"It had been two days since both of them were avoiding each other. Even when they crossed paths, they changed direction.
'I've been eating outside for two days, and she's just enjoying herself in my house. If she doesn't divorce me after this, I will,' he thought.
His thoughts were interrupted by a call from his mother. 'Yes, Mom?'
She asked him to come home immediately.
'Mom, I'm at the office right now. I'll come in the evening,' he replied. Gilbert knew that if his mother was calling him like this, it meant she had found out something.
In the evening, he went to his mother's house. On the way, she asked him to buy buckey. When he arrived, he saw her sitting at the dressing table, trying on jewelry.
'What happened, Mom? What's so urgent?'
'How is Rita? You didn't call me,' his mother asked.
Gilbert placed the buckey on the table and said in a low voice, 'I thought you started caring about me.'
His mother pretended not to hear him properly. 'Your father is already in a bad mood because of this, and here you are—not even bothering to give me a proper answer.'
Gilbert replied with disappointment, 'Nothing, just a mild fever. She's fine now.'
He felt upset seeing his mother worry about someone else. His mother relaxed after hearing this and said, 'Your dad is hosting a party for your newly married life tomorrow, so come with Rita on time.'
As he was leaving with an uninterested look on his face, he saw Laura.
'What are you doing here?'
Laura hugged him. 'Nothing, I just wanted to visit Aunt Marina.'
Gilbert's mother came to welcome her. 'I've been waiting for you since morning. You finally found time to see me!'
Laura laughed. 'No, Aunty, I missed you a lot.'
Gilbert's mother handed the Buckey to laura. 'If you need anything, I'm here, you know.' Then she asked Gilbert to keep Laura company, as she had to go meet Laura's father.
Alone in the room, Gilbert felt nervous around Laura. She asked him to sit next to her. He sat beside her and asked the servant to bring coffee.
'I thought you would never return,' he said.
Laura looking down, replied, 'Mom's condition isn't improving, so I had to come back.'
Gilbert tried to hide his feelings and kept staring at her. 'So, where are you staying?'
Laura holding the dog's leash and looked at him. 'I don't want to leave Mom, so I'm staying at the hospital for now.'
The maid came with coffee and snacks and placed them on the table. Laura picked up her cup and said, 'I heard you got married. I knew you would find love one day.'
Gilbert, lost in memories of when they were close friends, replied, 'My marriage could be anything—but not love.'
Laura looked at him curiously. 'Then what about your wife? Doesn't she love you?'
Gilbert didn't want her to know the truth. 'Let's forget it. I don't want to talk about it now. We're meeting after three years—let's go for dinner.'
Laura hesitated. 'I want to, but I have to go to the hospital. You can take Robin with you.'
Gilbert sensed the hesitation in her voice and didn't want to pressure her. 'Okay, but I'll drop you.'
She nodded.
Gilbert dropped Laura at the hospital. 'I'll come tomorrow. Take care of yourself.'
Laura smiled. 'Okay, you can go now.'
He left after she went inside."