Mark was driving home after finishing work. While waiting at a red light, he looked out the window and saw Sara walking into a shop with Caden. Sara was giggling, and Caden was smiling along with her.
Is Lilly with them too? he wondered.
For a moment, he wanted to get out of the car and check, but he stopped himself. As soon as the light turned green, he drove straight home.
Meanwhile, Caden and Sara wandered through the market. Caden went into almost every shop as if he were searching for something.
"Caden, what are you even looking for?" Sara asked.
"It used to be here," Caden said quietly.
"What?"
Looking disappointed, Caden replied, "It's not here anymore."
"Where's Lilly?" Sara asked.
Not wanting to tell her about Lilly's resignation yet, Caden answered, "She's at work. What about Mark?"
"The same. He's at work too," Sara replied. Then she looked at him suspiciously. "Whatever you're looking for, it's definitely not for my sister."
Instead of answering, Caden asked, "Did you finish your shopping?"
"You're not even answering my question," Sara complained. "Don't tell me you're having an affair."
"Yes," Caden replied playfully. "But please don't tell your sister."
"Maybe I won't... if you help me with something."
She lifted the shopping bags in her hands.
"What do you think? Will Mark like all of this?"
Caden smiled.
"Amazing. You bought all this just for Mark? Lucky him."
"Yes, but I don't know if he'll like any of it."
"Why wouldn't he?" Caden asked curiously.
"I don't know his likes and dislikes."
"He'll like it. Don't worry."
Caden found their relationship a little unusual, but he chose not to judge them.
"I'll drop you home."
"Okay," Sara replied.
Meanwhile, Mark returned home, put his belongings in the drawer, and lay down on the bed.
I need to get over her, he thought.
Then he picked up his phone and called his mother.
"Hi, Mom."
"Yes, dear?" his mother answered.
"I'm ready to take over the company," Mark said.
"That's wonderful!" she replied excitedly.
"But I want to work at the hospital first."
"That's fine," she said warmly. "You can work at the hospital first. Later, you can take over the company. I'm just happy you've decided to join your father."
Inside the car, Caden asked, "What do you think Lilly likes?"
"I already told you what Lilly likes," Sara said. "I should be the one asking these questions. I don't even know how to impress my husband.
Caden didn't know how to respond.
"He's a good man," he said hesitantly. "He just can't express himself."
"Yeah, I know," Sara replied.
"You and Mark are the same."
"Why?" Sara asked.
"You both don't know what you really want," Caden replied.
A few minutes later, Caden dropped Sara off near her house.
"Thanks. See you tomorrow."
When Sara saw that Mark's car was already parked outside, she excitedly ran inside, eager to show him everything she had bought.
Meanwhile, Mark was peeling potatoes. A pan sat on the stove, and he poured some oil into it before adding the vegetables.
"You're making dinner?" Sara asked.
He nodded.
"I'll go change first. Then I'll help you."
Back at home, Caden returned to find Lilly sitting on the balcony.
He handed her a shopping bag.
"What's this?" Lilly asked.
"See for yourself."
Caden sat beside her.
Lilly looked inside the bag. There was a small box, but she also noticed a single earring lying in one corner.
Thinking Caden had bought her a pair of earrings, she searched for the other one but couldn't find it.
Curiously, she asked,
"Where's the other one?"
Caden looked confused. After thinking for a moment, he picked up the earring.
"Oh... this belongs to Sara. I bumped into her while I was shopping today."
"Really? Where?" Lilly asked.
"On Winter Road."
"What was she doing there?"
"She was shopping for Mark," Caden said. "You should've seen how many things she bought for him. She really loves her husband."
Lilly looked away, a dull ache tightening in her chest. Not wanting Caden to notice, she forced a small smile.
"Do you want something too?" she asked, quickly changing the subject.
Caden looked at her with a grin.
"I already have you as my legally wedded wife. What more could I possibly ask for?"
Lilly sighed, unable to hide a small smile.
"That's enough."
Caden laughed softly.
"We'll return Sara's earring the next time we meet."
Lilly nodded.
Caden went inside and placed the earring in a drawer.
Lilly opened the small box.
Inside was her favorite dessert.
Holding it in her hands, she smiled.
He even knows what I like.
She decided to share it with him.
When Caden returned, he noticed that she had saved half of it.
He happily sat beside her.
"Is that for me?"
"Yes."
Lilly smiled.
"I've decided. I want to work at your hospital."
Caden's face lit up.
"Really?"
He took a small bite of the dessert.
"It's really good."
Meanwhile, Sara stood in front of the mirror and suddenly realized she had lost one of her earrings.
I must have lost it at the market. But Mark gave it to me. If he finds out, he'll feel bad. I'll buy another one exactly like it.
She walked out of her room and saw Mark setting the dinner plates on the table.
"Do you need help with anything?" she asked.
"No. Everything's ready. Just put those dishes on the table."
"Okay."
Sara quietly arranged everything on the dining table.
She still felt guilty about losing the earring.
He gave it to me with so much care. How could I lose it?
They ate in silence.
Finally, Sara spoke.
"Since I didn't know what you liked, I bought a lot of things for you."
She hoped he wouldn't think she was careless. Losing the earring had made her feel guilty, so she had carefully picked out everything she thought he might need for their honeymoon.
Mark simply nodded.
"I'll show them to you after dinner," she said excitedly.
Mark, however, was thinking about Lilly.
Did she go shopping with Caden after resigning? Is leaving me really that easy for her?
He wanted answers, if only to calm his heart.
"Where did you do your shopping?" he asked.
"Winter Road," Sara replied.
"Did you do all the shopping by yourself?"
"Yes. I picked everything myself."
Mark stared at her.
Why is she lying? I clearly saw her with Caden.
"Then how did you carry all those shopping bags home?" he asked.
"By myself," Sara replied playfully. "See? I went through so much trouble just for you."
Mark kept looking at her.
She was lying so naturally.
But why is she hiding it? I clearly saw Caden drop her off. It's not like she's having an affair with him.
Mark decided to stop thinking about Lilly and focused on his dinner.
"You and your ex worked at the same hospital, right?" Sara suddenly asked.
She had wanted to ask him this ever since Fiona told her about his ex-girlfriend.
Mark looked at her in surprise.
"Why are you asking that?"
For a moment, he wondered if Fiona had told her something.
"Not anymore," he replied.
Sara hesitated before speaking.
"I was just wondering... what if you married me because you wanted to move on from her?"
Mark stared at her in disbelief.
"Why would you think that?"
"But... what was she like?" Sara asked.
Mark continued looking at her.
Realizing he might misunderstand her, Sara quickly explained,
"What I mean is... I don't know your likes and dislikes. I just wanted to know..."
By the time she finished speaking, even she wasn't sure what she was trying to ask.
Feeling embarrassed, she stood up.
"I'll go clean up."
She picked up both of their plates and carried them to the dishwasher.
Why did I ask something so strange? she thought.
Mark assumed she was feeling insecure because of his past relationship.
Wanting to clear up her misunderstanding, he walked over and stood beside her.
"I don't know why you're asking these questions."
Sara kept her eyes on the dishes instead of looking at him.
He continued,
"If my past relationship is bothering you, I can assure you there's nothing between my ex-girlfriend and me."
As he dried the dishes with a kitchen towel, he added,
"So you don't have to worry."
Sara looked at him and quietly nodded.
After packing for their trip, Caden and Lilly lay down on the bed, exhausted.
Just then, Caden's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen before getting up and walking into his study to answer the call.
Lilly found it strange.
It's always the same person, Lilly thought. Every time they call, he smiles and goes into the study to answer. Who could they be? Could it be his first love? Otherwise, why would he hide the conversation from me?
She waited for him for a while but eventually fell asleep.
About an hour later, Caden finished his call.
Remembering that he still needed to tell Mark and Sara about the meeting time for tomorrow, he called Sara.
Meanwhile, Sara was showing Mark everything she had bought for him.
Although he wasn't particularly interested, seeing how many things she had picked out made him curious enough to take a closer look.
He began sorting through the items, deciding what he could pack for the trip.
Sara continued packing her clothes.
Mark had almost finished packing and was sitting in the living room.
From there, he could see the complete mess she had created in her room.
Her clothes and shopping bags were scattered everywhere.
He was about to go help her when her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hi. Let's meet at the airport tomorrow at ten."
"Yeah, sure."
"Please don't be late."
"I won't. Don't worry," Sara replied with a light laugh.
"Okay. See you tomorrow."
"Good night."
After ending the call, Caden returned to his room.
He smiled when he saw that Lilly had already fallen asleep. Careful not to disturb her, he lay down beside her, gently kissed her forehead, and whispered,
"Good night."