It was 10 a.m., and still—no call.
I told myself I wouldn't call him first.
Let him come to me.
Let him feel the silence he created.
But by noon, not even a text.
The hours stretched like claws across my nerves.
I stared at my phone, fighting the urge, biting my lip until it bled.
Finally, I gave in.
I dialed his number.
Once. No answer.
Twice. Nothing.
The third time I didn't even wait for the ringing to stop before hanging up.
My chest ached with humiliation.
I turned my phone off and tossed it on the office table.
"Fine," I muttered to the empty room.
"Let him choke on his pride."
Hunger clawed at me, or maybe it was just anger disguised as hunger.
Either way, I needed air.
I grabbed my bag and took a cab to the restaurant near the boutique store
It wasn't far.
Just familiar enough to feel safe.
The moment I sat down, the chair still cold beneath me, fate decided to mock me.
There he was.
Bon!!
Walking into the restaurant, holding a little girl's hand the same smile that used to melt me now twisted my insides.
Just perfect.
My jaw clenched.
My fingers drummed on the table.
My heels tapped against the marble floor.
Tap!! tap!!
Tap!! tap!! each sound a heartbeat of fury I could barely contain.
He didn't see me at first.
Or maybe he did, and chose to ignore me.
That was worse.
His daughter laughed, tugging at his hand.
He leaned down, smiled.
That smile should be mine only..
And for a split second, I hated how gentle he looked.
Shit!!
How complete he seemed without me.
I gripped the edge of the table, nails digging into the wood.
My pulse was fire, my breath sharp.
So this is how it feels to be replaced.
I will teach you a lesson.
I grabbed my purse and stood up before my heart could talk me out of it.
My heels clicked sharply against the floor a warning, a scream, a heartbeat I couldn't silence.
I didn't look back.
No way.
I didn't want to.
The air in the restaurant felt too small, too thick with the smell of betrayal and perfume that wasn't mine.
I pushed the glass door open, the bell above it chiming like mockery.
Outside, the sun was too bright.
It burned against my tears.
"Ella!"
My name.
I froze.
I wanted to keep walking, but that voice.
His voice always found a way to stop me.
I turned slightly, just enough to see him running after me, his hand slipping from the little girl's.
She was left behind, confused, calling for him.
Dad!!
"Don't, Bon," I said sharply, my throat tight.
"Go back to your Family"
He stopped right in front of me, breathing hard, eyes wild the same handsome eyes that once promised forever.
"She's not" He stopped himself, lowering his tone.
"Ella, listen to me. It's not what you think."
I laughed bitter, trembling.
"Oh, it's exactly what I think.
"You're holding your pressumed child, looking like the perfect father while I'm sitting there like a fool waiting for a call you never made!"
People were starting to look.
A few waiters peeked through the restaurant windows.
I didn't care.
I wanted to hurt me!!
"Ella, please," he said, his voice breaking.
"You're angry, I get it. Just… come with me. Please."
"I don't need your pity," I snapped, brushing past him.
But he caught my wrist gently, desperately.
His touch still had the same electricity it always did.
Damn him.
"Let me explain," he whispered, stepping closer.
"Just let me take you somewhere quiet. Away from this."
My breath hitched.
His eyes on mine, full of guilt and something dangerously close to love.
"Fine," I whispered, my voice shaking.
"But if you lie to me again, Bon… I swear you'll never see me again."
He nodded, relief flooding his face.
Without another word, he opened the car door for me.
As I slid in, my heart raced anger still burning, jealousy still alive but beneath it all, a pull I couldn't deny.
Maybe I wasn't ready to let him go.
Not yet.
Few minutes later.
The car stopped beside a quiet park just a few streets from the restaurant.
The air smelled of rain and jasmine, soft and heavy.
Neither of us spoke for a while.
I sat there with my arms folded, eyes fixed on the window, watching strangers pass people who didn't know what it felt like to be torn between anger and love.
Then Bon finally spoke.
His voice was low, careful.
"Ella," he said, "it's the first time I've ever felt what it's like to be a father."
I turned to him, confused, still burning. "Father? To who? That little girl?"
He nodded slowly.
"She's my daughter Ella I'm just trying to be there for her.But don't—don't think for a second that it means I've forgotten you."
My lips trembled, but I kept my silence.
"You're still here," he whispered, pressing his hand to his chest.
"Right here. No matter what happens, no matter who walks in, you don't disappear from me."
I looked at him then really looked and for a moment, I saw the same man I once fell for.
The warmth in his eyes, the sincerity trembling in his voice.
My anger melted into confusion, into a desperate ache I couldn't name.
He reached across the seat and touched my cheek.
His thumb brushed away a tear I hadn't realized had fallen.
"Don't cry, Ella," he murmured.
"If you cry, I fall apart."
"Besides you're expecting my twins," he added gently.
Darm you.
I wanted to push his hand away. Instead, I leaned into it.
Back to the restaurant.
The little girl asked her mother about Ella.
Tessa's voice hardened.
"That woman," she said quietly, "she's the one who separated us. The reason everything fell apart." Her eyes never left her daughter.
"She poisoned our peace, Ella. She wanted what we had, and she got it through lies."
She added. "Hate her if you must, but don't ever let her near you again. Promise me that."
"I promise," she said softly.