MY FAT NERD EX-CRUSH IS NOW MY CEO

THE MISUNDERSTANDING

EPISODE 12 — THE MISUNDERSTANDING

Marriage is one of the most beautiful relationships in the world.

After marriage, you are no longer alone. You have someone who is truly yours—someone you can share your thoughts, fears, happiness, and even your smallest secrets with.

There is a special kind of peace in looking at the person you love. A peace that cannot be found anywhere else.

Sometimes, all you need is a hug from the person you love to make your entire body relax and your worries disappear.

I had finally found that peace with Adam.

The Next Morning

The next morning, Adam and I got ready together.

He helped dry my hair while I prepared breakfast. We ate together before leaving for the office.

Everyone at the office seemed happy to see us together.

Everyone except Tia.

She smiled whenever someone spoke to her, but I could tell something was wrong. She looked unusually quiet, as if she was trying to hide her sadness.

Maybe I was overthinking it.

But as half the day passed, I couldn't ignore the feeling anymore.

I walked over to her.

"Tia, are you okay?"

She forced a smile.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

She sighed.

"It's just... things are going to be different now."

"What do you mean?"

She looked at me.

"You're married now, Nora. We can't spend time together the way we used to. You have Adam now."

I smiled.

"Tia, I got married. I didn't leave the city."

She laughed softly.

"I know. But marriage changes things."

"Some things do," I admitted. "But not our friendship. We'll still meet. I'll just have to make time for Adam too."

I smiled mischievously.

"Besides, he can't survive without me."

Ava raised an eyebrow.

"Really? He can't survive without you?"

Tia finally laughed.

The three of us smiled and went back to work.

Adam's Office

Later, Adam asked me to come to his office.

I knocked before entering.

He immediately stood up and smiled.

"Come here."

He took my hand and helped me sit down.

"Coffee?"

I shook my head.

"No, I'm not in the mood."

His expression changed.

"You seem worried."

"It's Tia. She looks sad."

Adam became quiet.

I noticed immediately.

"You know something."

He sighed.

"There is something you should know."

"What?"

"It's about Ethan."

My heart sank.

"What happened?"

"Yesterday, Tia and Ava went to a restaurant. Ethan was there with a girl. They looked quite close."

I frowned.

"What did Tia do?"

"She went over and asked who the girl was."

"And?"

"Ethan got angry. He told Tia that she had no right to question him and asked her to leave."

I felt terrible.

"So that's why she's upset."

Adam nodded.

"I think so."

I sighed.

"Ethan always manages to hurt people with his words."

But something in Adam's expression made me feel there was more to the story.

Lunch

I went back to Tia.

"Let's have lunch outside today."

She shook her head.

"I can't. I have too much work."

Ava tried to convince her, but Tia refused.

After she left to finish her files, I looked at Ava.

"Why didn't you tell me what happened at the restaurant?"

Ava looked guilty.

"Because you had finally started being happy. We didn't want to make you sad."

"But I'm her friend."

"I know. I'm sorry."

She paused.

"Adam's friend was there too. He dropped us home afterward. Tia was really upset."

I felt bad for her.

When Tia returned, the three of us went out for lunch.

She barely spoke.

I wanted to ask what she was feeling, but I didn't have the courage.

Sometimes, when someone is already hurting, asking too many questions only makes things worse.

A Difficult Evening

After lunch, we returned to work.

We had a new deal to complete, so Tia kept herself busy with the files.

Later, Adam came to my desk.

"I came during lunch. I thought we'd eat together."

"I was with Tia."

He smiled.

"I guessed."

I told him about our movie plans.

He nodded.

"Go with your friends. I'll miss you, but when a friend is going through a difficult time, you should be there for her."

I smiled.

"That's why I love you."

He kissed my forehead.

"Go take care of Tia."

That evening, when we left the office, Ethan was waiting outside.

"Tia! Please, listen to me."

Tia immediately shook her head.

"Nora, I don't want to hear anything."

She got into my car.

Ethan continued calling after her.

"Tia, please!"

But we drove away.

For several minutes, Tia was silent.

Then she whispered,

"Nora, I can't listen to him. He humiliated me in front of that girl."

I looked at her.

"What if you've misunderstood?"

She shook her head.

"I saw them together."

"Maybe she was just a friend."

"Then why did he speak to me like that?"

I didn't know what to say.

"At least hear him once. Then you can decide."

"No, Nora. I don't want to talk to him anymore. Please take me home."

She looked exhausted.

"I don't even want to watch the movie. I just want to sleep."

I took Tia and Ava home before returning to my house.

Adam

Adam was sitting on the couch, reading a book.

When he saw me, he put it aside.

"You're home early."

"Tia didn't want to watch the movie."

"Is she okay?"

"Not really."

"Are you hungry? I'll make something."

I shook my head.

"No. I ate on the way home."

Adam smiled.

"Then let's watch something together."

We watched a movie before going to sleep.

The Next Morning

The next morning was a holiday.

Adam and I were at home when someone knocked on the door.

I opened it and found Ethan standing there.

"Ethan?"

"Nora, I need your help."

"What happened?"

"Tia won't listen to me. I went to her house, but she won't open the door. I called Ava too, but she doesn't know what's wrong."

I frowned.

"You hurt her."

"I know. But Nora, the girl she saw wasn't my girlfriend."

"Then who was she?"

He took a deep breath.

"My sister."

I stared at him.

"Your sister?"

He nodded.

"We hadn't seen each other in five years."

He explained that after his parents divorced, his sister had gone with their mother while he stayed with their father. They had recently reunited because of a family property matter.

"She came to meet me at the restaurant. That's all."

I finally understood.

"Tia saw you together and misunderstood."

"Yes. And I made it worse by losing my temper."

He looked broken.

"I shouldn't have spoken to her like that."

Then he lowered his voice.

"Nora, Tia is the only person I have. I can't lose her."

I sighed.

"Sit down. Have some coffee. I'll talk to her."

Tia's House

I called Tia.

"Let's go shopping today."

"No, Nora. I don't feel like it."

Her voice sounded weak.

"I just want to rest."

"What's wrong?"

"I have a fever."

My heart sank.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's nothing."

"I'm coming over."

When I reached her house, I knocked.

"Tia?"

No answer.

I knocked again.

Still nothing.

I called her phone, but she didn't answer.

I immediately called Ethan.

He arrived a few minutes later. We got a spare key from the society office and opened the door.

Tia was lying unconscious on the floor.

"Tia!"

Ethan rushed to her and picked her up.

We immediately took her to the hospital.

The doctors started treatment.

After some time, the doctor came out.

"She's stable. Her fever was very high, and she became weak. She needs proper rest and someone should stay with her."

I finally breathed normally again.

The Truth

When Tia regained consciousness, Ethan was sitting beside her.

He told her everything.

He explained who the girl was, why they had met, and what had really happened.

Then he apologized.

"I'm sorry, Tia. I should never have spoken to you that way."

Tia's eyes filled with tears.

"I thought you had replaced me."

"Never."

He held her hand.

"I handled everything badly, but I never betrayed you."

Tia finally realized that her anger had come from fear—the fear of losing the person she loved.

She squeezed his hand.

"I don't want to lose you either."

Ethan smiled through his tears.

"I won't let you."

I quietly stepped back and gave them some time together.

Watching them, I realized something.

Love isn't always about being perfect.

Sometimes people misunderstand each other. Sometimes anger creates distance. Sometimes one careless moment can hurt the person you love.

But real love is also about listening, explaining, forgiving, and choosing each other again.

Ethan had made a mistake.

Tia had misunderstood him.

But in the end, they had found their way back to each other.

And perhaps that was what love was really about—

not never hurting each other, but choosing to heal together.