Chapter 160: Disappointment
For one shining moment, hope bloomed in my chest. Maybe this was his way of reaching out, of showing that he still cared. Maybe—
My phone rang, interrupting the fantasy.
"Sable, sweetheart, did you get the lunch I sent over?" Mary's warm voice filled the speaker.
The hope deflated like a punctured balloon.
"I was worried you weren't eating properly with everything that's been going on," Mary continued. "I know how you get when you're upset – you forget to take care of yourself."
I forced enthusiasm into my voice. "Mary, this is so thoughtful of you. Thank you so much. The meal is perfect."
"I'm going to send lunch and dinner every day until you're feeling better," she said firmly. "No arguments. It's already arranged."
After I hung up, I stared down at the carefully prepared meal. Mary was incredibly kind to think of me this way, but the disappointment was sharp and bitter. For just a moment, I'd allowed myself to hope that Caelan still thought about me, still cared enough to make sure I was eating.
Stop it, I told myself firmly. He's moved on. You need to do the same.
I'd barely finished eating when another knock came at my office door.
"Dr. Crawford? There's a patient asking for you specifically."
I looked up to see a woman I hadn't spoken to in months standing in my doorway. Helen – my father's second cousin, technically, though she'd always insisted I call her Aunt Helen. She was in her mid-forties, dressed in an obviously expensive but somehow tacky combination of designer labels that didn't quite work together.
"Aunt Helen!" I stood up with genuine surprise. "What brings you here?"
She smiled, settling herself in the chair across from my desk with practiced elegance. "I was here for my annual check-up anyway, and I heard through the grapevine that you were working here. Thought I'd stop by and see how my favorite niece is doing."
Her eyes scanned my face with the kind of intense scrutiny that made me want to check if I had food stuck in my teeth.
"Your complexion looks terrible, dear. Are you getting enough sleep?" She tilted her head with concern. "I heard about your situation with the Lycan King. The broken engagement and all that drama. How are you holding up?"
I maintained my polite smile. "Helen, you always were remarkably well-informed about everyone else's business."
She waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, you know how news travels in our circles. I just worry about you, sweetie. Being abandoned like that... it must be devastating."
The word 'abandoned' hit like a small slap, but I kept my expression neutral. "You're so considerate, always thinking about other people's problems. I'm sure you have plenty of your own to keep you busy."
Helen's eyes sharpened slightly, but she pressed on. "I actually saw some entertainment news about Caelan recently. Photos of him with some new woman. Quite beautiful, actually." She paused dramatically. "I suppose he was cheating on you?"
"Wow, Helen. You really keep up with celebrity gossip, don't you? Your life must be incredibly fulfilling to have so much time for following other people's romantic drama."
"Well, cheating is quite normal, you know. Men, especially those with money and power." Helen's voice took on a patronizing tone. "You should forgive him. After all, this kind of opportunity to climb the social ladder isn't something everyone gets."
I nodded with apparent agreement. "You're so right, Helen. You seem to have a lot of experience with this. You must have suffered quite a bit to develop such profound life wisdom."
Helen completely missed the sarcasm. "Honestly, when I first heard you were going to marry the Lycan King, I thought it was unrealistic. He's a King, after all. He has access to so many exceptional women around him..."
"Oh, you know what makes a woman exceptional?" I maintained my sweet smile. "In my opinion, truly exceptional women don't need to tear others down to make themselves look good. And when someone with no class talks about 'exceptional,' well, that probably isn't a compliment."
Helen's face reddened with anger. "Sable! I'm trying to help you – what are you implying? Are you saying I have no class?" She huffed indignantly. "You'd better hurry up and find someone suitable while you're still young and somewhat attractive. Women lose their value when they get older."
"Following your logic, you must be completely worthless by now. How fascinating that you're still able to function in society."
Helen's mouth dropped open. "Excuse me?"
I smiled sweetly. "I mean, according to your own theory about women's value being tied to youth and beauty – and you being well past both – I'm just wondering how you've managed to maintain any sense of self-worth."
Her face flushed red. "Sable! I was trying to help you! I was giving you advice out of concern, and you're being deliberately cruel."
"You think you're being abandoned because you deserve it. A man like Caelan Blackwood needs a woman who can match his status, his sophistication. Someone who understands the demands of his position."
She stood up abruptly. "Clearly you're too proud to accept good advice. Fine. Stay delusional. But mark my words – you'll regret not taking this opportunity to fix things while you still can. Women your age don't get infinite chances."
I stood as well, my voice dropping to conversational sweetness. "Helen, I want you to know that this conversation has been incredibly enlightening. It's not often you meet someone so willing to reveal exactly how small and bitter they really are inside."
"I'm sure you meant well, in your own twisted way. But I think we both know that your 'concern' has more to do with your own insecurities than any genuine care for my wellbeing."
Her face had gone from red to purple. "You ungrateful little—"
"Goodbye, Helen. Do take care of yourself. Though based on your own theories about women's declining value, I suppose that ship has already sailed."
She stormed out without another word, leaving me alone in my office with the lingering scent of too much perfume and the satisfaction of having finally said what I really thought.