Echoes of Unrequited Love

I guess it’s about time to hit him where it hurts.

True to its name, a soft spot is a soft spot. The moment I squeezed it, there came Hogan’s call immediately.

It was already six–thirty in the evening, and I was at home, whipping up some soup for Jason.

As soon as I hit the answer button, Hogan’s icy voice came through the earpiece, “Xaviera, you’re really upping your game.”

His tone was steady, but his manner of speaking was just as brusque as ever.

If I’m not mistaken, Cecilia must have spilled the beans about our chat earlier today.

I calmly stirred the soup in the pot, watching the steamy vapors rise, as I said, “Mr. Zade, if you keep praising me like this, I might just get dizzy from all the flattery.”

Playing the good girl isn’t so hard, it seems.

“Oh, trying to feed me a line again?” Hogan scoffed coldly, “Didn’t you consider how I’d react when you set me up using Cecilia?”

“I did,” I replied evenly, “but Mr. Zade, what I said was true, wasn’t it?”

“So now you’re too tough to even agree to a small favor?” Hogan’s voice suddenly fluctuated and rose a notch, “Let’s see if your two backers can really hold up the sky for you!”

With a “snap“, Hogan abruptly hung up.

I stared at the darkened phone screen and zoned out for a moment, not even sure what Hogan’s so– called ‘small favor‘ was.

But judging from his tone, he seemed pretty steamed.

No matter what, anger is still a sign that there’s room for negotiation.

After some thought, I ladled the soup into a thermos and drove off to the hospital.

What I didn’t expect was that just as I stepped out of the hospital’s parking lot, I heard that sweet, soft voice of Cecilia’s, accompanied with a hint of sobbing.

I thought I was mishearing things, but when I looked over in confusion, I actually saw Cecilia.

And there was Hogan, who had just hung up on me, along with a plainly dressed lady.

Oh, that’s the nanny Hilary had hired at Mountain Villa.

Only, the scene looked a bit off.

There was an inexplicable damp spot on Cecilia’s white wool coat, right over her heart. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

The poor girl’s face was streaked with tears, as if she’d suffered quite the wrong.

11:45

Hogan had a stern look, and when his gaze fell upon the nanny’s face, she nervously explained. “The lady said the flavor of the carp soup wasn’t right.”

“It’s not auntie’s fault.” Cecilia jumped in. “It’s on me; it’s my fault for not getting the soup to taste as auntie likes it. But if Xaviera were here, it’d be different. Seeing auntie eat so little all day, I just feel so bad.”

I hadn’t even taken a step forward when I heard my own name.

Then Cecilia added, “Why don’t I give Xaviera another call? Auntie is always so fond of her, and Xaviera surely won’t ignore us.”

The words “ignore us” piqued my curiosity.

“No need for that.” Hogan cut off Cecilia’s suggestion sharply, adding, “She’s the last person to

care.”

Suddenly, I remembered Hogan’s words on the phone about “a small favor;” after piecing it together with the conversation just now, I couldn’t help but smirk.

Looking at the soup in my hand, I pondered.

Turns out that I was the one being set up.