The Way She Sparkled

I didn't answer Chuck's question. Instead, I turned around, grabbed Nancy, and left the party without any hesitation.

I didn't expect Chuck to begin contacting me of his own accord after the party. He started sending me messages, asking trivial questions like "Dad's asking us when we're going to have dinner with them" and "Do you still want the document that you left in the study?".

I didn't reply to any of them.

Failing to get a response from me, Chuck began dropping by Nancy's house to look for me. I reached the end of my patience by the fifth time he knocked on the door and opened it. Part of me was actually curious about what he had to say to me.

"I heard that you willingly gave up on Starlight Group completely," Chuck said as he entered the house and sat on the couch. "There's no need to throw a tantrum, Jules. I know that you're just causing a fuss by giving up on the company because you're jealous of Rebecca."

He was speaking flippantly, seemingly convinced that my actions were driven by jealousy.

He continued, "I only gave Starlight Group to Rebecca so she can have a little fun with it. I didn't give you anything for so many years because everything will belong to you eventually."

Chuck positioned himself on a pedestal above me, and it made me laugh self-deprecatingly. From his perspective, he had given me everything that I owned, so he also had the right to take them back whenever he pleased.

I interrupted impatiently, asking, "Is there something else that you need?"

Chuck's tone turned serious as if he had noticed my icy demeanor. "I booked a reservation for us at Garden in the Sky tomorrow night. Didn't you mention wanting to dine there again? I even cancelled my meeting tomorrow so we can go together."

I was stunned for a moment.

Garden in the Sky was the restaurant where we had our first date. Illuminated by the city lights, he had once promised to love me forever.

Unfortunately, everything had changed.

Chuck's phone started ringing before I could get a word in. He inhaled deeply before looking at me apologetically. "I need to take this call."

I gestured for him to go ahead.

He walked over to a corner before answering the call, but I managed to catch bits of his conversation even though he was speaking in a hushed tone.

"I'm busy now… Don't make a fuss… Alright, I'll come over right now…"

Chuck looked visibly anxious when he returned. "Jules, Rebecca just caught a case of acute gastroenteritis. She's alone right now, and she's in a lot of pain. I need to send her to the hospital. Don't forget our date."

I didn't say a word and opened the door for him. I looked through the calendar on my phone after he had disappeared from my line of sight—my flight was scheduled for tomorrow night.