THE CAFÉ smelled faintly of roasted beans and caramel syrup, the kind of scent that usually comforted Esther during long shifts. Naghanap siya ng trabaho at dito siya sa isang café na malapit sa tinitirhan niya siya nakahanap. Mas mabuti ng maghanap siya ng pagkakaabalahan kaysa ang magmukmok siya ng magmukmok. Walang mangyayari kahit ganun ang gawin niya.
Esther was wiping down the counter when the wall-mounted TV above the pastry display flickered to a breaking news banner.
“Vireaux Global Heir Ciaran Vireaux Engaged to Teves Group Heiress.”
Parakiramdam ni Esther ay naninikip ang kaniyang dibdib. Napatigil siya sa kaniyang ginagawa at nasapo niya ang kaniyang dibdib.
She felt like someone had gripped her heart.
She had realized she didn’t hate Ciaran, but the trust had been shat
