Sophia's words reminded her of the whirlwind she'd lived through recently—her stepmother's schemes, Vivian's betrayal, and Ethan Caldwell's sudden change of heart. But she had no choice but to move forward.
Her two-week leave from work was ending tomorrow. She had to keep her job if she wanted to survive in this city.
The prestigious Cross name meant nothing to her anymore. The family's wealth and reputation were out of reach, and she needed to stand on her own two feet.
Returning to work, Elena buried herself in her tasks. No one at the company knew she was the eldest daughter of the Cross family or her past relationship with Ethan Caldwell. Her cold demeanor kept people at a distance.
Colleagues assumed she was just a capable, single woman with a reserved personality.
Focused on work, Elena managed to avoid thinking about Damian. After their parting, they hadn't seen each other for over two weeks. They only exchanged occasional phone calls, both too busy to meet.
Elena worked as a translator, often staying late to meet deadlines. That night was no exception.
By 11 p.m., the office was empty, and she was the last to leave. She hurried to the bus stop, only to watch the last bus pull away before she could catch it.
Sighing, she muttered, "Looks like I'll have to take a taxi again."
She winced at the thought of spending more money.
Just then, a familiar car pulled up beside her.
The window rolled down, revealing Damian Blackwell with a charming smile. "Elena, need a ride?"
Elena blinked, momentarily dazed. It had been weeks since she'd seen him, and his sudden appearance left her stunned.
Damian stepped out of the car, opening the passenger door for her like a true gentleman. His eyes gleamed with warmth. "What's wrong? Has it been so long that you don't recognize your own boyfriend? I guess I'll have to remind you tonight."
Elena's heart skipped a beat. "Why are you here?" she managed to ask.
"I got off work early to see you," Damian said, his tone soft. "I've been swamped lately, and I've neglected you. Are you mad at me?"
Elena's lips parted, but no words came.
Damian's presence was magnetic, his gaze unwavering. In that moment, the distance between them vanished, leaving only the warmth of his company.
"No, I've also been busy lately," Elena said as she slid into the passenger seat. Her voice was steady, but she felt awkward. It had been weeks since they'd spent time together—she'd nearly forgotten she had a boyfriend.
Damian glanced at her as he pulled onto the road. "I suppose you haven't had dinner yet. Let's grab a bite."
"You don't have to—"
Before she could finish, Damian cut her off smoothly. "You're my girlfriend now. It's my responsibility to take care of you, including getting you to and from work safely. It's too late for you to be out alone."
Elena wanted to protest but decided against it.
Soon, Damian pulled up in front of an exclusive, high-end restaurant with sleek glass windows and understated elegance.
Elena's eyes widened in disbelief. "We're eating here? This place is ridiculously expensive. And isn't it members-only with strict requirements?"
She remembered coming here once with Sophia, only to be turned away despite Sophia's connections. Even the Cross family hadn't met the criteria for membership.
Damian's tone was light, almost indifferent. "It's decent enough."
Elena blinked in disbelief. He spoke as if this exclusive restaurant were just another casual spot.
"Damian, let's go somewhere else. Don't waste money on this. I'm really not that hungry," she urged, thinking he might not know the sheer cost of dining here.
Damian took her hand gently, his smile reassuring. "You don't need to worry about that. A boyfriend taking his girlfriend out for dinner isn't a big deal."
"But this place is over the top. And we probably can't even get in."
Before she could say more, a familiar, grating voice interrupted from behind.
"Elena? What a surprise! You're dining here too?"
Elena didn't need to turn around to recognize Selena Cross's syrupy voice.
Selena sauntered over, clinging possessively to Ethan Caldwell's arm. Her eyes gleamed with thinly veiled malice. "How coincidental. Matthew and I were just about to have dinner here. Let's go in together."
Elena's jaw tightened as she met Selena's smug gaze. Despite their last hostile encounter, Selena had the audacity to appear in front of her again.
Selena's gaze flickered to Damian, and her eyes widened with interest. "Is this your boyfriend? My, he's quite handsome."
Elena detected the undercurrent of envy in Selena's voice.
"Yes, he's my boyfriend," Elena stated firmly, her tone cool.
Selena's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Really? When did you find yourself such a catch? You never mentioned him before."
Elena's eyes narrowed, sensing Selena's intention to provoke her, possibly to flaunt her relationship with Ethan.
Hooking her arm around Damian's, Elena shot back, "I don't owe you updates about my life."
Ethan's expression darkened as he stared at them. His lips thinned into a grim line. "Elena, stop being ridiculous."
His voice was cold and sharp, laced with irritation.
To him, it was clear—Elena had sought him out, flaunting this man to make him jealous.
Elena met Ethan's accusing gaze with steely defiance. She refused to be rattled by his assumptions.
"Damian," she said softly, "bend down a little."
Damian hesitated, unsure of her intention, but complied.
Without warning, Elena wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed him.
It was brief, just a gentle brush of lips, but enough to make Damian freeze for a second before he leaned into it, clearly enjoying the moment.
When she pulled away, his lips curved into a playful smile.