The sunlight peeked through the blinds of the apartnt, brushing against Katherine’s eyelids like a soft nudge to wake. She opened her eyes slowly, the warmth of the sun doing nothing to ease the heaviness in her chest. For a few seconds, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling. Then she sighed, forced herself up, and slid her feet into her slippers.
There was no ti to dwell—not with two energetic kids to get ready and a day ahead.
She moved around the apartnt quietly, starting with preparing breakfast. The clatter of pans and the aroma of butter sizzling on the skillet filled the air, bringing so illusion of normalcy. Maya and Nathan soon joined her, their laughter echoing softly as they playfully teased each other while brushing their teeth in tandem.
Katherine found herself smiling at them, though her hands moved slower than usual. Her thoughts weren’t in the kitchen.
Felix.
He didn’t co last night.
That wasn’t unusual on its own, but he had promised he would. And then there was the vague ssage. Sorry, sothing urgent ca up. She hadn’t replied, unsure what to even say.
"Mommy, are these socks the sa?" Nathan asked suddenly, holding up a green-striped sock and a yellow one with stars.
Katherine blinked back to the present and chuckled. "Hmm, no, those are for different days."
After helping them dress and packing their lunches, Leonard appeared at the front door, dressed in a sharp yet casual outfit. "Morning. You want to co with you guys?" he asked, slipping on his watch.
Katherine glanced at the kids already bouncing toward the door, then back at Leonard.
"It’s okay," she said with a soft smile. "I’ve got this."
He nodded, though the look in his eyes said he’d co if she asked.
By the ti she returned from dropping them off, the city had shifted into its usual rhythm. Katherine stood in the elevator of the office building, arms crossed loosely as her reflection stared back at her in the chro door. Her heart felt unsettled again, as if sothing she couldn’t na was pressing down on her.
Once she reached her floor, she stepped out, her heels clicking lightly on the polished tiles. Her eyes automatically drifted toward Felix’s glass office.
Empty.
No lights. No coat. No laptop bag.
Katherine’s brows pinched slightly. He was usually in by now. She walked slowly to her desk and sat down, placing her phone beside her keyboard. For a mont, she stared at the screen—debating whether to call him.
But just as her fingers hovered over the dial screen, her phone lit up.
Felix.
She imdiately picked it up. "Felix—I was just about to call you."
"I figured." His voice was warm but subdued. "I can’t co in today."
Katherine straightened up. "Why? Are you sick?" she asked, worry creeping into her tone.
"I wish," he said, letting out a dry chuckle. "No. It’s my grandfather. He was admitted to the hospital this morning. Mom and Dad and I are going to see him now."
Her breath caught. "Oh no... Is it serious?"
He exhaled on the other line. "I hope not. They said his vitals were a little unstable, but they’re running tests."
Katherine nodded instinctively, even though he couldn’t see it. "I rember you told before—he’s the one you’re really close to, right?"
"Yeah," Felix said softly, a brief silence falling over the line before he added, "Can you handle things in the office while I’m out?"
"Of course," she replied gently. "Don’t worry about anything here. Just take care of your family."
"Thank you. And... about last night," he added. "I’m sorry I didn’t show up. I had sothing urgent I couldn’t ignore."
Katherine paused. Her eyes flicked to the screen saver on her computer—an old photo of the twins with ketchup on their cheeks.
"It’s okay," she finally said. "You don’t need to explain. I understand."
"Thanks, Katherine. I’ll keep you updated."
"Please do."
After hanging up, she stared at the screen for a long while, her mind drifting again.
That woman from yesterday... the one who had walked in like she owned the place, with her glossy hair and confident eyes. Her voice was still vivid in Katherine’s ears. Who was she really?
She shook her head and got back to work, fingers typing without thought, her mind elsewhere.
Lunchti rolled in like a breeze. Katherine stood and stretched slightly before heading toward the elevators. Her stomach growled, though her appetite remained uncertain.
The office cafeteria bustled with voices and clattering trays. The sll of fried rice and miso soup filled the air. She walked slowly past the vending machines toward the water dispenser.
That’s when she heard it.
Two won near the vending machine, whispering with exaggerated expressions.
"You think that woman from yesterday is Mr. Crawford’s new girlfriend?"
Katherine froze mid-step. Her back imdiately pressed to the nearby wall, heart thudding.
"What girlfriend?" one of them asked in a hushed but excited voice.
"Seriously? You didn’t see? She ca up again. Blonde. Tall. Looked like she walked out of a perfu comrcial. Kissed him too the other day."
Katherine’s hand flew up to her mouth. Her eyes widened. Her body went cold.
Blonde. Kissed him.
Felix?
She pressed her palm harder against her lips, as if the gesture could stop the whirl of thoughts exploding in her mind.
The won kept talking.
"She acted like she belonged here. Honestly, I think she’s soone important. I an, Mr. Crawford didn’t exactly push her away..."
Katherine turned and walked quickly in the opposite direction, barely managing to keep her composure.
She took the stairs instead of the elevator, needing to be sowhere no one could see her face. She found an empty corner near the stairwell, sat on the bottom step, and wrapped her arms around her knees.
The rush of blood in her ears drowned out the world for a mont.
Who was that woman? Why didn’t Felix ntion her? Was that the "urgent" thing yesterday? Was he with her then too?
She didn’t want to jump to conclusions—but the dots were connecting themselves too clearly.
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