Mrs. Gonzalez smiled faintly, lost in thought. "You know, sometimes I miss those days in the basement apartment. The happiest moments were on weekends, when we could all sit together and share a simple meal I''d cooked."


    Matthew sat in silence, his knuckles white as he gripped his fork. Verna, sensing the heavy atmosphere, chewed her food quietly, not daring to speak.


    Only Yvonne continued to eat, unperturbed.


    When Mrs. Gonzalez finished, Yvonne slowly set down her utensils. The food was good, but she was no longer hungry.


    “Hard times are certainly unforgettable," she said, her voice even. “But when things get better, the first thing people want to forget is the hardship-and the people who endured it with them."


    She raised an eyebrow and looked at Matthew, a cold smile on her lips. "Isn''t that right, Mr. Gonzalez? The moment you got back on your feet, the first person you threw away was the fiancée who stood by you through thick and thin. You couldn''t wait to go chasing after the one that got away."


    Matthew''s grip on his fork tightened, his hand trembling. He had never intended to break up with Yvonne. He had promised to marry her, to give her the world. He hadn''t wanted Queena, not really; he had just been unable to let go of the past. How had everything gone so wrong? How had he lost her?


    "Yvonne, you''re just a country bumpkin. You can''tpare to Queena," Verna piped up, unable toprehend the situation. "My brother is willing to be with you now that he and Queena are over. You should be grateful instead of ying hard to get..."


    "Verna, shut up!" Matthew snapped, cutting her off.


    “You''re being too nice to her! Have you forgotten how she shamelessly clung to us in that basement? She was the one who was desperate to be with you. Now she''s acting all high and mighty-ah!"


    Verna''s tirade was cut short as Matthew pped her across the face.


    "You hit me? You hit me for her?" Verna cried, clutching her cheek. "I hate you! I never want to speak to you again!" She ran out of the dining room, sobbing.


    Matthew stood frozen, like a statue.


    Yvonne rose from her chair and looked at Mrs. Gonzalez, her expression.calm. "We can never go back to that basement, Mrs. Gonzalez. And the food we shared back then has long since lost its vor. I''ve had enough Thank you for your hospitality, but I should be going."


    "Let me walk you out," Mrs. Gonzalez said with a deep sigh, getting up to escort her to the door.


    Matthew followed them in silence, a heavy cloud of grief hanging over him.


    At the front door, Mrs. Gonzalez took Yvonne''s hand, her eyes red. She nced back at hererestfallen sorte then looked at Yonne, her voice trembling. "Yvonne, is there really no chance for you and Matthew?"


    "You should know, I''ve already died once,"


    andonne replied, her voice cool


    and steady. "That girl died when I was kidnapped, and Matthew stood by and did nothing."


    Matthew flinched as if he''d been struck. Any words of protest died in his throat.


    Mrs. Gonzalez nodded, finally epting the truth.