Chapter 5

Rona sat on the living room sofa. A few documents spread out on the coffee table.

At the top was a resignation letter, cleverly tucked between a stack of quarterly reports with only the signature line on it peeking out.

As the sky outside had already darkened, she turned on a floor lamp. Its warm yellow light was just enough to read by but dim enough to prevent someone from reading it too clearly.

When she heard the sound of keys turning, her fingers unconsciously curled slightly.

Darren stepped in, bringing with him the chill of an early autumn evening.

"Still up?" He asked while taking off his suit jacket and hanging it on the coat rack. His tie loosely draped around his neck.

"I've been waiting for you," she replied, moving aside to make space for him. "There are some documents that need your signature."

Darren sat down beside her, the faint scent of antiseptic from his body becoming more pronounced with his body heat.

He casually picked up the report on the top and began to flip through it. "Why does this one sudden need a signature?"

"The legal department is urging for it," Rona said, handing him a pen. "It's just some routine procedures."

Darren took the pen, casually flipping through a few pages.

Rona watched his slender fingers glide over the paper. Her heartbeat quickened slightly with each page he turned.

Just as he turned to the second page, his phone abruptly rang. Khloe's name flashed on the screen.

Darren almost immediately put down the documents and pen.

Rona noted the crinkles on his forehead as he answered that would only appear when he was nervous.

"Now?" he said, lowering his voice, "Are you sure?"

Muffled sobs came from the other end of the line.

Darren stood up, with the jacket he had just taken off already in his hand. "Alright, I'll be right there."

"You're going out?" Rona asked calmly.

Darren paused while buttoning his jacket. "Khloe said she remembers some details about the accident. She's very upset. The doctor suggested having someone acquainted around."

He leaned in to kiss her forehead. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Rona tilted her head slightly, making the kiss land on her hair.

Darren didn't seem to notice this subtle recoil and hurried towards the entrance.

"Darren," she called after him, "and the documents..."

"Wait until tomorrow," he said, already changing his shoes, "Just leave them in my study."

The door closed softly. But Rona found the sound deafening.

She slowly retracted her outstretched hand. And her fingertips brushing against the resignation letter flipped halfway through.

Her phone screen lit up with a message from an unknown number.

"Rona, could you come to the office at 9 tomorrow morning? Darren left some important documents there. Khloe."

Rona stared at the name in the last line of the text for a long time. She knew Khloe had never been to her office and couldn't possibly know if Darren had left any documents there. It was a clumsy excuse just to ensure her to see something for herself.

The sound of a car engine starting came from the outside. Rona walked to the balcony, watching as Darren's car hurriedly headed towards the hospital with its lights pierced the darkness of the night.

It was always like this. A single call from Khloe could make him drop everything just to be by her side.

She returned to the living room and picked up the neglected resignation letter.

Then, she opened the airline app and changed her flight to three days later.