When Anastasia awoke, the room was pitch black, and she couldnt gauge the time. She moved slightly, reaching for her phone on the bedside table, only to be pulled into a warm embrace.
"Go back to sleep," Edward murmured, pressing a kiss to her hair. His lazy tone was enchanting, lulling her back to sleep in no time.
She woke again to bright daylight, but Edward was nowhere to be found. Sitting up, she hugged the blanket to herself, reminiscing about the tenderness of the night before. Their secret marriage seemed to be on the right track.
Noticing Edwards phone still on the bedside table, she got up, freshened up, and turned on the TV. The room phone rang; it was the front desk asking if she wanted breakfast in her room or in the restaurant. She decided on the latter, craving some porridge, pickles, and a small piece of cake.
As she approached the restaurant, she saw a familiar silhouette. Dressed in casual grey, he sat by the window, leisurely sipping black coffee and reading the latest newspaper. The morning light filtered through the camphor tree leaves outside, casting a dappled glow on him, and for a moment, it was like she was back in early autumn at the age of eighteen when they first met.
It was Fitzwilliam Darcy, and he was back. Anastasia stood rooted to the spot, her steps faltering. Suddenly, a woman in a business suit hurried past her, stopping beside Fitzwilliam. With a flirtatious laugh, she kissed his cheek and sat down opposite him.
It was Elizabeth Bennet. Of course, she wouldnt be absent. Anastasia just hadnt expected that after five years, they would still be together, seemingly unfazed by their past.
Arent the homewrecker and the cheater supposed to end up miserable and alone? Why were the two before her so at ease and affectionate?
Before she could gather her thoughts, Elizabeth noticed her and approached with a smug expression. "Oh, look who it is. The lady from the morgue. Long time no see. Arent you afraid, working with corpses all day? I suppose youre still single, right?"
Anastasia felt a wave of nausea at the memory of the video she had seen, but any lingering feelings for Fitzwilliam had long since dissipated. She saw no reason to engage with Elizabeths provocation.
Her stomach began to ache, and Anastasia frowned, wanting to disengage from the conversation. She tried to sidestep them, but Elizabeth grabbed her arm. "Dont leave on account of us. We were roommates in college, and I remember you always talking about seducing the hottie from the business management department. Hows that going? Still single, I suppose?"
"Elizabeth!" Fitzwilliam admonished in a low voice.
But Elizabeth, taking Anastasias silence for weakness, continued her taunts. "Dont be like that. We were college mates, and I heard all about your plans to get into bed with the business management god, Fitzwilliam Darcy. Why are you so cold now we meet?"
Anastasias anger flared, and she raised her hand to slap Elizabeth, but it was caught in a firm grip. The person holding her wrist gently pulled her back into a protective embrace.
Edward stood there, his right arm around Anastasia, as he brushed away Elizabeths hand with a flick of his left. "Such indecent language. Do all your college mates lack breeding and shame?"
He released Anastasias wrist and rubbed her arm gently. "Lets leave. Its too noisy here," Anastasia said, not wanting to stay a moment longer.
Edward nodded, and with his arm still around her, they turned towards the elevator.
"Hey—" Elizabeth tried to say more, but Fitzwilliam held her back. "Weve made enough of a scene this morning. Arent you hungry? Finish up your case for this morning, and then you can head back."
Elizabeth fumed but left without further protest. In the elevator, Edward mentioned he had taken care of some work and had booked a flight back to City C for the afternoon. He then asked Anastasia if she had decided on the new items for their home.
Distracted, Anastasia responded absentmindedly before suddenly questioning, "Arent you curious about those two people just now?"
"I can guess. Probably a sad story of being cheated on by a roommate," Edward said, taking off his glasses and massaging the bridge of his nose.
His dismissive attitude towards her past made Anastasias anger flare up again. If he didnt want to listen, she would tell him anyway.
"Five years ago, I was about to get married to him. I was busy with the wedding preparations, going out early and coming back late. One day, I left the wedding planning book from the hotel at his place, so I went back to get it. Thats when I saw the other womans shoes. I was too scared to go into the bedroom, too afraid to face the truth. It was the woman who sent me the video of their affair, forcing me to confront it all and cancel the ridiculous wedding."
"What are you angry about?" Edward asked, putting his glasses back on and frowning at her.
"Im not angry..." Anastasia was taken aback by his question. She hadnt felt this out of control when facing Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam, so why did she struggle to manage her emotions around him?
"I think I might be falling for you," she murmured, gazing into his eyes, seeing her own reflection there.