Elena’s POV
Inside the diner were glass walls and sweeping city views, with sunlight reflecting off every surface.
It was elegant in that expensive way.
White tablecloths, polished cutlery, and soft music humming in the background.
The clients were already seated when we walked in.
“So good to finally meet you both, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling.”
My smile dropped.
“Actually, it’s Miss Sterling and Mr. Blackwell.”
”Oh my apologies.
I assumed…”
Damien stepped in smoothly before the awkwardness stretched longer.
“Easy mistake. Shall we get started?”
I was grateful he redirected.
Annoyed he didn’t correct the Mrs. part, but grateful.
The presentation went better than I expected.
I led, Damien supported.
When I slowed, he filled in.
When I hit a stride, he stepped back and let me run with it.
His timing was perfect, almost instinctive.
I told myself we were just professionals but we both knew it was more than that.
There was a natural rhythm between us, one we didn’t plan, didn’t talk about, didn’t want to acknowledge.
We just moved like we used to, like muscle memory.
During the lunch break, I excused myself and slipped into the bathroom, pulling out my phone.
Still nothing from Caleb.
Not a call, not a text, not even a stupid emoji.
He hadn’t heard from me in days and apparently didn’t care.
The ache in my chest came back.
I swallowed it down, fixed my lipstick in the mirror, and went back out.
The rest of the meeting continued the same way, more contracts, more numbers.
Damien picked up on details I almost missed.
At one point he passed me a note under the table about a clause wording and I handled it smoothly.
We were… aligned.
Everything a married couple should be.
And that’s what bothered me the most.
By 6pm, the deal was done and contracts were signed.
When the dinner was over and we started gathering our things, one of the clients chuckled lightly.
“You two seem to know each other very well.”
I opened my mouth to give a professional response, but Damien beat me to it.
“We used to be married,” he said simply.
The table went quiet.
“Seemed easier than avoiding it,” he added.
“Pleasure doing business with Sterling Global,” the CEO said, holding out his hand.
“Pleasure’s all mine, Sir,” I answered with a smile, shaking his hand.
We were ushered out with congratulations and usual promises to stay in touch, then they left.
Outside, the sun was setting already, casting everything in gold.
“Drink to celebrate?” Damien asked, holding a glass of wine someone handed him.
I glanced at him.
“I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
”Right, of course.”
We started walking, side by side, with no destination in mind.
Marina Bay was stunning at dusk.
The lights started to twinkle, couples everywhere, tourists, families.
Everyone looked happy.
We walked in silence for a while, until Damien finally spoke.
“You were brilliant in there.”
”Thanks.”
”I mean it, the way you handled yourself… it was incredible.”
I chuckled softly but didn’t respond.
“I’m sorry,” Damien blurted suddenly.
I looked at him.
“For what?”
”For earlier.
Telling them we were married.
I shouldn’t have said that without asking you first.”
I sighed, facing forward.
“It’s fine, you were right. Easier than avoiding it.”
”Still… I should have checked with you.”
We stopped walking, leaning against the railing overlooking the water.
The city reflected in it like a mirror.
We just stood there for a moment, quiet.
“Elena,” he said softly.
“I know I don’t have the right to ask, but… are you happy?”
The question hit me wrong.
I looked up at him.
“What?”
”With him.
With Caleb.
Are you happy?”
My throat tightened.
I looked away.
“That’s none of your business.”
”I know.
I just want you to be happy.”
I scoffed.
“So now you care?”
“I always cared, Elena.”
I looked at him again, really looked.
He looked older, tired.
“Why did you even agree to this trip?” I asked.
“Because I wanted to be here,” he said, stepping a little closer.
I didn’t know what to do with that, so I cleared my throat and kept walking.
He followed.
He told me about work, about issues in his tiny apartment, about therapy.
“Therapy?” I couldn’t hide the shock.
“Yeah. Started a few days ago. Figured I should probably… deal with some stuff.”
My lips curved a little.
“That’s good.”
We kept walking, talking about random things.
It felt strangely calm, like we were finally getting some kind of closure.
Finally seeing each other clearly for the first time in years.
“Can I ask you something?” Damien said.
“Sure.”
”Do you ever think about what we could’ve been?
If I hadn’t messed everything up?
If I’d been the husband you deserved?”
I stopped walking.
The question hit deeper than I expected, it was everything I’d thought about the night I left his house.
“Damien…”
”I’m not trying to make this weird,” he said quickly.
“I just… I think about it sometimes. About all the ways I failed you.”
I stared up at him.
“Well… we can’t change the past.”
”I know.
But maybe understanding it helps.
My therapist says I need to face what I lost.
Not just say sorry and move on.”
I couldn’t hold his gaze.
I turned back to the water, the lights dancing across it.
“What do you want me to say?”
”Nothing.
I just wanted you to know.”
We stood there in silence.
The city was loud around us, but for the first time in a long time, I saw the man I married.
Not the man who broke my heart.
The man who used to make me laugh, the man who used to actually see me.
The man I fell in love with.
“We should head back,” I said finally, my voice softer than I intended.
“Yeah,” he agreed, but he didn’t move.
He looked down at me, then at my lips, slowly, like he couldn’t help it.
And my breath caught.