*Fine.* It took five years, but I finally saw him clearly.
---
When I returned to the office, the application form on Daniel Swanson's desk hadn't moved. The HR rep told me Daniel was out for two days attending a wedding.
I snapped a photo of the form and texted it to him.
Half an hour later, my phone rang.
"Audrey, fill out the digital version and email it to me."
"I sent it this morning, Mr. Swanson."
"Oh, right." He sounded distracted. "Haven't checked my inbox. It's been chaos. Mr. James invited me to an engagement banquet last minute. Completely forgot about work."
*Mr. James... engagement banquet?*
The phone slipped in my sweaty palm. A terrible suspicion took root.
Does he really plan to hide the *entire engagement* from me?
I didn't dare ask Daniel for details. I was afraid the truth would kill the last shred of me still holding on.
"Enjoy the party, sir," I managed to choke out.
I left work and went back to Matthew's villa. Dark. Cold. Empty.
Without him, it wasn't a home. Just a house.
Mechanically, I opened social media. Scrolled mindlessly until my thumb stopped.
Daniel Swanson had posted a video.
*Congratulations to the happy couple.*