<b>Chapter </b><b>168 </b>
It’s me!” A familiar voice echoed down the hallway.
1 grabbed the railing abruptly and stopped, finally releasing the breath I had been holding.
After a brief pause, I turned and walked back upstairs, spotting Josh standing in the shadows.
Remembering the awkwardness of ourst parting, I found myself at a loss for words. However, I had been genuinely startled, so I pretended to <b>be </b>annoyed and said, “Do you have any idea how terrifying you look like that?”
“Mm,” he responded with that single syble again, oblivious to how cold and frustrating it sounded.
Just as I was about to say something more, he spoke in a low voice, “It won’t happen again.”
That left mepletely speechless.
I took out my keys and went to unlock my door. Just as I inserted the key into the lock, his deep voice sounded again as he stated, “Tonight, I was overthinking things. It won’t happen again.”
‘Huh?‘ I thought, momentarily stunned.
I turned my head, but he had already stepped through his half–open door.
As he closed it, he met my gaze and said, “Goodnight.”
My lips parted slightly, but his door had already shut by the time I found my voice. “What do you mean by ‘from now on‘?” I asked.
Deep down, I understood–he refused to end our fake rtionship.
But I truly didn’t want to continue it any longer. I couldn’t afford to.
I even began to regret asking Josh to y the role of my boyfriend.
It wasn’t that I feared he would cling to me; I was more afraid of hurting him.
He had never been in a rtionship before, yet I had used him as a prop, taking his first hug, hand–hold, and kiss.
I had beenpletely selfish..
Cursing myself internally, I stepped into my apartment. The guilt weighed on me, making it impossible to sleep that night.
I dreamt of Josh–he followed me around meekly, muttering, “Why did you kiss me? That was my first kiss.”
I woke up very early with pent–up guilt. It was still dark outside the window.
Checking the time, I saw that it was 4:30 AM.
I knew Josh would already be awake by now. If I guessed correctly, he was probably out for his morning <b>run</b>.
This was my best chance to avoid him.
So, I got up, quickly washed up, changed my clothes, and slipped out.
As my car drove through the dim morning light, I suddenly realized how pathetic 1 had be–hiding in my <b>own </b>home like <b>a </b><b>thief</b>.
<b>To </b>avoid Josh, I left early and returnedte, sessfully dodging any encounters with <b>him</b>.
<b>Chapter </b>168
<b>However</b><b>, </b><b>every </b><b>night </b><b>when </b>I came <b>home</b>, I <b>would </b><b>find </b><b>a </b><b>cold </b>breakfast left <b>at </b><b>my </b><b>door</b><b>, </b><b>making </b>my guilt <b>grow </b><b>heavier </b>each <b>day</b>.
Several times<b>, </b><b>I </b>considered messaging Josh <b>to </b>tell him not to prepare breakfast for me anymore. But I <b>was </b>afraid <b>he </b>would ask me why, sal prece <b>not </b><b>to </b>notice<b>. </b>
I <b>thought </b>he would understand my message if he saw the untouched breakfasts.
Sure enough, the breakfast was gone on the third day when I returned home.
I let <b>out </b><b>a </b>sigh of relief, yet deep down, an inexplicable sense of loss crept in.
This feeling frustrated me to no end…
They say failure in love leads to sess at work. That saying was proving true. I had quickly gotten into the rhythm of my job and evert secured <b>a </b><b>major </b>deal over the phone. Now, all that remained was an in–person meeting to finalize the details.
“Zoe, I heard you’ve beening to the office at six every morningtely?” Bryson asked with a smile when he ran into me at the coffee station.
I nodded with a small grin and replied, “I just want to get up to speed with thepany’s operations as soon as possible.”
“I get it, but you’reing in way too early. You know thepany doesn’t pay overtime, right?” Bryson joked.
I smiled lightly in response, “I’m doing it willingly.”
<b>AD </b>