Chapter 2

Clementine

I barely slept last night.

I lay in bed, replaying that scene in the parking lot over and over—Zephyr's sudden appearance, Knox's tense expression, Sterling's hawk-like sharp eyes. 'What the hell is going on?' I rolled over, my pillow already soaked with sweat.

When the alarm went off, I felt like I'd been run over by a truck. But life had to go on, and the kids were waiting for me.

At ten in the morning, I was organizing materials for the new semester when there was a soft knock on my office door.

"Come in," I said without looking up.

"Good morning."

That familiar voice made me freeze instantly. I slowly raised my head to see Zephyr standing in the doorway, holding two Starbucks cups and a bag of pastries. Sunlight streamed through the hallway behind him, gilding him with a golden rim.

'Why does he always manage to appear like this? Like a man stepping out of a magazine.'

"Zephyr, you—"

"I brought you your favorite caramel macchiato," he said, walking in and placing the coffee on my desk. "And red velvet cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery. Remember? In high school, you always said you wanted to try the most authentic ones from New York."

The coffee's aroma filled the air—it really was my favorite. But this made me even more uneasy.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

He sat down in the chair across from me. "I need to do an environmental report for a case, and I thought of you, so I came to see." He paused, looking at me with gentle eyes. "You know, last night I kept thinking about our high school days. Remember when we rehearsed 'Beauty and the Beast' together? You played Belle, I played Beast."

Back then, in the school's music hall, practicing that song "Beauty and the Beast" over and over. His hand holding mine, spinning on the empty stage, seeing only each other in our eyes.

"You said I was the gentlest beast," Zephyr's voice became soft. "I've remembered those words for eight years."

"That was a long time ago, Zephyr," I replied. "We're not the same people we were back then."

"Some things, time doesn't change their beauty," he leaned forward. "Like the way you smile, like your adorable expression when you're focused on work, like..." He paused. "Like my feelings for you."

My heart rate accelerated. This was Zephyr's terrifying power—he always knew how to find your softest spots.

"Zephyr, you already have a girlfriend," I reminded him. "Sterling seems to love you very much."

His expression became complicated. "Sterling... she is indeed wonderful. But Clementine," he looked at me with that familiar deep affection in his eyes, "I've never forgotten you. For these eight years, every day I've wondered, if I hadn't left back then, what would we be like now?"

'Don't be fooled by him, Clementine. Remember how he left.'

"Let the past stay in the past," I stood up. "I have work to do."

"I know you're still angry with me, I understand," he also stood up. "But I hope we can at least be friends. After all, we have such beautiful memories."

After he left, I slumped in my chair, the sweet taste of caramel macchiato lingering in my mouth.

At two in the afternoon, just when I thought this day wouldn't bring any more upheaval, the sound of high heels clicking against the floor came from the reception area. I looked up to see Sterling walking in gracefully.

Today she wore a cream-colored Chanel suit. She looked like a woman who had stepped off the cover of Vogue magazine.

"Hello, I'm Sterling," she extended her hand with a smile so perfect it was frightening. "I'm Zephyr's girlfriend."

I shook her hand. "Hello, I'm Clementine."

"I heard Zephyr mention you—you're old friends?" Her tone was sweet, but her eyes scanned me like a scanner.

"Yes, classmates from long ago." I felt an invisible pressure.

She surveyed the office, her gaze stopping on the coffee cup on my desk—the one Zephyr had brought. "The environment here is very cozy. The children must love it. I've been considering some charity work lately, and the education field particularly attracts me."

'What is she probing for?'

"You must have many shared memories?" Sterling continued, sitting in the chair Zephyr had just occupied. "Zephyr is always so nostalgic about the past. He often tells me about high school days." She paused with a meaningful smile. "Especially those... special friendships."

Cold sweat began forming on my back. "We were just regular classmates."

"Of course, of course," she nodded. "But you know men—they always romanticize everything from the past. They like to believe they once had 'pure love' in their youth." She made air quotes with her fingers. "It's quite cute, isn't it?"

"I think I need to get back to work," I stood up.

"Of course, of course. Nice to meet you, Clementine," she also rose. "I'm sure we'll be seeing each other often. After all, Zephyr values old friends very much."

After she left, the office still seemed to carry the scent of her perfume—expensive, cold, threatening.

'She knows. She absolutely knows about Zephyr's feelings for me.'

At six in the evening, I dragged my exhausted body toward the parking lot.

"Miss Clementine!"

Maple's voice brought me back to reality. The little girl ran over from Knox's side and gave me a big hug.

"Hey, sweetheart," I crouched down, forcing myself to smile. "How was your day?"

"Great! I learned to draw rainbows with crayons!" she said excitedly. "Daddy says he'll teach me to paint more colors tomorrow!"

Knox walked over, and I noticed his expression looked worried. "You look very tired today. Is there anything I can help with?"

Throughout this day, only Knox's concern was pure, without any ulterior motives.

Knox's eyes became even more gentle.

"Whatever it is, remember you're not facing it alone," his voice was low and firm. "If you need any help, anytime, you can come to me."

'Why can this man, who's almost a stranger, give me such a sense of security?'

"Thank you," I said sincerely. "Really, thank you."

Maple tugged at Knox's clothes. "Daddy, Miss Clementine looks like she needs a hug."

Knox smiled. "Maple's right. Hugs can heal many things."

Looking at this father-daughter pair, warmth surged in my heart. Amid all today's chaos, they were like a beam of light in the darkness.