George fell silent, just watching me, his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t, and didn’t want to, understand. No one spoke. Outsi
de, the city bustled on. Inside, two people stood in silence, trapped in their own separate worlds. It was just like the past seven
years. An intimate relationship, yet miles apart.
“Alright, you should go,” I said finally. “My mind is made up, I don’t want custody of Leo. You can keep him from me, take him abroad,
whatever you want. And don’t bother with threats or kidnapping. After seven years as Mrs. Cannon, I have a few cards of my own up my sleeve.” I reached out and touched his cheek. “You don’t want a war with me. We’d both lose
George left. He had arrived in a storm of fury and departed in a quiet rush
Chapter 2
11.55
I slept soundly. The next day, I was at the airport. Just before boarding, I got a call from my old university professor.
“Elara, Alistair is back in the country! Do you have time for a reunion?”
I froze. I remembered the cool, brilliant man from my past. I was an orphan, raised in a group home, fiercely determined to succe-
- ed. I had studied relentlessly, earning a place at the best university in Port Sterling, in the most competitive program. In my second
year, I had joined my professor’s research team, even if it was just as a lab assistant.
The “Alistair” my professor mentioned was Dr. Alistair Finch, the star of that research team. And my secret crush. Unfortunately, he
had left to study abroad in my third year. My feelings had died before I ever had a chance to voice them.
Hearing my silence, my professor continued. “You and Alistair were the two I had the highest hopes for. The most brilliant students
I’ve ever taught. It’s such a shame you got married right after graduation.” His voice was filled with regret.
A pang of discomfort hit me. If I hadn’t married George, I’d probably still be in research.
Thinking about it, I suddenly didn’t want to leave anymore.
Maybe thirty was the perfect age for a new beginning.
I agreed to the reunion and went to a modest apartment complex in a quiet neighborhood. It was where I had lived as a student.
After my marriage, I had bought the small unit. For seven years, whenever the suffocating life of the Cannon family became unbe-
arable, I would come here. This humble, cluttered place somewhere George would never set foot.
was
I dropped my luggage and sank onto the bed. The one–bedroom apartment was tiny, barely four hundred square feet, but it was
filled to the bursting with books. I opened one at random; the margins were dense with my notes. In
I had never stop-
ped learning.
Ven
Thinking of the reunion tonight, I pulled out my old research notebooks. I was going to see my professor. I wanted to ask him for a
second chance. Even if it was just cleaning beakers again. After years of aimless luxury, I realized the happiest I had ever been was
back in that lab.
The reunion was at a high–end restaurant. Without George’s constant, critical voice in my ear, I could finally be myself. I threw on a
comfortable blouse and a pair of casual shoes and headed out.
The restaurant manager recognized me and was obsequiously polite. No matter how wildly George behaved, he had only ever
given the title of “wife” to me.
“Mrs. Cannon, are you here to see Mr. Cannon? His private room is on the second floor, allow me to show you the way.”
I was surprised but politely declined. “No, thank you, I’m meeting someone else.”
As I entered the private dining room, my eyes met a pair of deep, thoughtful ones across the table,
“Alistair,” I said.
He nodded, as cool and reserved as ever. My professor waved me over, smiling. “Elara, it’s been so many years! You’ve matured.”
I had to laugh, though my eyes felt hot. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to me with such familiar warmth. The
other classmates chimed in, and we all laughed. Seven years after graduation, the youthful awkwardness was gone.
“Come, sit, sit.”
I glanced around. The only open seat was next to Alistair. As I sat down, a wave of awkwardness washed over me. He was my old
crush, after all.
During dinner, my professor was in high spirits, reminiscing about our days in the lab. “I still remember when Elara first joined the
team. She didn’t know a thing. She’d follow you all around like a little puppy, asking a million questions. I thought to myself then,
this girl is going to do great things.” He trailed off, and I quietly took a sip of my wine.
Chapter 2
