Stanley rang the doorbell.
It wasn’t long before the apartment door swung open, revealing Wendy’s graceful figure in the doorway. “Who is it -Mr. Hawk?”
Wendy’s eyes met Stanley’s, and he could see that she had changed into a loose, comfortable home dress. The delicate makeup she had worn earlier was now gone, revealing a fresh, natural beauty–a face untouched by powder, glowing with the softness of the evening/
She looked a world away from the radiant woman at the diner party.
“Do you have a moment?” Stanley asked.
Wendy’s fingers twitched nervously. “Is there something you need? You can just say it‘
Stanley opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a familiar voice echoed from inside. “Who’s there, Wendy?”
Stanley looked up and saw Samuel standing in the apartment.
Samuel, in slippers and holding an apple, was casually biting into it. “Mr. Hawk, what brings you here?”
Stanley’s words caught in his throat. He hadn’t expected Samuel to be there.
Wendy’s gaze shifted slightly, and she spoke again, her tone a little more guarded, “So? Is there something you need? If not, I’ll be going inside.”
Stanley, his lips pressed into a thin line, looked at her, then glanced inside again. “Just you and Samuel in there?”
“Is it strange for us to be here together?” Wendy countered, her tone sharp.
Stanley’s face hardened, his aristocratic features growing colder. The tension in the air grew thick.
Just then, Halsey peeked his head out from the kitchen. “Wendy, are you done? The food’s going to burn!”
Then, Cecelia’s voice joined in from inside. “Wendy, hurry up!”
Stanley’s expression remained icy as he processed the voices. Inside, there was more than just Samuel–Halsey and Cecelia were there as well.
Yet, that didn’t ease the tension for Stanley. Knowing that Samuel was hanging out with Wendy’s two closest friends made it clear that they were all very familiar with one another, and they often spent time together.
Samuel looked at Stanley, a polite smile on his face. “Mr. Hawk, we’re making dinner. Have you eaten yet? You’re welcome to join us.”
Stanley, still hungry from his hurried return to find Wendy, opened his mouth to accept the invitation.
Before he could speak, however, Wendy interrupted him.
“No, he doesn’t need to join us.” She turned back to Stanley, her tone firm. “We’re having dinner now. Bye.‘
reached
With that, she reached for the door, and with a swift motion, closed it in his face with a sharp slam.
Stanley stood there for a moment, stunned. Then, he let out a quiet, self–deprecating smile. He turned and walked back to his apartment.
Stanley lived alone, so his apartment was quiet–empty, save for the soft light in the living room. Tall and lean, he stood before the floor–to–ceiling windows, looking out at the sea of lights below.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 47
He pulled out his phone and opened Halsey’s social media feed. She had just posted something.
[Wendy cooked for us herself! So many dishes, and they all casted amazing! I wish I had a bigger stomach!]
Along with the post was a photo of a beautifully arranged fable filled with food that looked irresistible, Wendy, Samuel, Halsey, and Cecelia were all raising glasses to each other in a toast.
Stanley clicked on the photo and studied it carefully, his eyes lingering on it for several moments,
A cold breeze drifted through the room, adding to the stillness of the night. It seemed to only make Stanley’s handsome features more mysterious, giving him a touch of somber elegance,
Suddenly, he remembered how long it had been since he’d had one of Wendy’s meals.
Wendy was an excellent cook–something Stanley knew all too well. He had been in a coma for three years, and after waking, he had needed extensive recovery.
During that time, Wendy had faithfully prepared meals for him every day, waiting for his return home.
