Chapter 170: Overheard
Beatrix stood nervously in front of her window, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress as she gazed out at the bustling city street below. It had been a month since she had last heard from Damien, her fiancé, and her worry had grown into a gnawing pit in her stomach.
She had tried calling him, texting him, emailing him, but all she received in response was a deafening silence. It was unlike him to go radio silent for so long without any explanation, and she couldn’t help but imagine the worst-case scenarios.
Her mind wandered back to the last conversation she had with Damien. They had talked about their upcoming wedding.
He had promised to be there for her, no matter what. She remembered the warmth of his embrace as he kissed her forehead and whispered, "I love you, Bea. I’ll be back soon." She had believed him, trusted him completely, but now, with each passing day, her faith in his promise wavered.
Beatrix’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was her best friend, Stella, who had come to check on her. Stella had always been the voice of reason and comfort for Beatrix, and she knew she needed her friend’s support now more than ever.
"Hey, how are you holding up?" Stella asked, pulling her into a tight hug.
"I’m scared,Stella," Beatrix replied, her voice trembling. "I haven’t heard from Damien in a month, and I don’t know what’s going on. I can’t stop imagining all these terrible things happening to him."
Stella listened to Beatrix’s concerns and offered her some reassurance. "Maybe he’s just busy with work or dealing with something personal. You know how being the leader is not easy. A lot had happened. He is probably sorting it out."
Beatrix nodded, but the pit in her stomach refused to go away. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. She felt helpless, as if she was standing on the edge of a cliff, unable to see what lay beyond.
Sensing Beatrix’s unease, Stella changed the topic, hoping to distract her friend from her worries. "Hey, have you heard about the new restaurant that just opened up on 5th Avenue? I heard they have the best seafood pasta in town."
Beatrix looked at her friend, momentarily confused by the sudden change in topic. But she realized that Stella was trying to lift her spirits and take her mind off her troubles.