As she went about her day, preparing for the lunch service at Savor, Kaith's mind kept wandering back to the secret she sensed Drake was keeping.
But she pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the menu and the customers. She couldn't let her personal life affect her work.
Just as the lunch service was ending, Maria approached her, a concerned look on her face.
"Kaith, I need to tell you something."
Kaith's heart skipped a beat.
"What is it?"
"I saw Drake and Sophia together last night," Maria said, her voice low.
"They were sneaking around, holding hands. I think they're dating, Kaith."
Kaith felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Why had Drake lied to her?
Why had he told her Sophia was just a friend?
She tried to process her emotions, to make sense of what she was feeling. But all she could think was that Drake had betrayed her trust.
"Thanks for telling me, Maria," Kaith said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Maria nodded, her eyes filled with sympathy.
"I'm sorry, Kaith. I know how much you care about him."
Kaith nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. She did care about Drake, more than she wanted to admit.
But now, she wasn't sure if she could ever trust him again.
As the afternoon wore on, Kaith found herself lost in thought. She couldn't concentrate on the kitchen, couldn't taste the flavors or smell the aromas.
All she could think about was Drake and Sophia, sneaking around behind her back.
She felt like a fool, like she'd been blind to the truth.
Just then, the kitchen door swung open and Drake walked in, a smile on his face.
"Hey, Kaith," he said, his eyes sparkling with charm.
"What's up?" He added
Kaith felt a surge of anger, of betrayal. How could he act so normal, so casual, when he'd been lying to her all along?
"Nothing, Drake," she said, her voice icy.
"Just wondering when you'd have the decency to tell me the truth."
Drake's smile faltered, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about?"
Kaith laughed, a bitter sound. "Don't play dumb, Drake. I know about you and Sophia."
Drake's face went white, his eyes darting around the kitchen as if searching for an escape.
"Kaith, I can explain," he said, his voice hesitant.
"Explain what?" Kaith spat, her anger boiling over.
"How you lied to me? How you sneaked around behind my back with Sophia?"
Drake took a step forward, his hands outstretched. "Kaith, please listen to me."
But Kaith was beyond listening. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut, like all the air had been sucked out of her.
"You lied to me, Drake," she repeated, her voice shaking with rage.
"You told me Sophia was just a friend."
Drake's eyes dropped, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
"I know, Kaith. I'm sorry."
Sorry wasn't enough. Not now, not after everything they'd shared.
Kaith turned away, her eyes stinging with tears. She couldn't look at Drake, couldn't bear the sight of him.
"Get out," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Get out of my kitchen, out of my life."
Drake hesitated, then turned and walked away, leaving Kaith alone with her shattered heart.
As the door swung shut behind him, Kaith felt a wave of grief wash over her. She'd trusted Drake, loved him, and he'd betrayed her in the worst possible way.
She slumped against the counter, her body shaking with sobs. How could he do this to her? How could he throw away their love like it meant nothing?
Maria came over, wrapping her arms around Kaith.
"I'm so sorry, Kaith. I had no idea it was this bad."
Kaith shook her head, unable to speak. She felt like she was drowning in her tears, suffocating under the weight of Drake's betrayal.
As the minutes ticked by, Kaith slowly regained control of herself. She wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and stood up straight.
"I need to get out of here," she said to Maria.
"I need some fresh air."
Maria nodded, handing Kaith her jacket.
"I'll cover for you. Take all the time you need."
Kaith nodded, grateful for her friend's support. She walked out of the kitchen, into the cool evening air, and took a deep breath.
She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing - she was done with Drake. Done with his lies, done with his betrayal.
As she walked away from Savor, Kaith felt a sense of liberation wash over her. She was free from Drake's toxic grasp, free to start anew.
But as she turned the corner, Kaith saw a figure waiting for her. Sophia, Drake's secret girlfriend, stood leaning against the wall, a smirk on her face.
"Well, well, well," Sophia said, her voice dripping with malice. "Look what we have here. The famous Kaith, brought low by love."
Kaith's eyes narrowed, her heart racing with anger. She was not going to let Sophia get the best of her.
"You think you've won, don't you?" Kaith said, her voice low and even.
"You think you've destroyed me with your lies and your secrets."
Sophia shrugged, her smirk growing wider. "I just told the truth, Kaith. You were too blind to see it."
Kaith took a step forward, her fists clenched.
"You're a manipulative, deceitful person, Sophia. And you're not even sorry, are you?"
Sophia laughed, a cold, mirthless sound.
"Sorry? Why should I be sorry? I got what I wanted - Drake, and the satisfaction of watching you fall."
Kaith felt a surge of anger, but she kept her cool. She wasn't going to let Sophia provoke her.
"You may have won this battle," Kaith said, her voice steady.
"But I'll win the war. I'll make sure everyone knows what you're really like, Sophia."
Sophia's smirk faltered for a moment, before she regained her composure.
"I'm shaking in my boots, Kaith."
Kaith turned to walk away, but Sophia's next words stopped her in her tracks.
"You'll never be able to move on from Drake, Kaith. You'll always love him, and he'll always love me."
Kaith felt a pang of pain, but she refused to let Sophia see it. She kept walking, leaving Sophia and her toxic words behind.
As she disappeared into the night, Kaith knew that she had a long road ahead of her. But she was ready to face it, to fight for her future and her happiness.