A Love Rekindled

Chapter 33

When I saw Cindy the next day, she was as pale as a sheet, and there were dark bruises under her eyes.

She was petite to begin with, and she had very fair skin. At that moment, she looked frail and sick, like a white rose that had been left out in the cold. She would stir compassion in anyone who looked at her.

Caroline saw her status on social media and sent me a screenshot.

It was a desolate picture of her, taken from the back. There was a caption, which said, “You are reasonable and understanding only because no one cares about you.”

Caroline looked eager for gossip. “Did they have an argument?”

I wondered about it myself.

After all, she and Bruce hadn't been seeing each other for long.

I wondered if it had anything to do with the hickey on the back of my neck.

Cindy's condition persisted until after lunch

Just as Caroline asked me on WhatsApp about whether to go and comfort her, the door to the office opened. Bruce had arrived, and he was carrying afternoon tea.

Everyone greeted him without surprise. Bruce answered them distractedly and walked quickly into Cindy's office. He looked rather agitated

"What are you doing here all of a sudden, Bruce?”

Bruce handed her some hot chocolate and said, “Drink it while it's hot.”

Cindy said weakly, "I'm only on my period. You're making too much of a fuss, Bruce."

Her door wasn't closed firmly, and I heard the entire conversation.

So, she was just on her period.

After a while. the two of them came out from her office. Caroline went up to make small talk with Bruce, while Cindy looked frail and weak as she handed out afternoon tea to everyone.

When it was my turn. she said sweetly, "Nancy, there's only hot chocolate left. I hope you won't mind.”

I didn't like drinks that were too sweet.

"Thank you." I said while I typed. "I don't have a sweet tooth, so you can keep it."ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

The moment I finished speaking, a warm cup of hot chocolate fell onto my laptop without warning!

The cup burst open and liquid poured out in a rush all over my keyboard

It stained my fingertips.

I jumped up as if I had been jolted with electricity, and immediately went to get some paper napkins. It was already too late. The laptop buzzed weakly, and then the screen turned black

"I'm sorry, Nancy, I..." Cindy's weak voice seemed to press against my eardrums. She said. "I just wanted to give you...” "You wanted to?" I cut her off and raised my voice involuntarily. "Even children know that you should keep liquids away from electronic devices." There were a lot of important documents stored on my hard drive.

To a programmer, their laptops were their lives.

I couldn't stop myself.

"Nancy..." Cindy sniffled and said with reddened eyes, "I really didn't do it on purpose.”

The commotion attracted the others.

It also drew the attention of Bruce, who was talking to Caroline.

He walked over and frowned when he saw Cindy's tearful expression.

Caroline could sense that something was Wrong, Then, she looked at the hot chgcolate-drenched laptop.< and said in- surprise, "Who was thes tactless person who gave Ms. Fisher’ Ss precious laptop a shower?"

Cindy's almond-shaped eyes lowered, and she bit her lower lip tightly.

Caroline covered her mouth in shock." I'm sorry, Ms. Lane...”

‘It's all my fault.” Cindy lowered her. head and:said I in a choked voice..She lookecktentatively at me and said, ‘Nanty, just keep scolding me. I deserve it.” ” to

I was at loss for words at once.

What did she mean by that?

I had just spoken to her in a stern tone, but now she was saying that I had scolded her.

“It's alright." Bruce handed her a tissue and said comfortingly, "You just weren't careful. Don't cry."

Cindy's eyes reddened even more.

I finally understood that compared to Cindy's emotions, the fact that my laptop had been drenched was unimportant in Bruce's eyes.

If he had been a little more observant. he would have noticed that the drenched laptop was a present that he had given me. Perhaps, he no longer remembered.

When I thoughtof this, my heart turned cold IThe i icy chill traveled from my F head down my spine. Theft, I heard I Cindy say, "Nancy, it's mys fault for I being so clumsy. Whydon't yousend me the madel? I'll buy you an néw one." 4

She spoke earnestly, and her sincere, repentant attitude would make me seem like a criminal if I didn't forgive her. How could I refuse her good intentions?

I replied," You can ask Mr. Harold what model it was. He was the one who gave it to me."