Chapter 5 Another Person

• Clap!
• Derek snapped his fingers.
• In an instant, a band of musicians emerged, launching into the cheerful tune of "Marry Me."
• A little girl scampered over, presenting a delicate rose.
• This spectacle was all orchestrated by Derek.
• "Wow, look over there! Someone's proposing! How enchanting!"
• "Absolutely! If my boyfriend did that, I'd say yes in a heartbeat!"
• "That girl is so fortunate…"
• ...
• The patrons at Rosie Cafe watched with envy.
• "Emilia, will you be my girlfriend?" Derek exclaimed, extending the rose toward her.
• As Emilia hesitated, caught in a dilemma about whether to accept the flower, she spotted Chester entering through the door.
• Their eyes met, each recognizing the other instantly.
• Chester, having noticed the scene outside, had stepped in to witness the joyous occasion, not expecting to see Emilia at its center.
• Seeing Chester triggered memories of him walking hand-in-hand with Leah just the day before, igniting a fire of resentment within Emilia.
• Emilia accepted the rose from Derek's outstretched hand. "I do!"
• Derek was taken aback by how swiftly Emilia agreed, but he quickly grasped her hand. "Emilia, rest assured, I will treat you right!"
• "Chester, allow me to introduce my boyfriend, Mr. Derek! His family operates a prestigious hotel chain!" Emilia declared, casting a condescending glance at Chester.
• "Chester, do you see? There are countless men far more suitable than you who want to be with me!" Emilia proclaimed.
• Although Emilia didn't genuinely care for Derek, she accepted him and allowed him to hold her hand purely to provoke Chester.
• Fresh from her divorce, the sight of Chester with someone like Leah fueled Emilia's desire to demonstrate that she could find a partner just as worthy, if not better.
• Chester stared at the pair seated before him, a profound sense of sorrow washing over him.
• He fixated on Emilia, the woman he had harbored feelings for over the years, whom he had tended to with care. At that moment, Chester experienced a deep ache in his heart, as if he had lost something irreplaceable.
• "Emilia, now that you've found a new partner, I wish you all the best!" Chester declared.
• With that, he prepared to walk away.
• "Wait!" Derek interjected, raising his voice. "Emilia, is this your worthless husband who just lounges around all day?"
• Derek had long been aware of the whispers surrounding Emilia's spouse, a man who was reputed to be idle and unambitious. In his eyes, Chester was the man who had prevented him from pursuing Emilia in the past.
• Now, he was determined to bring him down a peg!
• Yet, Derek didn't bother to turn his back; he simply shot a dismissive glance over his shoulder, treating the man as if he were utterly insignificant.
• "Indeed, that's him!" Emilia responded, confused as to why a capable woman like Leah would choose to be with Chester.
• "You had Emilia supporting you before, but now that you're divorced, I take it you're still jobless? My family's establishment has an opening for a waste collector; I believe that role suits you perfectly!" Derek laughed mockingly, then turned to leave.
• Even from the angle at which he stood, Chester instantly recognized the individual across from him; he was the son of the middle-aged man who had visited Sheldon for guidance earlier that day.
• Chester had initially dismissed the thought of engaging with this person, but the individual persisted in his approach!
• Yet, when Derek turned to face Emilia's seemingly inept ex-husband, he found himself momentarily at a loss for words!
• It's him!
• "What? Are you offering me a position as a waste collector?" Chester inquired, amusement lacing his tone as he regarded Derek.
• "N-no... I wouldn't dare to…" Derek stuttered, his confidence faltering.
• Don't the rumors claim that Emilia's husband is a loser? How could it possibly be him? A man whom Sheldon holds in such high regard, and today, Dad cautions me to be wary of this very person…
• "I apologize; I'm not her boyfriend. I'm truly sorry…" Derek blurted out, panic evident in his voice as he wiped the sweat forming on his brow, clearly unsettled by Chester's piercing gaze.
• Emilia was equally taken aback by Derek's reaction.
• "Mr. Derek? What's the matter with you?" Emilia asked, concerned by Derek's dazed demeanor.
• "Please, just treat me as if I'm invisible…" Derek implored, nearly on the verge of pleading.
• "Humph!" Chester snorted disdainfully, uninterested in further engaging with someone of Derek's ilk, and turned to leave.
• Derek glanced at Emilia, unable to comprehend why she would associate with such a man while still seeking a divorce.
• At that moment, Derek realized that Callister Group's current troubles were likely a result of this man's influence.
• Recalling their earlier encounter, Derek understood that Emilia was entangled with him; even though they were divorced, it was a situation best left untouched.
• "Miss Parker, I must apologize; I misled you. I haven't been able to assist you with the issues you mentioned. I'm leaving now. Don't come looking for me. Miss Parker, you might regret your decision to leave him," Derek stammered, then swiftly exited.
• Not him? Emilia was taken aback!
• But if that were the case, she had no idea who else possessed the ability to assist her!
• What does Derek mean by regret? Leah said I would regret it, and now Derek is saying the same thing!
• Emilia struggled to understand how divorcing a man like Chester could lead to regret. Is there some hidden significance to Chester that I've overlooked?
• Feeling disoriented, Emilia paid her bill and made her way home.
• "Chester, where are my slippers?" Emilia instinctively called out.
• However, as the words escaped her lips, she suddenly remembered that she and Chester were no longer together.
• Emilia managed a faint smile, then crouched down to search for her slippers.
• In the past, every time she returned home, she would find Chester had laid out her slippers—flip-flops for summer and cozy slippers for winter, always prepared for her.
• Upon entering, she noticed the absence of her slippers and was about to express her frustration when it struck her that Chester was no longer present.
• "Oh, Emilia, are you still thinking about that good-for-nothing? He's been kicked out. By the way, I've found a few eligible bachelors for you today, all quite successful. How about meeting one of them tomorrow?" Zelda suggested as she appeared.
• "Forget it, Mom. I'm not interested," Emilia replied.
• She was already overwhelmed by the issues at work and lacked the mental energy for such distractions.
• "What's wrong, Emilia?" Zelda asked, noticing something amiss with her daughter.
• "Mom, Callister Group suddenly canceled our contract. They're refusing to accept the goods and haven't made any payments!" Emilia explained.
• "What? How can they behave so unethically? We should take legal action!" Zelda exclaimed, her anger palpable.
• "It's futile…" Emilia sighed, feeling exhausted and unwilling to delve deeper into the matter with her mom.
• "I'll go confront them!" Zelda declared.