15
I saw Jesse again at Sam’s celebration.
Sam was a famous painter now, reluctant to
attend his party because of his social anxiety.
く
He asked me to accompany him.
Over a year later, Jesse had changed. He was
calmer and more mature. His dark suit and
styled hair made him a focal point.
I glanced at him and looked away.
I saw Dr. Kai in a white suit, his hair unkempt.
He raised his glass, and I did the same.
“I saw your painting,” Dr. Kai said. “If he were
still alive, he’d love it.”
We clinked glasses. “He’d praise my skill, then
celebrate with me.”
Dr. Kai smiled.
I found Sam, looking for me, smiling when he
saw me. I smiled back.
Dr. Kai clinked glasses with me again.
I looked at him. He was looking at me, smiling slightly. “Ms. Sarah, are you interested…”
“No,” I interrupted. “I’m not interested, Dr.
Kai.”
I had no interest in a man who disregarded
<
human life for his experiments.
His smile deepened. He put down his glass
and checked his watch.
I suspected psychological manipulation, but
he laughed, “Ms. Sarah, you seem to have
other guests. I won’t bother you.”
He left.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Ms. Sarah.”
A sharp voice intruded. I turned, frowning.
I’d seen her briefly: Jesse’s new girlfriend,
Alice. Superficial and vapid.
She was Jesse’s secretary. She’d made a
terrible impression during the interview:
unpunctual, careless, disorganized.
But she was also positive and courageous,
even when facing uncertainty.
That’s probably what Jesse loved.
I didn’t want to chat with the former mistress
at my brother’s party. I ignored her
provocative comments. barely looking at her
く
Alice, feeling ignored, tried to speak again.
Jesse intervened, separating us. He raised his
glass. “How are you?”
I said calmly, “Back off, thanks.”
He remained calm, changing the subject. “I
saw the painting. It’s amazing. You’ve been
talented since high school.”
Without romantic feelings, Jesse seemed like
an annoying fly.
I couldn’t hit him, so I sarcastically asked,
“Oh, Mr. Jesse, did you make the mistress
your wife?”
Jesse’s face feli. Alice demanded to know
who was the mistress.
I spoke loudly, “When I was married to Mr.
Jesse, you were his girlfriend, making you,
what? The fourth party?”
The whispers around Alice made me blush.
Jesse, too, looked mortified. He ordered Alice
to leave and explained to everyone that they
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were only colleagues.
I watched, amused. He was protecting Alice.
“Jesse, what do you like about her?”
Jesse lowered his voice. “I’m not protecting
her, I’m protecting you.”
