When Catherine came out, the table was empty.
She flagged down the waiter, only to be told the bill had already been paid.
"The professor also asked me to give this to you," he added, holding out an umbrella.
Catherine took it slowly and stared at it.
What was he doing?
She exhaled, long and quiet. Whatever his reasons, he had kept his promise.
And, surprisingly, the food looked far more appetizing now that Maximilian was no longer in front of her, even with the rain pouring outside.
Across the street, Maximilian watched her from beneath the shadow of a storefront.
She looked more relaxed. More… normal.
When she was with him, she looked as though she were constantly holding back a heart attack. He rubbed his chest, the dull ache there refusing to fade.
She really doesn't like me…
Catherine finished her meal and wiped her mouth. The downpour had eased into a light shower. She handed the umbrella back to the waiter.
