I hurriedly grabbed my coffee, taking a sip to mask the nervous tremor in my hands. But the hot liquid burned my throat, and I winced.
Matias, ever the observant one, skillfully handed me a napkin.
"I know you love Clayton, and he loves you too. I had planned to bury this love in my heart forever."
"But I never expected that just a few years later, he'd be hiding another woman."
"Irene," his voice softened, "I can’t bear to let you be deceived any longer."
"Leave him," he urged his voice low and filled with yearning. "I’ve been waiting for you all this time."
Matias had gone on a business trip with Clayton. But sensing my distress, he had returned in the dead of night, rushing back to meet me, fearing I might do something reckless once the truth came out.
I managed a faint smile, a weak shield against the storm brewing inside me.
"Don’t worry, I won’t do anything foolish.”
"At least not until I get back what’s mine."
As I left the café, lost in thought, my phone buzzed.
It was a message from Clayton.
"Baby, my trip ended early today. I got you your favorite strawberry cake. Wait for me at home."
He even sent a picture of the cake, the sugary sweetness taunting me.