L sighed deeply. "Why don''t you just quit that lousy job at the coffee shop? I''ll just take care of you if you quit. There''s no need to put up with all this nonsense."


    I suddenly thought about the situation at the Hastings residence. I had made a vow to myself that I would take Mom away from that ce. Because of that vow, I couldn''t give up so easily.


    I shook my head. "The shop owner is very understanding, and the pay is good. The hours are flexible too. L, I really need this job."


    L gave up on convincing me when she saw how determined I seemed. "Fine. In that case, let me cover for you tomorrow. You stay here and rest."


    I looked at L, feeling incredibly touched. I nodded as I leaned on her shoulder. "L, thank you. I''ll definitely treat you to a feast once I get my paycheck."


    "Yeah, yeah," L said with a grin. She yfully pushed me away. "Serena, do you think Kevin will show up to work tomorrow?"


    The look of curiosity in her eyes made me think about it seriously.


    "I''ll count to three, and we''ll say our answers at the same time," L said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.


    "One, two, three," She counted.


    "He will."


    "He will."


    The two of us said at the same time. We burst intoughter as soon as our eyes met.


    "So, why do you think he''ll show up?" L asked.


    I waved my phone slightly. "Because I''ve got him by the throat with this."


    "Oh please!" L rolled her eyes. "Didn''t you say you wouldn''t pursue the matter as long as he spilled the beans? He''s definitely not worried about that anymore."


    I nodded slowly. "Yeah, that makes sense."


    "So, why do you think he''lle back?" she asked again.


    "Kevin''s goal wasn''t just to make Julian misunderstand the rtionship between me and Kevin. 1 think Julian''s appearance actually disrupted Kevin''s ns. And I don''t think Kevin will give up so easily," I said.


    L nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. You stay here tomorrow and study.


    I''ll bring back all the gossip for you after my shift tomorrow."


    I chuckled at how serious she looked. "Alright, alright. I''m actually looking forward to the gossip."


    The next day, L came back from her shift in a hurry.


    "Serena, Serena! Guess what?"" L started calling out to me excitedly as she dropped her bag.


    "I''m guessing Kevin did show up at work today," I said as I looked at L''s eager expression. I was certain that my guess was spot on.


    "There''s more. Go on." L rushed toward me.


    "I have no idea what else happened. Please tell me," I replied as I poured her a ss of water.


    L grabbed the ss and took a big


    gulp. Then, she said, "Kevin asked


    me for your contact today, but I


    didn''t give it to him. I said that it was something that involved your privacy, so I couldn''t make that decision on your behalf."


    I nodded. "What next?"


    "He said he wanted to apologize to you for what happened yesterday. He seemed


    so sincere," L said, putting down the ss.


    I couldn''t help butugh at that. "He''s been plotting for so long. I had already guessed he wouldn''t give up so easily."


    "He even said that if I didn''t want to give him your number, I could just use my phone to call you. He said he just wanted to say a few words and apologize," L said.


    I nodded again. Everything was unfolding exactly as I had expected.


    "Why don''t you seem excited at all? You''re such a boring woman." L pouted


    when she saw theck of a reaction on my face.


    "What''s there to get excited about? We already figured this would happen. If he''s back at work, then it''s only natural that he''d find ways to get closer to me," I said as I sat back down at my desk.


    "That''s true. You''re still a boring woman, though. I''m going to shower," L admitted and tossed her jacket on my face.