NovelEnglishThe following days found Carol starting anew at a local barbecue restaurant, this tdeliberately choosing one closer to where
Felix was staying.
Felix was swamped, juggling several jobs at once. If Carol didn't make tto see him, they'd never meet.
Her new job was just a mile from Felix’s place, a leisurely fifteen-minute walk.
Every evening, she'd wait for him to finish work, and they'd ride the subway htogether, chatting about their day.
Occasionally, they'd splurge on a cab.
Tonight, it was raining when she went to pick him up, umbrella in hand.
But Felix was nowhere to be seen. She ventured into the barbecue restaurant and found him surrounded by a group of young
women, all clamoring for his WhatsApp.
"Sorry, I'm off the clock now."
"Con, handsome, just add us. We'll cback often to support the place."
"I have a girlfriend."
The girls looked crestfallen at the news.
That was when Felix looked up and saw Carol, his smile instantly genuine.
"Carol."
She stood there, rain dripping off her umbrella, not bothering with the other girls, just smiling at him.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtFelix walked over, his hand brushing her hair to make sure she wasn't wet.
"Why are you here in the rain? Didn't | text you to stay put?"
The girls asking for his number slunk away.
Felix took Carol's hand and kissed it, his eyes holding a deep warmth that was quickly replaced by his usual cheerfulness.
"Shall we head to my place tonight?"
Carol felt her cheeks warm as she nodded.
As they stepped out of the diner, Felix's phone rang with a distinct tone, and his expression shifted—it was the hospital.
Without a second thought, he dropped Carol's hand and answered.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Brown, Ms. Geo is awake."
His pupils dilated at the news. He didn't even say goodbye to Carol or take the umbrella; he just ran into the downpour.
"Felix?" Carol called out, but the rain was too loud, or perhaps he was too preoccupied to hear. The moment he knew that Listina
Geo was awake, he had long forgotten about the existence of Carol.
She waited, sending messages and making calls that went unanswered.
Carol waited until ten o'clock, still no word from Felix. She finally decided to hail a cab.
The rain was relentless, her shoes sunk into the mud, the cold seeping into her bones.
The wind flipped her umbrella inside out, blurring her vision with rain.
Cabs were scarce in this weather, and the subway was far.
She stood in the chilling wind, drenched, with no ride.
Finally, at midnight, a taxi pulled up.
She sneezed, and as she tried to get in, the driver balked at her soaked appearance.
"Sir, I'll give you a hundred to takehome. It's impossible to find a ride tonight."
At the mention of a hundred dollars, the driver's eyes lit up. "Hop in."
Once inside, Carol shivered uncontrollably, her body prone to colds, and she felt one coming on.
Unbeknownst to her, the driver watched her with an odd expression.
The car veered off course, and Carol, now on high alert, silently dialed Felix again—still no answer.
She quickly called Abner, her father, who picked up immediately.
"What's up?"
"Dad, you're still at work? I'm in a cab. | sent you the license plate number. Please wait foroutside."
Abner's brow furrowed, sensing her fear, and chuckled softly.
"What are you doing in a cab? Aren't our cars fancy enough for you? It's pouring out; are you soaked?"
When Carol heard the concern in his voice, her eyes misted.
She was a drowned rat, but she wouldn't tell Abner to avoid worrying him.
The banter was his way of showing care.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe thought of Felix leaving her in the rain, not answering calls or texts, contrasted sharply with her father's quick response, and
she felt a lump in her throat.
She thought about her life, how she'd given up the comforts of wealth to work in a diner, coming hsmelling of grease every
night.
Before tonight, she had felt happy.
Hearing her, the driver corrected course and headed to her destination.
When Carol stepped out, her legs were weak.
She didn't go back to her family's mansion. Abner was there tonight, and she couldn't bear to let him see her like this.
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