There was a crash from next door, like
something being thrown against the wall, then
silence.
I realized what I had just done and pulled away from Daniel, putting some distance between us.
“I’m sleepy… Goodnight,” I mumbled, rolling to the other side of the bed, leaving space for
Daniel.
The charged atmosphere dissipated. Daniel
stared at the still–warm sheets, lost in thought.
The room fell silent, only the sound of the rain
outside. I closed my eyes, my heart racing. I
suddenly remembered the first time I met.
Daniel
1:04
92
I was still chasing after Ethan at the time. I’d performed a classical dance at the university arts festival, Ethan had dragged Daniel along. He sat in the first row, his eyes never once looking at me. He’d seemed utterly indifferent. I’d seen him a few times after that, tagging along with Ethan, but we’d barely spoken. I never would have imagined that one day we’d be lying in the same bed.
I sighed.
“Can’t sleep?” Daniel asked.
My thoughts were pulled back to the present. I opened my eyes. He was sitting up, his features.
sharp in the dim light of the nightstand lamp. Just like the first time I saw him.
I clutched the blanket and asked, “Mr. Reed,
why me?”
“Why not you?” He lowered his gaze, his eyes
<
light. “To me, it doesn’t matter who it is. It’s
easier with someone I know.”
“Oh…” I scratched my head. “It’s just… life is…
unpredictable.”
Daniel’s lips twitched. “You didn’t predict we’d
get married?”
“No.”
He stared at me for a while. “Sarah, I never do
anything I haven’t already planned.”
I was stunned. Before I could process his
words, Daniel’s phone rang. It was his secretary.
“Mr. Reed, Mr. Douglas is leaving the country
tomorrow. He’s asking if we can move the
video conference to now.”
Daniel glanced at the time. It was one o’clock in
the morning. “Yes, come pick me up. And…” He
<
92
looked at me. “Bring a heating pad.”
My heart skipped a beat. How did he know my knee ached when it rained?
“Mr. Reed, you don’t have to worry about me-
11
“It’s no trouble.” Daniel pulled the covers over me. “I’ll have my driver pick you up tomorrow. Try to avoid Ethan.”
“Really, it’s not necessary…” I quickly refused. “I can manage. Don’t let me interrupt your work.”
The driver called again; it was clear they were in a hurry. Daniel hesitated, then didn’t argue further. “If there’s any trouble, call me.”
“Okay.”
He left, and the hotel sent up a heating pad
with a robot. The rain continued to fall until
dawn. I didn’t sleep well and got up before six.
<
It was overcast. I gritted my teeth, testing my aching knee, and got dressed, preparing to go to the hospital for a follow–up appointment.
