Chapter 11 Apology

• 'Shall I wait for you at Duncan Square?' Emilia's message appeared on Chester's phone.
• Seeing the name made Chester pause, caught in a moment of reflection. He hesitated before replying with a simple, 'Okay.'
• As he slipped his phone into his pocket, the name lingered in his thoughts. "Duncan Square…" he mused, whispering it under his breath.
• There was nothing inherently remarkable about the square. However, the name struck a chord with him. That was his former high school was Duncan High, and if this square bore the same name, it had to be in the vicinity of his old school.
• This realization led him to drift into reflections about his past.
• He shook his head, trying to dismiss these wandering thoughts.
• The past, like the wind, was elusive and unreachable. What was done was done, and there was no going back.
• ...
• An hour later, he reached Duncan Square and immediately spotted Emelia. His heart sank when he saw her.
• Though only a short time had passed, she looked profoundly different. She was visibly weary, her face drawn and pale. Her eyes, tinged with a hint of red, bore the unmistakable signs of recent tears.
• He approached her with a concerned expression. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
• She attempted a smile, though it faltered at the edges. "I'm fine. I just had a bit to drink last night and caught a slight cold," she insisted, her voice betraying her words.
• He frowned, sensing more behind her explanation. "Was it a social gathering at the company?" he probed. He remembered arranging for her company to secure a major contract with Callister Group. Part of his reason for doing so was to shield her from situations where she would have to drink excessively at business gatherings, knowing the toll it could take on her health.
• "There's no... It's nothing, really," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand while avoiding eye contact with him.
• "Oh," he responded softly, though his mind started to wander with endless possibilities.
• Could it be that she had been drinking because of him?
• The idea flitted through his mind like a fleeting shadow, momentarily disrupting the calm surface of his thoughts before he pushed it aside, deeming it far too fanciful to entertain.
• Both of them stayed silent, walking with a small distance between them across Duncan Square without any particular destination in mind.
• Today was a day off, and Duncan Square was bustling with people.
• There were elderly men practicing sword dances, older women gathering for their daily square dancing routine, and families with young children enjoying the pleasant afternoon.
• Everywhere they looked, there were scenes of joy and laughter.
• "Kind sir, please buy this pretty lady a flower!" A young girl skipped up to them. In her hands held several bouquets.
• Her cheeks were rosy and chubby, making her look irresistibly cute, as if inviting someone to give them a gentle pinch.
• The flowers were lovely, and the girl was even more so, but all the flowers she held were roses.
• This was a bit awkward.
• "Kind sir, please buy one!" the girl pleaded, her eyes shining with a mix of hope and expectation.
• He hesitated only for a moment before a smile broke across his face, unable to resist her pitiful appeal. "Alright, I’ll buy one."
• "Thank you, kind sir!" The little girl called out with a giggle, skipping away with the boundless energy only a child can muster.
• He was left holding the rose, unsure whether to give it to Emilia or toss it aside. In the end, he decided to hold onto it himself.
• They exchanged awkward smiles, each sensing the discomfort mirrored in the other's eyes.
• Emelia took the first step forward, and he followed closely behind.
• "Chester," she said suddenly, still facing ahead, "over these past two years since we got married, my mother and I have done things that weren’t fair to you. I want to apologize." Her voice was steady, but she didn't turn around.
• His footsteps faltered as the weight of her words hit him.
• Is she apologizing? Was he hearing her right?
• As the initial shock faded, he realized something was amiss.
• She was known for her strong-willed nature. After the loss of her father, she worked tirelessly to revive her family's declining business, establishing herself as a powerful businesswoman. Whether in public or at home, she always exuded strength and authority.
• It seemed entirely out of character for such a woman to utter an apology.
• "Chester," her voice softened, the strength in her words now tempered with genuine emotion. "I'm sorry for how I've treated you these past two years. Since our marriage, I've often found fault with you, criticizing the way you handled household chores, and resenting your decision to stay at home rather than work. There were times I raised my voice at you... and for all of this, I am truly sorry."
• He watched her slender figure walking ahead. A wave of emotion swept over him, a powerful urge to close the distance between them and hold her close, to offer comfort in the face of her unexpected vulnerability.
• Then, he noticed her shoulders tremble slightly. Is she crying? Yes, she's crying.
• For two years of marriage, he could only recall one occasion when she had cried, and that was the day her father left.
• Suddenly, a sense of foreboding hit him like a thunderclap. He knew something was definitely wrong.
• Emilia must be facing some kind of difficulty, he thought. Otherwise, she would never appear so vulnerable,
• "Are you going through something?" he asked, catching up to her, his voice filled with concern.
• "No… What could be wrong?" she replied, her voice shaky. "It's just that suddenly getting divorced makes me feel a bit guilty toward you…" She brushed her eyes with her hand as if trying to erase the evidence of her distress.
• But the redness of her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
• He was even more certain now. She must be dealing with something serious.
• "I'm actually happy you came out to walk with me today. I just wanted to ask you to hang out with me and talk..." She turned away from him and continued to walk aimlessly ahead.
• "I happen to have some time," he replied with a small smile.
• They continued walking, one behind the other, in silence.
• Without realizing it, they found themselves near the exit of Duncan Square.
• Reaching the end of the road seemed to serve as a reminder for both of them.
• "Are you leaving Kinlande?" she asked and turned to face him while her eyes searched his face for answers.
• "Yes, I'm flying out tomorrow." Chester nodded quietly.
• An inexplicable pain struck her heart. Emilia wanted desperately to ask him to stay, to find the words that would bridge the growing distance between them, but the words stuck in her throat, refusing to be spoken.
• Over the past two years, she had wronged him in many ways. At home, she always sided with Zelda and never once considered Chester's feelings.
• She felt a deep sense of regret. She regretted everything she had done to him, every thoughtless word and every missed opportunity to treat him as the husband he deserved to be. Now, as he was about to leave, she couldn't fathom how she could muster the courage to ask him to stay.
• "Let today be my farewell to you. Consider it the period at the end of our story. I just want to say I'm sorry." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she lowered her head, unable to meet his eyes.
• "It's okay; it's all in the past," he replied with a wave of his hand, but beneath his calm exterior, his heart was heavy with a growing suspicion that she was struggling with something beyond her words.
• She forced a smile, though it felt like a fragile mask. "I have to go back. Thank you," she said, her voice catching slightly as she lifted her head.
• He nodded. As he watched her smile with such effort, a wave of sadness washed over him.
• After she got into the car, he stood there and waved her goodbye.
• As she prepared to start the engine and drive away, she paused, her hand hovering over the ignition. The sight of him standing there, his wave lingering in the air, tugged at her heart.
• This time, leaving might mean they would never see each other again. She longed to look at him once more, to take in his presence one last time.
• Tears blurred her vision, and with a heavy heart, she turned away, started the engine, and drove off.