Rita was sitting alone in her room, looking for a job online when Jenny came and asked, "Madam, what should the chef cook today for sir's lunch?"
Rita got irritated at the mention of his name. "I don't know," she replied, focusing on her laptop.
Jenny said with concern, "Madam, sir did not eat properly this morning. What if he gets sick because of a lack of nutrition?"
Rita sighed and looked at her. "Jenny, it won't work on me anymore."
Jenny said disappointedly, "Madam, sir did not even eat last night, and this morning he made breakfast himself."
Rita, growing irritated, interjected, "Make whatever you like."
"Madam, I can't do that," Jenny replied.
Rita smiled. "What did you guys do in this house before I came here?"
Jenny answered, "Earlier, sir didn't eat at home."
Rita thought, Then why the hell did he ask me to cook his lunch? Only to bother me. Furiously, she said, "Fine. Today, send him boiled vegetables."
Jenny looked at her in disbelief. She thought Rita was only speaking in anger and didn't mean it, but Rita had already returned to working on her laptop. Having no other option, Jenny went to the kitchen to tell the chef what to cook.
Rita saw a notification and picked up her phone to check the message.
Did you eat your breakfast?
She stared at it for a few seconds, thinking, Why are you doing this? He doesn't even love me. Then why is he acting like he cares? Or maybe, in his eyes, I am just an investment, so he's worried about his business.
Meanwhile, Gilbert waited the entire afternoon for her reply.
When he opened his lunch, he was shocked to find only boiled vegetables inside. He should have been angry, but instead, he laughed. It seemed like nothing could make him angry anymore.
After sending her résumé to at least a hundred companies, Rita received interview calls from five of them.
She was looking for her documents when she realized that all of them were still at her parents' house. She thought it would be better to go and collect them herself tomorrow rather than asking her mother to send them. Otherwise, her mother would ask all kinds of questions.
She was happy and excited that she was finally making her own decisions. The interview was still two days away, but she had already started preparing. While looking for something formal to wear, she realized she didn't even own any interview clothes. She decided she would buy an outfit tomorrow on her way back from home.
She had skipped lunch, so now she was feeling hungry. As she headed toward the kitchen to eat something, she saw Gilbert walking down the corridor toward her.
How did he come back so early today? It's not even eight yet.
She turned to leave but then stopped.
Why should I? I should be the one who's angry.
She confidently walked toward him.
Looking at him furiously, she said, "You—"
Gilbert interrupted, "This is for you."
He handed her a bouquet of red roses.
She took them and looked at him, then at the flowers, confused.
"Why?" Rita asked.
"I saw a girl selling flowers on the way, so I bought them for you."
Her heart softened, but she quickly reminded herself that he hadn't bought them because he liked her.
"If you're apologizing for this morning, then let me tell you, I'm not going to forgive you."
She handed the bouquet back.
Gilbert pushed the flowers toward her again.
"I bought these flowers for you because I wanted to, not because of the morning incident."
Rita felt a little disappointed but smiled painfully.
"Oh."
She started walking toward the kitchen when Gilbert suddenly reached for her left hand.
Rita stopped and turned around.
"I have two tickets to a play," he said softly. "Would you like to come with me?"
In her heart, she wanted to go with him, but her mind warned her, If I continue interacting with him, I'll never move on.
She struggled with her emotions.
Gilbert thought she was going to refuse.
"Please. I want to go with you," he said earnestly.
Rita looked at him and thought, It's okay if I go with him once. It's just for the memories.
"Okay."
A relieved smile spread across Gilbert's face.
"You can get ready. I'll wait."
Rita returned to her room to get ready.
Inside the bouquet, she noticed a small greeting card. She picked it up and read:
To my beautiful wife.
Once again, her heart tried to see it as something more than a simple note. It wanted to believe there was affection hidden behind those words, even when her mind warned her otherwise.
She placed the flowers in a vase, then carefully tucked the greeting card between the pages of her novel alongside a rose petal.
Just like the female lead in this novel, I'm the same. Neither of us has ever been loved, so a little attention makes us fall for the wrong person.
She dressed beautifully because it was the first time she was going out with him, and she wanted to look good.
When she came downstairs, she saw Gilbert waiting outside.
He looked so perfect, like the protagonist of a romantic drama.
He would never fall for someone like me.
Gilbert smiled when he saw her.
He couldn't stop staring.
She's so beautiful, he thought.
He opened the car door for her.
Inside the car, he tried to focus on driving, but he kept glancing at her.
"You look really beautiful," he said.
Rita's eyes widened in surprise.
She looked at him and shyly tucked her hair behind her ear.
Gilbert noticed.
Without realizing it, he lifted his hand to touch her hair. But when his hand was halfway there, Rita moved her head in surprise.
He quickly pulled his hand back and looked ahead.
Why did I do that? he wondered.
Inside the theater hall, Rita looked around.
It was completely empty.
Gilbert led her to her seat in the VIP section.
Even there, no one else was present.
Curiously, she asked, "Why is there no one here?"
"Maybe no one else bought tickets," Gilbert replied.
Rita looked at him suspiciously.
"What if you brought me here to murder me?"
Gilbert laughed.
"What kind of stuff do you watch? I bought all the tickets."
She stared at him in shock.
"You spent so much money. For what?"
"Money can't be compared to you," he replied.
Rita ignored the comment.
I don't even understand what he's saying anymore.
The play started.
But Gilbert was only watching her.
He moved closer.
She turned and found his face so close that she could feel his breath.
"You're not watching the play," she said nervously.
"You like watching plays, so you're watching the play. I'm watching what I like."
She quickly turned back toward the stage.
Her heart was beating fast.
At least in the dark, he can't see my expression.
Gilbert watched the stage for a moment before looking at her again.
"If you don't like watching plays, why did you come?" Rita asked.
"I wanted to go on a date with you."
Rita froze.
"What?"
Gilbert gently brushed a few strands of hair away from her face.
Then he leaned in and kissed her.
The moment his lips touched hers, she pulled away.
There were too many emotions rushing through her mind.
Is he serious? Or is he joking?
She wanted confirmation before allowing her heart to break again.
Gilbert looked at her, tears gathering in his eyes.
"Do you really not like me?"
Rita stared into his eyes.
Wasn't it you who left me alone after our kiss?
"If my touch makes you uncomfortable, I swear I'll never touch you again."
Gilbert knelt on one knee while holding her hand.
Rita asked quietly, "Wasn't it you who was disgusted with me after our kiss?"
Gilbert looked at her intensely.
Memories of that night flashed through his mind.
"I'm not," he said immediately.
"Then why did you leave me there alone?"
His tears finally rolled down his cheeks.
"I was stupid. I got scared that I would fall for you."
"So you ran from it?"
Gilbert shook his head.
"I never felt disgusted toward you."
"Never?" Rita asked.
"Never."
Gilbert pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her forehead.
For Rita, it felt like a dream.
She wanted to confess her feelings right then, but she decided it would be better after the play.
The rest of the performance passed quietly.
They sat together, holding hands.
Rita rested her head on Gilbert's shoulder while he wrapped an arm around her.
After the play ended, they decided to have dinner at a nearby restaurant. Since it was close to the theater, they chose to walk there.
The entire way, Gilbert held her hand, his gaze rarely leaving her face.
Rita looked at the shops along the roadside while Gilbert seemed interested only in her.
"When are you going to stop staring at me?" Rita asked.
"It's not my fault you're so pretty," Gilbert replied.
"Thank you," Rita said, blushing.
He smiled.
"So, you're not asking for a divorce anymore?"
Rita teased, "I haven't decided yet."
"What?"
The moment she said that, she ran into a clothing store.
"I want to buy something."
Gilbert followed her inside.
There, he saw Navid with a girl.
He wanted to ignore him, but Navid had already seen him.