Chapter 23
Yesha stood frozen as if the air had
thickened and weighed her down. It felt like a punch to her gut, soft yet jarring. Something had shifted.
But in an instant, she shook herself free and slapped her own face twice, the sting sharp enough to snap her back into control.
With a steady hand, she sent the video to Primo.
“Brother Primo, I’m sorry. I know you love my sister. I just want to help you. But my sister said she won’t forgive you unless I die. If that’s what it takes, then I’ll go. After all, what’s my life worth if it helps you two?”
She pressed send, feeling a twisted sense of satisfaction before heading straight to the riverbank.
She let her presence be known,
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intentionally revealing her location, confident that Primo would come for her after seeing the video. All she had to do was wait.
But as night fell, the one person she expected never arrived. Primo hadn’t
come.
He had seen the video. And though anger surged, he fought the impulse to rush to Yesha. Instead, he felt the overwhelming need to find Asteria and demand an explanation.
But when he found Asteria laughing, her face lighting up as she shared a moment with her colleagues over coffee, the sight struck him like a cold wave.
He froze. Fear gripped him. He couldn’t approach her, not like this. Not when she looked so untouchable.
He couldn’t risk pushing her away
further. He wasn’t sure if he had any time or chance left to make things right.
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After a moment of contemplation, Primo finally picked up the phone and dialed Sorell. The decision had to be made.
Half an hour later, Sorell’s hesitant, almost cautious call came.
“Mr. Chromos,” she said, “I don’t think Yesha is truly suicidal. It seems like she‘ st just trying to get your attention.”
Since their conversation, Yesha had been carelessly scrolling through her phone and perfecting her makeup, and there was no trace of sadness to be seen.
Primo s anger flared, and his grip on the phone tightened, threatening to crush it.
At such a critical moment, Yesha had to stir up trouble.
Fuming, he barked at Sorell, “From now
on, handle Yesha‘ s issues yourself. Don’t let her disturb me again!”
The truth was clear now. Only genuine feelings could survive the test of time.
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Over the past few days, Primo had sensed something was off with Yesha, a subtle manipulation he could no longer ignore. She wasn’t the innocent girl she pretended to be–she had motives hidden. under layers of sweetness.
Meanwhile, the moon hung in the sky, growing dimmer by the moment.
But in the quiet of his heart, the rose of Asteria s sincerity bloomed, vibrant and irreplaceable.
Primo finally realized how precious Asteria‘ s true feelings were.
No longer willing to waste his energy on Yesha, he found himself drawn back to Asteria, wanting nothing more than to watch her just a little longer.
He called over a waiter and gestured toward Asteria. “Send a strawberry cake to
their table. Don‘ t mention it’s from me.
Just tell them it’s part of your promotion.”
The waiter, eyes bright with the promise of
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a generous tip, eagerly agreed to Primo’s request.
Primo s gaze lingered on Asteria, his thoughts consumed by the sight of her.
The Asteria he watched now was nearly unrecognizable from the past.
Once long and unruly, her hair had been transformed into a sleek, sharp bob that framed her face with confidence. She no longer wore flashy dresses, opting for a professional, capable look that radiated authority.
She moved through the office with purpose, her face a permanent canvas of bright, confident smiles.
Primo couldn’t help but admire this.
version of Asteria.
He began to consider bringing her back to the country, envisioning her as his
secretary at the company. That way, he could see her radiant, confident presence every day.
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The thought of it brought a genuine smile. to Primo s lips.
But when he looked up again, Asteria had already gone.
The strawberry cake lay on the table, half eaten by a colleague, the rest abandoned, untouched.
