Chapter 29

Chapter 29

The morning sun streamed through the sheer curtains of Laura's bedroom while she stood before her vanity. The hum of a hair dryer filled the space as she meticulously styled her hair. Today was another important day at the company, and though she didn't feel the need to overdo it, a touch of polish wouldn't hurt. She leaned in closer to the mirror, carefully applying light makeup—a bit of foundation, a hint of blush, and a soft pink lipstick that enhanced her natural features.

With a final sweep of mascara over her lashes, she stepped back, admiring the understated elegance of her look. Her outfit, a tailored blouse tucked into high-waisted trousers, was both professional and comfortable—perfect for the busy day ahead. She fastened a simple gold necklace, one of her mother's gifts, around her neck and took a deep breath.

Satisfied, she slipped into her shoes and made her way downstairs as the quiet sounds of the morning filled the house. She was ready for the day, eager to speak with her father before they headed to the company together.

But as she entered the kitchen, she found her mother alone at the island, sipping on a cup of coffee. Mrs. Levine looked up with a warm smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Morning, sweetie," she greeted, her voice as soothing as ever.

"Morning, mom," Laura replied, glancing around. "Where's dad? I was hoping to talk to him before we leave"

Her mother's smile faltered slightly as she set her mug down. "Oh, I'm sorry, honey. Your father was called away early this morning. The overseas branch had an emergency, and the manager needed him on-site immediately." She sighed, her hands fidgeting with the handle of her cup. "He left for the airport just an hour ago. He wanted to say goodbye, but you were still asleep."

Laura's heart sank for a moment as disappointment washed over her. She had been looking forward to going to work with her father. But she quickly composed herself, nodding as she absorbed the news.

"I see," she said softly, hiding her initial reaction with a small smile. "Well, I hope everything's okay."

Her mother nodded. "He'll manage, like he always does. You know how your father is. But he trusts you to handle things here while he's away."

Laura smiled, though a tinge of nervousness flickered in her chest. "Yeah, of course. I'll do my best."

Mrs. Levine stood up, walking over to place a reassuring hand on her daughter's arm. "You'll be fine, Laura. He's so proud of you, and so am I. You've been doing wonderfully."

Laura felt a wave of warmth at her mother's words. "Thanks, Mom." She smiled, her heart a little lighter.

Her mother gave her a gentle pat on the back. "Oh well, you better go," Mrs. Levine advised with a soft smile. "You've got a big day ahead of you."

Laura nodded, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. "I'll see you later."

With one last glance at her mother, Laura stepped out the door and the cool morning air brushed against her face ever so gently. Then, she made her way to her car. Sliding into the driver's seat, she started the engine and slowly pulled out of the garage. Once fully clear, she stepped on the accelerator, reaching for her phone to call her father.

But before she could even press the button—thud! The car jolted suddenly. Her phone slipped from her grasp and clattered onto the floor.

"My God! What was that?!" Laura exclaimed, her heart racing. Panic surged through her as she hurried out of the car. Fear twisting in her gut thinking she could have killed someone.

As she rounded the front of the vehicle, her breath caught in her throat. Jonathan lay on the ground, conscious but clearly shaken. Her heart sank, but before she could say anything, he looked up at her with an apologetic, almost sheepish grin on his face.

"Oops... I guess I jumped in too hard," Jonathan said with a light laugh, his voice tinged with nervousness.

Laura's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Jonathan, what the hell are you doing?!"

He sat up slowly, brushing the dust off his clothes while a slight wince crossed his features as he did. "You've been avoiding me for days, Laura. You won't talk to me, you won't even look my way. I didn't know how else to get your attention, so... I thought maybe this would do the trick." His smile faded slightly as he realized the gravity of his actions.

Laura stared at him in utter disdain. "You could have really hurt yourself! This is insane!"

Jonathan chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood despite the seriousness of the situation. "Well, at least I didn't break anything. I'm tougher than I look," he said, flashing a grin that was only half-hearted.

"Seriously, Jonathan. You could have ended up in the hospital!" she replied, crossing her arms, torn between exasperation and concern. Despite her frustration, she couldn't deny the flutter of relief at seeing him, alive and somewhat well.

He looked down for a moment, his bravado fading. "I know. But I was desperate to talk to you. It's been... difficult, you know? I didn't want to lose you without trying to fix things first."

Laura's heart softened at his words. "But this isn't the way to do it. You could have--"

"Waiting didn't seem like an option when you've been avoiding me," he interrupted, looking up at her with earnest eyes. "I miss you, Laura. I really do. I just thought... maybe if I made a scene, you'd talk to me."

A heavy silence surrounded the atmosphere between them. Laura sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "You're so reckless sometimes. Do you even realize how serious this is?"

Jonathan's expression shifted from playful to sincere. "I do, and I'm sorry. I just... I couldn't stand the thought of you slipping away. I've made mistakes, and I know that. But I want to make it right. I want to talk, really talk, about everything that's happened."

She took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. "You've hurt me, Jonathan. It's not just going to disappear because you decided to jump in front of my car."

"I know that," he replied softly as the sincerity in his voice cut through her defenses. "I'm not expecting it to just go away. I just want a chance to explain—to show you that I can be better."

Laura felt her resolve wavering as she looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of the man she had once loved so deeply. Despite the hurt, there was a flicker of connection she thought she had buried. "This isn't how I imagined us having this conversation," she said finally, frustration mingling with vulnerability.

"Maybe not," Jonathan admitted, his expression earnest. "But can we at least talk now? Please?"

She hesitated, glancing back at her car, then back at him. The tension between them was obvious, but she knew they needed to clear the air. After a moment of contemplation, she nodded, keeping her emotions carefully guarded. "Okay, but not here. Let's go somewhere else."

Jonathan's face lit up with hope as a hint of relief washed over him. "I'll follow you. Just... please don't drive too fast this time," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Shut up," she replied, shaking her head as she walked back to her car.