Ten Years Later, Still Falling - Chapter 10: Chapter 10
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I'll admit it—I acted on impulse. But honestly? I still didn't get it.
Why the radio silence? If something came up, why not reach out later? And after all these years... not a single attempt to contact me? Now suddenly he "likes" me? Was this some kind of cruel joke?
A decade had blurred many details, but that sting of humiliation? Still razor-sharp. Before I knew it, my expression had turned icy.
"Emma," I forced a smile, hearing my own voice sound strangely calm. "There's been a misunderstanding. Edward and I aren't together." My throat tightened. "And... there's someone else I like now."
After that day, an Arctic chill settled between us. We became strictly coworkers—brief exchanges, all business. Part of me ached with disappointment, but relief outweighed it. This was how things should be. No unnecessary contact. No complications.
Besides...
The truth was, I'd made peace with my unrequited feelings long ago. Learning he'd supposedly felt the same this whole time? That just left me paralyzed—completely unprepared to face him.
On a brighter note, Emma joined as Edward's intern assistant. I'd worried about her adjusting, but she surprised me—fitting into the team like she'd always belonged.
The rescued tabby found its happy ending too. Emma, ever the enthusiast, adopted it herself. Her best friend took the white kitten, the vet adopted the tabby's sibling, and me? I ended up with the little black one.
This scrappy little thing—the runt of the litter with patchy fur and fragile bones—somehow stole my heart. I named him Coal.
Between my brutal work hours and frequent overtime, Coal needed more attention than I could give at home. With Edward's approval, he became our unofficial office cat. Since only directors had private offices (complete with pet privileges), Coal mostly lived in Edward's space.
Edward would feed him sometimes, change his water. Before long, everyone assumed Coal was his cat.
Then Edward suddenly took family leave. Days passed without word, leaving me to make special trips to his office for Coal's care.
As for Edward himself? Curiosity gnawed at me, but I kept my questions to myself.
Until Emma found me, her face drawn with worry. "Yuna," she blurted, "aren't you going to check on Edward? He's completely ghosted everyone—I can't reach him at all."
Why the radio silence? If something came up, why not reach out later? And after all these years... not a single attempt to contact me? Now suddenly he "likes" me? Was this some kind of cruel joke?
A decade had blurred many details, but that sting of humiliation? Still razor-sharp. Before I knew it, my expression had turned icy.
"Emma," I forced a smile, hearing my own voice sound strangely calm. "There's been a misunderstanding. Edward and I aren't together." My throat tightened. "And... there's someone else I like now."
After that day, an Arctic chill settled between us. We became strictly coworkers—brief exchanges, all business. Part of me ached with disappointment, but relief outweighed it. This was how things should be. No unnecessary contact. No complications.
Besides...
The truth was, I'd made peace with my unrequited feelings long ago. Learning he'd supposedly felt the same this whole time? That just left me paralyzed—completely unprepared to face him.
On a brighter note, Emma joined as Edward's intern assistant. I'd worried about her adjusting, but she surprised me—fitting into the team like she'd always belonged.
The rescued tabby found its happy ending too. Emma, ever the enthusiast, adopted it herself. Her best friend took the white kitten, the vet adopted the tabby's sibling, and me? I ended up with the little black one.
This scrappy little thing—the runt of the litter with patchy fur and fragile bones—somehow stole my heart. I named him Coal.
Between my brutal work hours and frequent overtime, Coal needed more attention than I could give at home. With Edward's approval, he became our unofficial office cat. Since only directors had private offices (complete with pet privileges), Coal mostly lived in Edward's space.
Edward would feed him sometimes, change his water. Before long, everyone assumed Coal was his cat.
Then Edward suddenly took family leave. Days passed without word, leaving me to make special trips to his office for Coal's care.
As for Edward himself? Curiosity gnawed at me, but I kept my questions to myself.
Until Emma found me, her face drawn with worry. "Yuna," she blurted, "aren't you going to check on Edward? He's completely ghosted everyone—I can't reach him at all."
End of Ten Years Later, Still Falling Chapter 10. Continue reading Chapter 11 or return to Ten Years Later, Still Falling book page.