barely woken up

when I found Hubert already packed and heading for the door.

He saw me and smiled.

"Ellie, I'm going to work out the rafting details with Gigi today."

Watching how excited he looked,

a raw ache spread through my chest.

There was a time when only plans with me could light Hubert up like that.

Back then, wherever I went, he followed.

His eyes held nothing but me.

He really did treat me as his one salvation.

I hadn't seen that spark in his eyes for years.

I just never imagined

that when I saw it again, it would be because of another woman.

Seeing me go quiet,

Hubert seemed to finally remember something.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, a little rueful.

"Ellie... I'm sorry. I forgot I was supposed to take you shopping today."

Hubert had always been busy since taking over the company,

so I'd made a point of asking him: one day every week set aside to be with me.

Since Gertrude showed up,

I'd lost count of how many times he'd forgotten.

My already aching chest twisted tighter.

Seeing that I wouldn't speak, Hubert sighed.

"How about I bring back your favorite pastries when I'm home?"

The words were barely out when his phone rang.

Gertrude's voice came through from the other end.

"Hubert, why aren't you here yet?"

Hubert answered with only two words.

"Wait for me."

Watching him walk away,

I suddenly thought back to before,

to when I curled up against him watching a movie, pointing at the heroine the hero had abandoned, and asked,

"Will you leave me with nothing but the sight of your back one day too?"

Hubert laughed and hushed my endless chatter.

"No."

"I'll always be right behind you. You'll turn around and I'll be there."

The Hubert of now had forgotten the words he once said.

He went off happily to keep another woman's plans,

and left me far behind him.

It was late when Hubert came home.

He set the box of pastries, gone cold, in my arms.

"Ellie, your favorite. The ones you love most."

I had no urge to open it.

Seeing that, Hubert opened it for me, helpless. "Don't be angry anymore."

But inside the box wasn't my favorite pastry at all.

It was the dessert I hate most.

The smell of it alone turned my stomach.

Hubert quickly patted my back,

then called and demanded, "I told you to buy her favorite pastries. What is this you bought?"

The voice on the other end carried clearly into my ears, every word.

"Mr. Henson, Gigi said she likes that one, so she had me switch the order."

I frowned at him.

"So now you won't even buy me a pastry yourself?"

Hubert sighed, helpless.

"Ellie, I didn't have time today. I was afraid you wouldn't get any, so I sent my assistant."

I fought down the urge to gag and pointed at the dessert.

"Then how do you explain this?"

Hubert defended Gertrude on reflex.

"Gigi didn't know it was for you. She didn't do anything wrong."

Didn't know it was for me?

Hubert had never liked sweets.

When he went to buy pastries, who else could they be for but me?

"Did she really not know, or was she pretending?"

Hubert was getting irritated now.

"Ellie, do you have to fight Gigi over everything?"

"There's a limit to how jealous you can get!"

I didn't want to talk to Hubert anymore.

I just quietly opened my phone and replied to the message my teacher had sent a while ago.

"I'm ready to go abroad with you to study."