(Freya's POV).
The next day, I went to the boutique with a scarf wrapped around my neck. To cover up the reddish marks from the violence Devan had inflicted on me. I was like a madman as I could only daydream alone in my room for hours. I was still attacked by shock, fear, and disappointment when I received such harsh treatment.
I don't even know what I did wrong, but he has changed.
When I asked Elliot where Devan was, he told me that Devan had gone to the office since this morning. And left without having breakfast first.
Now my cell phone was broken. I couldn't use it to contact Theo. Even though I promised to give him the money and the keys to our house because a few days ago I was still very busy with my work.
Arriving at the office, I asked Becca to lend me her cell phone. Luckily I still remembered Theo's phone number well. I sent him a text message that we would meet at the same café this afternoon as before. Told him that my cell phone was broken, so I message him from my secretary's cell phone.
"Thanks, Becca," I said with a smile as I returned her phone.
"No problem, Mrs. Freya. Why is your cell phone broken?" she asked me.
I just smiled wryly and answered with an excuse I made up. "I accidentally dropped it. I think I need to buy a new phone," I told her.
"Do you need me to accompany you to buy a new phone?"
I shook my head. "I'll do it later with Theo," I said.
"Oh. Yes. Congratulations on your brother's homecoming."
"Thank you, Becca." I smiled at her. Patting his arm lightly. She was the only person who knew about my brother. No, rather, she was first and Jason was second.
I was suddenly filled with worry at the thought of Jason telling Devan about this. I was so afraid that Devan would look down on me even more. He would hate me even more when he found out I had an older brother who had been in prison. I couldn't imagine what violence he would do to me next.
But, Jason promised me that he wouldn't tell anyone about this. He even told me not to tell Devan about Theo's problem.
I let out a long breath. This was all making me dizzy.
By noon, I rushed to the Garden Cafe near our boutique. And I smiled widely when I saw Theo sitting at the same table where we first met. But to my relief, he wasn't wearing a hat anymore.
I guess he's starting to get comfortable, although it does take a lot of adjustment.
"Theo," I greeted him with a warm smile and hugged him before I sat down in front of him.
Theo looked at me with a furrowed brow as he saw me arrive with a scarf around my neck.
"Are you sick?" he asked, worried.
"No, I'm not. I'm fine."
"Then why are you wearing a scarf around your neck? Are you cold?" he asked.
I fell silent. For a few moments, I didn't know what to do. Then I started smiling and acting like everything was fine."
"Fey, are you okay?"
"Yes," I smiled widely, then touched my scarf. "Do I look good in a scarf? I thought it was pretty, so I wore it when I met you."
"Oh, it's pretty. Very pretty." He smiled with satisfaction. The worry on his face was now starting to disappear.
And I felt a little relieved about that. I hurriedly took out the house key and money to give to Theo.
"Here," I said as I handed it to him. "I don't know if it's enough money or not, but I hope it can help you."
"Thank you, Fey. It's more than enough. I've also got a job anyway. I'll return it as soon as I have more money."
I nodded. "There's no need to rush. Are you off work today?" I asked.
"Yes. I asked for a day off and said I'd see you."
"Let's go shopping. We need to buy groceries to fill the fridge at home. I also had someone clean the house beforehand, so you can move right in."
"No, no. I don't want to trouble you. Don't you have to go back to work after this?"
"Don't worry. I've left all the work to Becca," I said. I smiled enthusiastically. "Come with me to buy a new cell phone and go shopping together."
I couldn't hide my happy feelings. Although there was pain buried in my heart, whenever I was with Jason. All the sadness I felt at home seemed to disappear without a trace.
We had lunch together, then went to buy a new cell phone. And I took the initiative to give the same one to Theo. It was a Couple's phone. I laughed when he just accepted it with a long sigh because I knew he hated anything that smelled of the couple. Then we went to the shopping center. Buying groceries and some things Theo needed while living alone.
I offered to hire a servant and I would pay for it, but he refused because he wanted to stay alone. And he also said that he could already cook.
After we finished shopping, we went to our old house. It had been a long time since we came here. After our mom passed away, I decided to go back to Korea. Finish my studies. Then came back to New York after I finished.
I opened my boutique with my brand. Decided to live in a small apartment near the boutique because I couldn't live alone at home. I always felt a tightness in my chest whenever I was there alone. With all the good memories I had gone through with my family. The family that was happy before.
"It's been a long time," he said as we entered the house.
"Yes, it's been a long time." I felt the warmth that I had longed for. Staring around the room filled with memories. The house where I grew up with my family.
"Fey," I looked at Theo who was looking at me with his wide eyes. I gasped as he grabbed both my shoulders.
"What happened to your neck?" he asked in a heavy, quivering voice.
I widened my eyes, and it was only then that I realized that I had unconsciously removed my scarf.