5
The next day, I finished buying everything I
needed for my small house, including new locks and a new password.
At 4:30 PM, my phone started ringing.
It was the ringtone I had set specifically for
Chadwick.
I muted it and continued what I was doing.
About half an hour later, I finished preparing the ingredients. When I checked my phone, there
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92
Jawaria Zafar
Dilawar Zia, you have a new friend suggestion!
now
were a bunch of missed calls and messages.
The phone rang again, and I reluctantly
answered it.
What if it was an emergency call from work?
“Whitney, are you crazy? Where are you?”
“At home.”
“At home? I can’t find you. Everyone’s here.
Why haven’t you made dinner yet?”
“Forget it. If we wait for you to make dinner, it’ll
be too late. Come to the Grille Restaurant
immediately, or I won’t sign the divorce
papers!”
He hung up. I thought about it and decided to
- go.
Г
I just wanted him to sign the papers so that the
divorce could go through faster. It would save me some steps and time.
I took the signed divorce agreement and went
to the Grille Restaurant.
The private room was full. When I walked in,
everyone went silent.
I looked around. There wasn’t a place for me. I
looked at Chadwick.
Charlotte quickly asked the waiter to add a
chair and silverware for me.
After I sat down, Ryan started with his insults.
“The Grille Restaurant should upgrade. A table
for twelve has become thirteen. It’s crowded.”
Everyone around them were their friends, so
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1200
Chadwick remained silent. Charlotte started to
smooth things over.
“It’s okay, it’s more lively this way!”
After a few drinks, they started playing Truth or
Dare.
The bottle pointed to Charlotte. She chose
Truth, and everyone cheered.
Ryan looked at me and asked Charlotte, “Who
did you come back for?”
Charlotte looked a little embarrassed, but she
said, “I came back specifically for Chadwick.”
She glanced at me, challenging me.
Ryan immediately started, “Oh, love is
invincible! Chadwick, you guys missed out, but
now it’s time to fix it!”
r
So, I was in the wrong, and Charlotte was the
right path?
Charlotte smiled and looked at Chadwick
tenderly.
“My mom was sick and needed to go abroad
for treatment. I was afraid of delaying you, so I
broke up with you, which caused us to miss
each other.”
“I think…”
Chadwick’s eyes were filled with a hope that I
had never seen.
He had never looked at me like that.
I smiled at the reunion of the two lovebirds.
The woman next to me leaned over and said,
“Whitney, if I were you, I’d want to disappear.
211
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92
Why are you getting in the middle of them?”
I nodded in agreement and clapped loudly, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Congratulations! I wish you a happy reunion, a
perfect match, and lots of kids!”
They realized I was still at the table, still
Chadwick’s legal wife.
Charlotte looked upset and stood up to raise her glass to me.
“I’m sorry, Whitney. I forgot you were at the
table. Chadwick and I are in the past. Don’t worry about it. I apologize. This drink is for
you!”
She was about to drink it all, but Chadwick
stopped her and comforted her.
“Charlotte, you’ve already had so much to drink.
<
Don’t drink anymore. It’s just a game, there’s no
need to apologize!”
He looked at me.
“Whitney, it’s just a game. You’re not going to
be upset, right?”
I didn’t answer Chadwick. I smiled at Charlotte.
“The Grille Hotel is upstairs. Should I book a
room for you? Consider it a gift from me. Oh,
and I’ll tell you a secret.”
“Chadwick likes cowgirl, I hope you have fun
tonight!”
Ryan, acting as Chadwick’s mouthpiece,
immediately started his performance.
He grabbed a nearby glass and threw it at me.
“Whitney, watch your mouth!”
The glass shattered on the floor.
<
Charlotte rushed to smooth things over.
“Whitney, don’t misunderstand! Chadwick and I
are just friends!”
She always said that, trying to provoke me into
arguing with Chadwick, then stepping in to
comfort him and play the victim.
I casually replied, “Of course. Friends share
hotel rooms.”
Chadwick’s expression darkened.
“How many times do I have to tell you,
Charlotte and I aren’t like that!”
“You’re always imagining things. Why do you
have to make things so awkward? I’m
embarrassed to be seen with you!”
“Apologize to Charlotte and everyone else, and
I’ll forget about it.”
<
