The café buzzed with life, but for Racheal, everything seemed to blur into a haze. She couldn't take her eyes off the man standing in front of her is Mr. Collins.
Mia, glowing with excitement, tugged him closer. "Racheal, meet my brother—Declan Collins!" She said his name with pride, almost singing it.
Declan.
The name hit Racheal like a stone.
Her stomach tightened, her mind spinning with everything Margaret had confessed earlier. This was the man she had spent weeks blaming, the man she had convinced herself was her enemy, and yet… he was also the one who had helped her when the world turned against her.
Mia's curious eyes darted between them. She tilted her head slightly, sensing the heavy silence. "Wait… do you two know each other?"
Racheal froze. Her fingers gripped the edge of the table, searching for stability she didn't feel.
Before she could even form a word, Declan answered smoothly, his tone calm and deliberate. "No. We don't."
Racheal's heart dropped. The words cut deeper than she expected. For a moment, she felt small, almost exposed, as if he had just erased every unspoken connection between them.
Heat rushed to her cheeks, embarrassment mixing with guilt. She lowered her gaze quickly, unable to meet his eyes. Her thoughts screamed at her—how foolish she had been to hate him, to misjudge him, to pour all her anger onto him when he was the only one who had quietly shielded her.
Now, faced with his presence, she couldn't even speak.
Mia, oblivious to the storm inside Racheal, smiled and gestured for her brother to sit. "Perfect! Now that introductions are done, let's eat together."
Declan slid into the empty chair opposite Racheal, his movements calm, measured. His presence filled the space, steady but unshakable.
Racheal kept her eyes fixed on her plate, stabbing her fork into the food Mia had ordered. Her hands trembled slightly, and she prayed neither of them noticed.
Mia, as cheerful as ever, filled the silence with chatter. "Racheal and I became friends almost immediately! She's so easy to talk to, Declan. And she's smart too—you should hear the way she debates in class."
Racheal forced a weak smile, but she didn't dare raise her head. The praise, instead of making her proud, only twisted the guilt deeper inside her.
Declan didn't respond much. He simply nodded, eyes flickering briefly toward Racheal before returning to his plate. His silence was heavy, like a wall between them.
Every time his gaze brushed past her, Racheal's chest tightened. She wanted to look at him, to thank him, to apologize… but the words refused to leave her throat.
Mia, sensing the tension though not understanding it, laughed lightly. "You two are so quiet. It almost feels like I'm the only one here."
Her playful tone broke the silence for a moment, but Racheal could feel Declan's calm presence pressing against her like a silent reminder of all her mistakes.
For the rest of the meal, she could barely taste the food. All she could feel was the weight of the truth,that the man she had hated most was the one she owed the most.