The Wrong Woman

Candice replied impassively, "Yes, but he's not as important as you are."

"Did he tell you to leave me?" Elio asked.

Candice fell silent.

Elio's face turned sour. He tightened his embrace, closed his eyes, and whispered into her ear, "Candice, ignore what anyone else might say. Don't even think about leaving me. Now that you're in my life, I'll never let you go."

Candice's heart ached with sympathy, sensing the deep, unspoken love Elio harbored for her. Though she harbored feelings for him, too, her love was different-much purer. She cherished him deeply but had restrained herself, never acting on her feelings or crossing any boundaries.

She wrapped her arms around Elio's neck, pulled herself up on her tiptoes, and whispered into his ear, "Let me tell you a secret."

Curiosity piqued, Elio tilted his head down, his ear brushing close to her lips, ready to catch every word.

"I have been in love with a man for ten years," Candice murmured.

his expression hardened. He unclasped Candice's hands from his neck and distanced himself. His voice detached

aback. With a flicker of irritation, he loosened his tie and glanced toward the

seemed distant and upset. "Don't wait up for me in the future. My eating schedule is all over the place. I don't even have

slighted, Candice murmured,

and then we can eat together." He picked up the dishes and carried them into the

the dishes into the microwave. Candice paused at the doorway, her

with his hands spread out, Elio hung his head, his posture exuding an unspoken loneliness as he waited

Candice stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him

her arms encircling his waist.

"Elio Hoffis," Candice whispered.

full name. He swallowed

Elio. I've

shock rendering him immobile. The microwave chimed, yet he still struggled to process her words, his heart pounding fiercely and his breathing