Chapter 8: A Heart That Pretends Not to Care
690 Words
Kathy's POV
I spent the entire night thinking about Luther's question.
"Do you regret it?"
Three words.
Yet they carried seven years of pain.
The truth was simple.
Yes, I regretted it.
I regretted every word I said that day.
Every tear he shed.
Every moment I spent pretending I didn't care.
But regret was useless when the damage had already been done.
Some things could be repaired.
Some things couldn't.
And I wasn't sure which category my relationship with Luther belonged to.
---
The next morning, I arrived at Apex Technology earlier than usual.
I wanted to avoid unnecessary conversations.
Especially with him.
But fate seemed determined to make that impossible.
As soon as I stepped into the office, I found a large stack of documents waiting on my desk.
I frowned.
"What is this?"
A nearby employee looked over.
"Those are the documents Mr. Ashford needs reviewed before the afternoon meeting."
I looked at the pile.
There had to be hundreds of pages.
I sighed.
"Of course."
I sat down and started working.
Hours passed.
My coffee became cold.
My eyes became tired.
But I continued.
I needed this job.
I couldn't afford to fail.
---
Inside his office, Luther watched through the glass wall.
He noticed everything.
The way Kathy refused to complain.
The way she worked even when she was exhausted.
The way she always apologized first.
It was different from the Kathy he remembered.
The old Kathy had been confident.
She had always spoken her mind.
This Kathy seemed like someone who had been carrying a heavy burden for years.
He frowned.
Why was he noticing these things?
He turned away from the window.
He didn't want to understand her.
Understanding her meant accepting that maybe his memories weren't the whole truth.
And he wasn't ready for that.
---
"Kathy."
I looked up immediately.
Luther stood beside my desk.
"Yes, Mr. Ashford?"
He glanced at the documents.
"Have you finished?"
"Almost."
"How long?"
I checked the remaining pages.
"About thirty minutes."
He nodded.
"Continue."
I waited for him to leave.
But he didn't.
For a moment, his eyes moved to my untouched lunch.
"You haven't eaten."
I froze.
"It's fine."
"It's already afternoon."
"I'm not hungry."
His expression changed slightly.
"You always do that."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
He seemed to realize what he had said.
For a second, his mask slipped.
Then it returned.
"Nothing."
He walked away.
But I remained frozen.
You always do that.
Those words belonged to the old Luther.
The Luther who knew me.
The Luther who cared.
---
Later that evening, I received a phone call.
It was the hospital.
My heart immediately tightened.
"Hello?"
The nurse explained that my mother's condition had become unstable and she needed further medical attention.
I gripped my phone tightly.
"I'll come immediately."
I rushed out of the building.
I didn't notice the person standing near the entrance watching me.
Luther.
He had been about to leave when he saw the panic on my face.
For a moment, he wanted to ask what happened.
But pride stopped him.
Instead, he watched her disappear into the night.
---
Luther's POV
I hated that I was worried.
I hated that after everything, seeing her distressed still affected me.
Seven years ago, I thought losing her was the hardest thing I would ever experience.
I was wrong.
Seeing her again and pretending I didn't care was worse.
My phone rang.
"Mr. Ashford."
It was my assistant.
"Your father called. He wants you to attend the family dinner this weekend."
I frowned.
"I'll think about it."
After ending the call, I looked toward the empty street.
Everything was becoming complicated.
Kathy was back.
My past was returning.
And my family was demanding my attention.
I had a feeling the peaceful life I built for myself was about to disappear.
---
At the hospital, Kathy sat beside her mother's bed, holding her hand.
She looked exhausted.
But she refused to cry.
Because she had promised herself one thing.
She would protect her mother.
No matter how difficult life became.
Even if it meant facing Luther every single day.
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