Since She Met Lucian

"Wouldn't Lucian think it unusual that you and Jonny are living apart like this?" Courtney asked the question that Amelia feared the most.

She had already made a decision regarding this. She didn't think that it was a good idea to continue staying at Jonny's villa so she moved out. She only had thoughts about working hard for her and her baby's future.

"We may not be living together but we're still a couple," Amelia confessed.

"Sometimes, I really don't get what goes on in your head, Amelia. To be honest, it would've been better for you to have stayed with Jonny than live alone like this. You always surprise me by doing things first and only telling me afterwards when the deed is done." Courtney sighed at the end of the line. She added, "It's not wrong to choose to be independent. Look at Kent! He once promised me a bright future together, and look at what happened? He's a father now, just like that!"

Courtney hadn't mentioned Kent in a while and Amelia thought that she had already gotten over him. Hearing her talk about him again made Amelia realize that Courtney had only been pretending to be strong, when in fact, her heart had clearly not forgotten him.

"Just try to look ahead, Courtney. Better things will come," said Amelia, sounding optimistic. But she did believe in her heart that better things were in store for her friend.

Just like Courtney and Kent, she and Lucian could never go back to the way they were. Shelly dropped by that day to make Amelia cut off all contact with Lucian. She told her flatly to stay out of their lives.

Amelia had no intention of interfering with their lives, and she had an inkling that Lucian felt the same. It was as if their love was a treasure that they had to bury deep into the earth.

After a long chat with Courtney, Amelia sent Jonny a message to make him feel at ease.

The next morning, Amelia woke up early to get to work on time. She had been experiencing morning sickness recently, but she felt better that day.

She felt lost in the sea of new faces during her first day at work. It was lucky that a colleague showed her around and guided her as she started to familiarize herself with the whole morning routine.

Her name was Maggie Wang. She was thin, tall, and looked like she was in her thirties. She didn't smile once as she showed Amelia around. She only talked about work and never showed interest in getting to know her on a personal level.

"You're Amelia, right?" Upstairs, there was a break room and a small cafeteria for the supermarket's staff. Every noon, the employees were given an hour for lunch and in order to save money, Amelia chose to eat at the cafeteria. Maggie took the seat opposite hers and smiled at her for the first time.

Amelia relaxed after seeing Maggie's friendly expression. Returning her smile, she replied, "Yes! Thank you for walking me through the whole work routine earlier."

Maggie said it was nothing and continued warmly, "You look like you're the smartest among everyone here. You'll save me a lot of trouble."

"Really?" The compliment made Amelia blush. She looked around the cafeteria and realized that there was only the two of them in the room. She asked, "There are twenty people manning this supermarket, right? Why are we the only ones having lunch here?"

Amelia was still feeling shy around Maggie.

answered, "The rest of the staff

Amelia replied

you but you can call me Maggie," the

talked immediately

didn't smile at all when she was showing Amelia around the supermarket stations. Their other colleagues also seemed scared of her because of her standoffish behavior. But conversing with her then, Amelia

Maggie," Amelia mentioned her name with

when I was showing you around,"

I've always been

been one of Amelia's strong

your place before and I completely understand. But if you have

counted herself lucky for finding someone like Maggie at work. Her gratitude for her kindness made Amelia less nervous and

and fruits from the supermarket. She wanted to cook dinner for

her rented house when she saw a tall, familiar figure

silhouette... She couldn't be mistaken. It had to be

memory, she knew she would recognize him even with a passing glance. Seeing him

cozy. It was a bit different from the

flowers would bloom during April, but the ancient trees remained emerald green all year round. The walls of the residence were made with blue bricks. The house looked bright yet

her from a distance. He gave her a long lingering look before walking up to meet her.

Lucian bore a grudge

be wondering why I'm here," Lucian

see him. But she also knew that Lucian had a wide range of contacts so it wouldn't be difficult

in crisis, Lucian had been distracted by the company's problems, affording her the chance

Lucian?" Amelia said, trying

in front of her stood in a perfectly tailored suit that only made him

She had

at him with admiration but took great efforts to hide

Amelia?" Lucian mocked. Everything about him was cold, from his

to speak but

invite him in to chat so she merely stood there, trying to mask her embarrassment. No one spoke anything for a few minutes.

Lucian that she had lost more weight. Her face looked tired and gaunt. The bright eyes