Chapter 32

Vera's POV

Hannah has been such a darling lately. She came over to help clean the mess in my kitchen and parlor the day after I broke down. She even got me a cleaning job through her husband’s agency, the only office that had a spot. I didn’t care. Work was work, and distraction was all I wanted.

I buried myself in that job, leaving home as early as five in the morning and returning long after nightfall. I volunteered for extra shifts just so I wouldn’t have time to think about him. The longer I kept moving, the less I had to feel.

Eight days passed, and I hadn’t seen Nathan. His door remained closed, and Hannah mentioned that his office hadn’t been opened either. I assumed he’d finally come to his senses, realized this was a mistake and left for good.

No more lilies. No more red-enveloped letters.

But the silence didn’t bring peace. I struggled to focus at work and rarely got a full night’s sleep. Though I fought hard not to cry myself