People ca in and out of the hotel’s entrance. The exterior of the hotel was lavish, and even from afar during the night, its extravagant appearance did not dim at all. Instead, it looked even more elegant in the eyes, attracting attention everywhere.
The Palace Hotel was just like its na: splendid and magnificent. And just like how unattainable it is to live in one, no ordinary individual can co to the place.
Landon stirred the wheels and stopped in front of the Palace Hotel. As soon as his car parked before the entrance, the valet imdiately rushed beside the car, his eyes lighting up with joy and excitent as he recognized the unique car plate number.
Getting out of his car, Landon gave his key and card to the valet, while saying, "Park it sowhere near the entrance."
He wasn’t planning to stay long. Once his talk with Kai was done, he would drive back to his residence and rest.
He didn’t know what Kai wanted. But he was curious why his best friend ntioned Lucy. Kai was never interested in his friends’ wives and partners, and he certainly never talked about them, even if they did sothing wrong.
So, why the sudden interest?
Landon got out of the elevator and entered the private bar on the eleventh floor. As soon as he stepped into the familiar place, the sll of alcohol and perfus breezed through his skin like a sticky sli. His brows furrowed in annoyance, and he couldn’t wait to get into their usual spot.
Unlike other bars, this place, however, was extrely modest. There was no noise or music shaking the entire floor, no people dancing in the middle of the dance floor, and the vulgar things that happened in bars did not happen there. Instead, jazz music played in the background, warm golden lights comforted the custor’s senses, and disciplined servers and bartenders stood in position.
"Mr. Westwood, let guide you to your room."
An old man wearing a black waistcoat, looking dignified approached him with a kind smile. It was the butler overseeing the entire bar. Having known already of Landon’s arrival, he had already stationed himself in front of the bar to welco him.
Landon wordlessly followed him, ignoring the curious gazes of the people inside the bar. They should be wondering who he was—that the old butler had to personally accompany him.
The old butler led him upstairs, where a room that took up the entire second floor was located. After he was done with his task, the old man said, "Please, get inside. The bar owner has been waiting for you."
Landon pushed the door open and saw a normal-looking room. However, what was strange about this room was that, inside it was another bar, where a man was already sitting on a stool and drinking with his head lowered.
"It has been a while, hasn’t it?" Kai didn’t turn as he swirled his glass, letting the golden liquid turn into a small whirlpool.
Landon moved his long legs and took the stool beside him. On top of the bar table, a glass with the sa Nolet’s Reserve gin.
Taking a small sip from the glass, Landon set it down gently before saying, "You wanted to talk about my wife?"
He didn’t even spare a single nonsense and went straight to the point, drawing out a chuckle from Kai, who took another huge gulp from his glass as if it were water.
He furrowed his brows, annoyed.
Kai caught a glimpse of his friend’s expression and couldn’t help but sigh. "Calm down; I haven’t even said a word yet."
However, he knew that Landon was extrely sensitive when it ca to his wife, who disappeared almost 3 years ago.
When Landon drew back his cold and hard gaze, Kai started speaking again. "When you first told you were getting married to another girl, I thought you were crazy. But we, n, understand each other too well. So, I thought you wanted to marry another woman to get revenge on Yvonne’s selfish action of abandoning you for her aspiration and other n."
Landon’s expression tightened as he clenched his hands on top of the bar table. Kai had been right with his guess. He truly understood him like no other. But Kai’s words still hit a nerve inside him that he desperately wanted to deny.
He knew he had made a mistake by using another woman to get revenge on Yvonne.
But what he regretted the most was that his actions drove Lucy away and hurt her more than he wanted.
Kai continued to speak, his voice lazy as he clearly summarized what the two years of Landon’s marriage life had been.
"You thought by marrying another woman, you could make Yvonne remorseful of her actions and co back. Understandably, she was the woman who has been by your side while you went through trials and pain during the loss of your father. So, you sought for her because she gave you that support your family couldn’t give you.
"Yet she betrayed you like everyone else and left you—"
"Just get to the point; don’t beat around the bush, Kai," Landon interjected, cutting him off. He didn’t need anybody to tell him where he had gone wrong; he had already known how he had buried himself in this mud, dragging along a pure and innocent soul like Lucy’s.
But he promised to make it right, even if it cost his soul to be taken.
Kai leaned toward the bar table with his forearms on top of each other, his broad chest pressed on them as his head lowered and took a deep breath.
"Lucy... what was she like?"
Kai’s question wasn’t strange, but this was the first ti soone asked him what he had thought of Lucy.
A whirl of emotions overwheld him as his mind slowly recalled the first ti his eyes laid on her.
...
It was the season of spring. The park near the campus was filled with the scent of fresh dew. The gloomy sky of winter finally saw the light of new beginnings and life. Several people walked around as if they were finally released from the cold imprisonnt, happily taking a stroll around the park.
And Landon stood there watching the people have fun while he was shrouded in the sa gloom of winter.
After standing in the sa spot for a while, he finally took a step forward.
But sothing seed to flash past his eyes, making his entire body rigid, and he stopped to glance to his right.
Under the big oak tree, a young woman sat on the grass, leaning on the trunk with her eyes closed.
Reviews
All reviews (0)