Female Novel
Chapter 1718
Carol stumbled backward, nearly tumbling onto the bed.
"Felix?"
Felix stood there, his face dark as a storm cloud, and after a moment, he strode towards the door.
Annoyance flared within Carol. She had grown used to his doting over the past few months. Sure,the first week had been rough, but since then, he had been nothing but accommodating. And now,he pushed her and was about to storm off on his own.
"What's gotten into you? I get you a gift and you can't even pretend to be happy? Today's mybirthday."
In years past, the Miller estate would've been decked out in splendor for her birthday, a term like'Gatsby-esque' wouldn't have been an overstatement.
And now, just asking a man to put on a uniform had him looking like she'd asked him to walk theplank.
Felix had reached the door, pausing only briefly at the mention of her birthday.
But it was just a pause; seconds later, he continued on to the living room and out of the house.
Carol was livid, even contemplating a breakup.
But then she saw the tidy house, the half-eaten cake in the fridge, and her anger subsided a bit.
It wasn't worth breaking up over. Felix was generally good to her.
Downstairs, Felix lit a cigarette, a rare indulgence as Carol detested the smell.
He chain-smoked, restlessness gnawing at him, then hailed a cab to Nathan's place.
Felix was usually frugal, preferring subways and buses over the expense of cabs.
He knocked on Nathan's door, which was promptly opened with a chuckle, "Coming to collect themeds yourself, man? I gave you two bottles already. How frequent are you guys to run out so fast?Damn, I'm envious."
Nathan's room was a cramped mess, clothes piled on the couch leaving hardly any space to sit.
Familiar with the chaos, Felix made himself at home among the clutter.
"Felix, did you talk to Carol tonight? Listina’s surgery can't wait any longer."
"No, tomorrow."
He hadn't expected to run out of medicine tonight and hadn't broached the subject with Carol yet.
"Alright, just don't forget. You've been together a few months now; she really likes you. If you ask,she won't refuse. These pampered types are usually the easiest to persuade."
Felix remained silent, stubbing out his cigarette.
Nathan yawned, "I called the doc. We can get more meds tomorrow night."
"Fine."
Felix closed his eyes, staring at the ceiling. Ten minutes later, he glanced at his phone. Nomessages from Carol—she must be angry.
He didn't text her either, instead crashing on Nathan's couch for the night.
The next morning, Felix was off to his job, receiving a call from Listina who wished to see him. Herimproving health meant the surgery was urgent, and he'd have to bring it up with Carol tonight.
A torrential downpour began at noon, showing no signs of letting up by evening.
Carol, working at the barbecue restaurant tonight, watched the rain and was reminded of her earlydays with Felix.
Back then, he'd left her in a similar storm without a word, breaking her heart.
Despite his recent attentiveness, the weather dredged up old sorrows.novelbin
The restaurant closed at nine, and Carol hadn't brought an umbrella. There were none to spare, andthe staff, including her, waited at the entrance, hoping the rain would stop.
One girl said, "I called my boyfriend, but the rain's too heavy; he can't make it. Told me to take a cabhome."
"I called my husband, but he doesn't want to come out in this."
"Why don't you divorce him already? It's late, raining, and a husband should pick up his wife, forcrying out loud. How stingy can he be?"
Their eyes turned to Carol. She shared their job, but her elegance and the Hermès knockoff shecarried set her apart.
"Carol, didn't your boyfriend used to wait for you every night? Is he coming tonight?"
Having just fought with Felix, Carol was still smarting from their cold war.
She hadn't reached out to Felix all day, nor had he texted her.
"I don't think so. We're in the middle of a cold war."
"Damn, with a boyfriend that hot, I'd be slapping some sense into myself!"