Chapter 24
Kayla never imagined she’d find herself in such a messy, awkward scene. She didn’t want to embarrass anyone, but at this point, she had no choice but to go along with the act.
“Luke, you should head back. Professor Simpson probably has something to talk to me about,” she said calmly.
“Alright. I’ll pick you up after work tonight,” Luke replied, gently touching her cheek. The gesture was so natural and so intimate that it almost looked like they’d been dating for a while now.
He politely nodded to Jonah before getting in his car and driving off.
Once the car was out of sight, Kayla’s expression went cold as she turned to Jonah.
“What do you want now? Can’t we just move on with our lives? Why do you insist on barging into mine again?”
“I quit my job,” Jonah said, still smiling as he stepped closer. “I’ve decided to move to Astra.”
Kayla rolled her eyes and tossed the bouquet aside, not even sparing it a second glance.
“You’ve lost your mind.”
“That guy just now–he’s your friend, right? Pretty convincing performance.”
“Who said he was acting? He’s my boyfriend.”
“I know you, Kayla. We just got divorced. You wouldn’t jump into another relationship that fast.”
“Then clearly, you didn’t know me well enough.”
Her tone was icy, and her patience had run thin.
Jonah took a slow breath, his gaze steady. “Kayla, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to win you back. I won’t give up. I made a promise to love and care for you for the rest of my life.”
“We’re done, Jonah. We’re done for good.”
She didn’t want to waste another second talking to him. Kayla turned and walked into the studio, leaving him behind.
A moment ago, Jonah had still seemed composed, but now, his eyes were bloodshot. He had seen the answer with his own eyes. Still, he couldn’t accept
- it.
Inside, Kayia sat quietly in her office for a while before finally picking up her phone and sending Luke a text. “Thank you. Your acting was pretty solid.”
Luke replied almost instantly. “Acting? That was all real emotion.”
Before Kayla could respond, another text from Luke popped up. “Do you want me to pick you up from work later? I can keep up with the act.”
She replied, “No need. I wasn’t very convincing. He saw through it.”
Luke then said, “You just need more practice to make it look natural.”
Kayla responded with an emoji that showed a grinning face with sweat dripping down,
Luke replied, “If you ever need anything, I’m just a call away.”
Kayla dropped the conversation there. She just stared out the floor–to–ceiling window at the gray sky. It looked like snow was coming.
Over the next seven days, her studio received flowers daily–pink tulips, without fail.
Not wanting them to go to waste, Kayla had the receptionist arrange them in big water buckets. Anyone who walked in and followed their interior design studio’s public account got three flowers for free.
Word eventually got around that Jonah had bought an apartment in Astra and was interviewing for university teaching positions.
Mutual friends started calling to talk her out of the divorce. Some sounded concerned, some judgmental. But the one thing they all had in common was that their divorce was such a shame. After all, they had spent eight years together, and Kayla shouldn’t just walk away like that. It clearly wasn’t fair to Jonah.
But love wasn’t about fairness. It was like drinking water for yourself–only Kayla knew whether it was warm or cold.
“Ms. George! New flowers–different ones this time!” Becky squealed as she came running in with a fresh bouquet of red roses.
That Professor Simpson finally switched it up! Look!”
Kayla raised a brow and pulled out the little card tucked into the bouquet.
Merry Christmas! From Luke.”
Kayla had already figured the flowers weren’t from Jonah even before seeing the card.
As if he knew she’d gotten them, Luke called on cue.
“Ms, George, any dinner plans tonight? Do you want to grab a bite?”
Kayla brushed her fingers over the soft petals, hesitating. Then, as if making some quiet decision, she finally lifted her head. “Sure.”
