Justin was left dumbfounded as his mysterious goddess abruptly cut him off during their phone call. Her voice came through the phone at a piercing volume, causing his eardrum to ring.
"I waited for you last night," she shouted, and her words were like a tidal wave crashing over him.
"All night, in fact. All by myself. You didn't even show up. You playboy. Don't ever call this number again." With that, the line went dead.
Justin stared at his phone, utterly perplexed by this unexpected turn of events. He scratched his head, trying to piece together the puzzle.
If she had been waiting for him last night, and he hadn't shown up, then...
Just who in the world had he spent the night with?
Kyle had desired her, even though he had been somewhat inebriated last night. He had confessed his feelings quite explicitly.
However, Amy couldn't bring herself to succumb to his advances solely because he had confessed and called her his mysterious goddess.
She couldn't believe she had allowed herself to be so impulsive and naive.
She remembered the rapid beating of her heart when he kissed and embraced her. It had felt exquisite, like she had entered a world of pleasure and enchantment.
When she awoke, she found herself walking the streets, having left the hotel in a daze.
Why had she acted that way? Why hadn't she waited until morning to discuss their encounter with him, to explain her situation? Perhaps they could have established a genuine connection.
But deep down, she knew the truth. She feared that when morning came, the enchantment would vanish, and the spell would be broken. She couldn't bear the thought of losing that magical memory.
And, as a bonus, she had a part of Kyle within her, even if it seemed like she had taken it without his consent. But then again, he had taken her innocence, so perhaps they were even.
Now, she found herself wandering aimlessly through Central Queenstown, surrounded by tourists going in and out of cafes and breakfast bars at the early hour of 7 a.m.
The sun was gradually rising behind the majestic eastern mountains, casting a shimmering light on the peaks.
She checked her phone; she had been walking for two hours. Spotting a park bench, she decided to take a break.
Her gaze drifted toward Queen Hotel, but she wasn't ready to return to her suite or face Larry just yet. She wanted to savor the memories a while longer because she knew that seeing the real Kyle in the morning would be different.
How would he react when he saw her again? Would he even remember what had transpired last night?
Had he texted her simply for the sake of another night together? Questions swirled in her mind, and she didn't know how to act when she encountered him. Strangely, she felt more attached to the Kyle of last night than the daytime Kyle.
He had been different, intimate, unlike the usually businesslike man she knew.
But there was nothing she could do now except let fate take its course. Her pregnancy was inevitable, and she hoped for it to be a reality.
The aroma of freshly baked bread and brewed coffee filled the air, awakening her senses and reminding her that she had yet to eat.
Entering one of the cafes, she ordered breakfast. There was nothing like pancakes with strawberries and honey, accompanied by a pot of aromatic green tea, to start the day and confront reality.
As she indulged in her meal, her thoughts wandered. The honey on her tongue was as sweet as the kiss from last night—before Kyle.
Her cheeks flushed at the memory. She was determined to keep that memory alive, and she promised herself that she would tell her future child about the love they were a product of, even if Kyle had been under the influence of alcohol.
As she continued to savor her meal, her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a sight just three tables away that almost made her choke.
Amy blinked, thinking it must be an illusion. The person sitting there, devouring a steak with an expression of anger as if someone had stolen his beloved Ferrari, looked remarkably like the Casanova from her past in Chicago.
But this was Queenstown; it couldn't be him, could it? Amy rubbed her eyes in disbelief, but Justin's image remained.
She couldn't believe her misfortune—why did she have to encounter him here? Why was fate conspiring against her?
Desperate to avoid his gaze, Amy devoured her meal at record speed, nearly choking a few times as her attention wavered between her food and Justin's table. She guzzled hot green tea, almost burning her throat in the process.
With her meal hastily finished, Amy paid the bill and swiftly left the café, making her way back to Queen Hotel.
She needed to escape him and savor her memories from last night. She didn't want to see him today. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts. Stepping into the elevator, she finally breathed a sigh of relief as the doors closed.
Examining a painting of red roses in the elevator, Amy felt a strange desire welling up inside her, her cheeks burning at the thought of her and Kyle entwined like those rose vines.
She shook her head, trying to push those thoughts away. She would need to visit Helen and Laura in Chicago to tell them about her adventure through Larry's scheme.
As Amy mused, the elevator doors dinged open once more. She straightened herself, not wanting to appear childish. However, when she turned around to face the newcomer, she realized that fate had no intention of being kind to her.