After The Divorce: Blair's Rise To Power

A Familiar Heartbeat

Jonathan's expression softened even further as he heard Blair say his name. He could see the pain etched in every line of her face, the way her shoulders shook not just from the cold but from something much deeper. Without hesitation, he sat down beside her on the cold sidewalk, not caring about his expensive suit.

Blair was startled when Jonathan suddenly sat down next to her. She kept staring at the man, noticing how Jonathan appeared to be smiling. He looked happy, so different from Blair who appeared completely disheveled due to her sadness.

"Are you really okay?" Jonathan asked again, and Blair immediately nodded her head.

The man then reached into his pants pocket and handed Blair a handkerchief. "You might need this," Jonathan said, still wearing his gentle smile. Somehow, seeing that man's smile, Blair's sadness lessened. She began to feel a little embarrassed, appearing so pitiful like this in front of her ex-boyfriend.

"Thank you," Blair replied briefly, wiping the tears from her face with the handkerchief while slightly covering her face.

"I never expected to meet you in a condition like this. This is a bit embarrassing..." Blair complained, but Jonathan immediately shook his head.

"That's not important. I'm actually happy to be able to meet you... it's been almost seven years, hasn't it?"

Blair fell silent for a moment. She couldn't even remember how long it had been since she last met Jonathan, but the man seemed to remember it clearly. Blair nodded slowly; she had indeed been separated from Jonathan for a very long time, until she eventually married Finn.

She remembered how they had finally decided to break up, simply because Jonathan had to move to London for his family company's business. Blair never expected this man would return.

"The last I heard about you was that you had gotten married," Jonathan continued. His tone now didn't sound as cheerful as before, different from earlier. Blair didn't notice this at all, but hearing about her marriage, she fell silent again. The pain in her chest returned, though Blair now tried to hide it.

Jonathan, however, noticed the change in Blair's facial expression. He now understood that there were problems in Blair's marriage.

"Sorry if I'm being insensitive. I didn't mean to..."

"No! It's okay," Blair interrupted, forcing a smile as she looked back at Jonathan. "About my marriage, my husband and I..."

"You don't need to tell me about it, Blair," Jonathan said gently, his voice carrying a warmth that Blair had almost forgotten existed. "I don't want to hear something that will only make you sadder. I understand. Besides, we just met again. It would be rude if I immediately asked you to tell me what you're going through."

Blair fell silent again. It had been so long since she had received such warm words and smiles. Throughout her marriage to Finn, she had never received that again. She only got angry shouts and insults from Finn. Because of that, Blair was a little surprised by Jonathan's kindness.

The contrast was stark and painful. Where Finn's words cut like knives, Jonathan's voice was like a balm to her wounded soul. She had forgotten what it felt like to be spoken to with such genuine care, without hidden motives or conditions attached.

"It's getting late, and the air is getting colder. Let me take you home," Jonathan said, standing up from where he sat. He extended his hand again to help Blair get up with him.

As if hypnotized, Blair also got up, but when she stood, she felt her head spinning and experienced terrible dizziness. She hadn't been drunk like this in a long time, so Blair was experiencing quite severe side effects. The world tilted dangerously around her, and she had to grip Jonathan's arm to steady herself.

"Blair, can you walk? Blair..." Jonathan kept calling her, but Blair just stood frozen in place. The alcohol had hit her harder than she'd realized, and her body felt disconnected from her mind.

Jonathan moved closer, about to hold Blair's face to check on her, but suddenly Blair vomited, and all of her vomit splattered onto the shirt Jonathan was wearing.

Blair was extremely shocked. She covered her mouth with her hands while staring at Jonathan with wide eyes. "Jo! Forgive me!" she cried out, feeling guilty. Blair was about to extend her hand to clean Jonathan's shirt, but Jonathan's hand quickly grabbed hers.

"Don't touch it, Blair. Your hands will get dirty too. Let me clean it myself," Jonathan said. Unlike Blair who looked panicked, Jonathan appeared calm, and the man even seemed to chuckle with amusement.

"You haven't changed," he said, still laughing softly.

The familiar sound of his laughter brought back a flood of memories. How many times had he laughed like that during their relationship? How many embarrassing moments had he turned into something light and manageable with just his gentle humor?

"Stop it, Jo. I'm very shocked because I've dirtied your clothes," Blair exclaimed in annoyance. Since long ago, Jonathan had indeed been very fond of joking and always made Blair annoyed, but in the most endearing way possible.

"It's okay. I have other clothes in my car. Come on, let's go. I'll take you home." Blair immediately shook her head; she didn't want to trouble the man any further.

"I can go home by taxi. You don't need to drive me. Go change your shirt quickly." But suddenly, Jonathan pulled her hand; he apparently didn't want to accept Blair's refusal.

"Jo! I can go home by myself!" Blair felt like she was back seven years ago. Jonathan had never changed; he always treated her like this—protective, stubborn, and refusing to let her face difficulties alone.

Jonathan pulled Blair to get into his car, and finally, somewhat reluctantly, Blair sat down while Jonathan ran to the door on the other side.

After Jonathan got into the car, he took out a t-shirt and put it on, causing Blair to look away because she was startled. Her cheeks flushed despite herself, and she found herself stealing glances at him through the corner of her eye.

"This man, isn't he embarrassed to change his clothes in front of other people?" she muttered to herself, but because his shirt was dirty due to her actions, Blair chose not to say anything.

The casual t-shirt transformed Jonathan's appearance completely. Gone was the polished businessman, replaced by someone who looked more approachable, more like the Jonathan she had once known intimately. It was unsettling how easily he could slip back into the role of someone she felt comfortable with.

After Jonathan changed his clothes and was about to put away his shirt, Blair immediately stopped him.

"Let me take it home and wash it," she said, but Jonathan shook his head. "No need, I can wash it at home."

"No, Jo. At least, I have to make up for my mistake," Blair insisted again. The guilt was eating at her—not just about the shirt, but about so much more. Here was Jonathan, being nothing but kind to her after she had broken his heart years ago, and she had repaid his kindness by literally being sick on him.

Jonathan smiled, and suddenly an idea crossed his mind. "Alright, you can wash it..." Blair nodded, reaching for the shirt again until Jonathan pulled her hand once more.

"But how about washing it at my place? I also haven't eaten in a while. I'll cook something for you."

Jonathan's offer somewhat shocked Blair. Go to her ex-boyfriend's house? In the middle of a night like this? After everything that had happened between them, after the way she had left him, it seemed almost surreal that he would extend such an invitation.

"Jonathan, I..." she started, but found herself at a loss for words. The rational part of her mind screamed that this was a bad idea. She was vulnerable, emotional, and slightly intoxicated. Going to his place would be crossing a line she wasn't sure she was ready to cross.

But there was another part of her—a part that had been starved of genuine kindness for so long—that desperately wanted to accept. When was the last time someone had offered to cook for her? When was the last time someone had looked at her with such gentle concern instead of anger or disappointment?

"I know what you're thinking," Jonathan said softly, his voice understanding. "And I'm not asking for anything more than the chance to make sure you're okay. You're clearly not in any condition to be alone right now, and I'd feel terrible letting you go home like this."

Blair studied his face in the dim light of the car's interior. There was no hidden agenda in his expression, no ulterior motive she could detect. Just the same honest concern that had always been one of his most endearing qualities.

"Besides," he added with a small smile, "you did promise to wash my shirt. And I make a mean grilled cheese sandwich, if I remember your comfort food preferences correctly."

Despite everything, Blair found herself smiling for the first time that evening. Of course he remembered. Jonathan had always been attentive to details like that, always remembering the little things that mattered to her.

"You remember that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I remember a lot of things, Blair," he said, his tone gentle but significant. "More than you might think."

The weight of his words settled between them, carrying years of unspoken history. Blair felt tears threatening again, but this time they weren't entirely born of sadness. There was something else mixed in—gratitude, perhaps, or the bittersweet recognition of what she had once had and lost.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice barely audible. "But just to wash the shirt and maybe... maybe for some food. Nothing more."

Jonathan nodded, understanding the boundaries she was setting. "Nothing more," he agreed. "Just two old friends helping each other out."

As he started the car and pulled away from the curb, Blair couldn't help but wonder if she was making another mistake. But for the first time in years, a mistake that felt like it might lead somewhere better rather than worse. The familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the new car smell created an oddly comforting atmosphere, and for a moment, Blair allowed herself to relax slightly.