Chapter 15: The Unspoken Change
Terrence’s Unfamiliar Feelings
Terrence had always thought he had everything figured out. He was the heir to the Crawford family, rich, powerful, and in control. But when he came back from his trip, he found himself with something unexpected—a girlfriend.
At first, it had been an annoyance. Valerie was a chatterbox, always talking, always needing something. He’d been irritated by her constant presence in his life.
But gradually, something had shifted. He had grown used to her.
There was even a time when Valerie fell ill, and he hadn’t seen her by his side. That absence had left an unexpected void in his heart. He hadn’t known what to do with the feeling, but it was there—subtle yet real.
The Change He Couldn’t Ignore
Snapping back from his thoughts, Terrence turned his head and glanced at Valerie.
When had she changed?
Her shift in behavior seemed to coincide with her repeated attempts to stop him from flying to France. At first, she had fought with him over it, her words sharp and fiery. But gradually, those arguments had faded, and her attitude towards him had become colder.
Valerie had stopped fighting about Margaret, and that was what unsettled him the most.
It was as if she had become resigned.
And it made him uneasy.
A Moment of Uncertainty
Terrence’s voice faltered as he turned to her.
“Valerie, Margaret returned to the country because…”
But before he could finish, Valerie interrupted, her voice flat, detached.
“That’s the place where we had our first date.”
She stepped out of the car, not waiting for him to respond. He followed her, his feet dragging with a sense of dread.
Back to the Beginning
Valerie stood in front of a hot dog stand, the same one they had visited years ago.
Terrence, the richest man in Houston, had never cared for street food, and certainly never tried the humble hot dog. But Valerie had insisted back then, dragging him to this stand.
That day, he had wrinkled his nose when the hot dog was placed in front of him. The smell was overwhelming, and the sight of it made his stomach churn.
He remembered how out of place he had felt, eating something so simple and messy, especially when he was used to fine dining.
But Valerie had been so excited, so genuine. She had insisted he try it, laughing when he hesitated.
“Come on, just one bite. I promise, you’ll like it!”
He had humored her and taken a bite, and to his surprise, it wasn’t terrible. But he’d never admitted that to her.
Now, standing at the same hot dog stand, it was almost like time had come full circle.
A Quiet Moment
Valerie ordered two hot dogs, the same way she had done back then.
“Sir, two hot dogs, please.”
The vendor, who had likely seen many couples come and go, stopped for a moment, taking in their good looks. They were an attractive pair, and he couldn’t help but smile.
Valerie sat at the same spot they had chosen during their first date—the same bench, the same angle.
Terrence stood there for a moment, watching her, before reluctantly sitting beside her.
The Weight of Unspoken Words
Valerie took a bite of her hot dog, her eyes distant.
She wasn’t the same girl she had been. Back then, she had been full of life, eager to connect with him, to make him feel something for her.
Now, she seemed detached, and it hurt him more than he cared to admit.
The unspoken tension between them hung heavy in the air. He couldn’t figure her out anymore.
What happened to the girl who fought for him, the girl who had loved him so much?
Was she still here, or had she moved on without him even realizing it?
Terrence’s thoughts swirled as he took a bite of the hot dog, feeling the familiar, oddly comforting taste. But no matter how much he tried to convince himself that it was just another meal, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had been lost between them.
Valerie’s eyes flicked over to him, but she didn’t speak. She didn’t need to.
The distance between them was all too clear.
