8
Chadwick didn’t appear in front of me for the
next three months.
Time faded everything. I didn’t feel anything.
Even when he showed up at my door today, I
wasn’t surprised.
He was a stranger.
I glanced at him, then turned around to open
<
my door, but Chadwick grabbed me.
“We’re neighbors now!”
I looked up in confusion. He explained, “It’s
close to the company, so I bought this place.”
I nodded and tried to open the door.
“Whitney, come over for dinner. Shouldn’t
neighbors be on good terms?”
He pointed to his kitchen, where the aroma of
food wafted.
I waved my hands. “I don’t want to bother you.”
“No! I made it myself! You used to say you liked
sweet and sour pork chops!”
I did love that dish.
But food was food, and people were people. If
<
he kept this up, I would hate sweet and sour
pork chops.
“It’s made according to the recipe, so the flavor
should be the same.”
“But a good ex should stay dead.”
I went back into my house.
I realized Chadwick was my neighbor.
What about Charlotte and Ryan?
I felt like the sky was falling.
I felt disgusted and trapped.
I calmed down.
The next day at work, I was going to ask my
coworkers about their roommate situation when
I saw our team leader walk in with a man in a
く
The team leader introduced Chadwick as our
new CEO and took him around to meet
everyone else.
I was stunned.
What was going on?
He became my neighbor one night and my CEO
the next morning.
Was he going to bring Charlotte or Ryan in,
too?
It was disgusting.
Oh well.
Life wasn’t perfect.
Luckily, the first day was uneventful.
As I was walking home, I heard a car horn.
<
11:17
92
A black sports car pulled up in front of me, and Chadwick’s face appeared in the window.
He smiled.
“Let’s go home together. I know you can’t drive
today.”
I looked at the car and at the rideshare app on
my phone. I got in.
The traffic was heavy. Chadwick said, “The
second White Snake movie is out. Let’s go see
it.”
I had told him before it came out that I was
looking forward to it.
He had said, “Why would you watch a cartoon?”
“No, I’m seeing someone on Saturday.”
<
He looked at the road and then in the rearview
mirror. He was quiet for a moment.
“Who? A coworker or a friend? Male or
female?”
“A date.”
He slammed on the brakes and turned to look
at me.
The cars behind us honked. He focused on the
road again.
He finally spoke again.
“Really?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I wouldn’t lie about something
like that.”
“Oh, a date. Important… Are you in such a
hurry?”
<
11:17
“It’s a big deal. Of course, I’m in a hurry.”
We drove home in silence.
The next day, I met my date.
He was my classmate from college. We had debated against each other.
I didn’t expect to see him on a date.
92
We sat down, and an uninvited guest appeared.
Chadwick pulled up a chair and sat next to me.
Matthew watched us.
Chadwick turned to Matthew.
“Mr. Garcia, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Whitney’s
ex–husband. The matchmaker might not know,
but I need to talk to you.”
II A ALLA.
<
11:17
^ 92
“Mr. Garcia, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Whitney’s ex–husband. The matchmaker might not know,
but I need to talk to you.”
“Whitney and I have a lot to work out. The
divorce was a mistake. Please leave.”
Matthew laughed and said, “I thought you and
Charlotte finally got married.”
He turned to me. “Whitney, I’m a lawyer. If you
need anything, let me know. If…”
Matthew glanced at me and Chadwick.
“The craziest cases are free. Think of it as a
thank you. Call me anytime!”
Matthew stood up and left.
I was speechless, and Chadwick was angry.
He turned to mo “What’s your relationship with
<
11:18
((
92
He turned to me. “What’s your relationship with
him?”
“You ruined my date! And now you’re asking me
who he is?”
I sighed, stood up to leave. Chadwick thought I
was going after Matthew.
He grabbed me and said, “I want to tell you,
let’s get back together.”
I pulled my hand away. “I’m not interested in a
love triangle.”
“I’m not with Charlotte.”
“I know she left with your dad’s money and
came back when she ran out and wanted you to
take her back!”
“She made your dad get into the ICU…”
11:18
92
<
“Enough.”
I interrupted him. “Are you done? Do you think
this is funny?”
“I want us to get back together…”
“I don’t have time for this. We’re divorced. We
have nothing to do with each other.”
I walked out of the restaurant. I messaged Matthew and apologized.
He said he had said that on purpose and that
he was sorry.
He congratulated me on leaving Chadwick and
starting a new life.
A new life was calling me.
I went to work and went home. I nodded to
Chadwick at work
<
Then, the company announced a new project,
and Chadwick put me in charge.
“Go on a business trip with me tomorrow.”
I nodded. Work was work, and personal matters
were personal. I wouldn’t give up an opportunity
because of personal issues.
The company scheduled the meeting at a
resort.
After talking all day, I went back to my room
and crashed on the bed.
An hour later, someone knocked on my door.
Chadwick was standing there in a bathrobe,
shirtless.
“Let’s go to the hot springs!”
I refused.
11:18
6 92
His face fell.
“Whitney, I know I messed up, but I’ve been miserable ever since you left. I miss you.”
“I tried to contact you, move next to you, and become your boss, but you ignore me. You
don’t even look at me.”
“I know you hate me. I was wrong, but can you
give me a chance?”
He looked at me, eyes watery.
He pulled me in.
I pulled away from him and said, “Never. Not a
chance.”
He stared at me, then left.
Broken mirrors can’t be put back together.
The cracks will grow.
They will form a big hole.
It can never be filled.
It can never disappear.
