Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 75

Chapter 75

Elena: POV

I drifted back to sleep eventually, exhausted from thinking and trying to make sense of the wreckage my life had become.

When I woke up, weak sunlight filtered through Sophia’s bedsgom curtains. The space beside me was empty, the sheets cold. She’d been gone for hours.

I heard noise from the kitchen-clattering dishes, the hiss of the coffee maker. The familiar sounds of morning.

I dragged myself out of bed and padded into the main living area. Sophia stood at the stove, flipping pancakes, her back to me. She was wearing fresh

clothes-jeans and a cashmere sweater I’d never seen before.

“Morning,” I said, my voice still rough from sleep.

She jumped slightly, then turned with a too-bright smile. ‘Elena! You’re up. I’m making breakfast.”

Something felt off. The smile didn’t reach eyes.

14

“You went out last night,” I said.

Her smile flickered. “What? No, 1-

“Sophia.” I crossed my arms. “I heard you leave. Around one AM.”

For a second, she looked panicked. Then she laughed-light, dismissive. “Oh, that. Yeah, I got a call from work. Some emergency with a shipment. Had to go

sort it out.”

Liar.

But I didn’t push. If she wanted to tell me, she would. And if she didn’t, that was her right.

‘Come eat,’ she said, turning back to the stove. “You need to keep your strength up. For the baby.”

She reached over and pinched my cheek playfully. “Don’t worry about me, okay? I’m fine. If something was really wrong, I’d tell you.”

When she leaned over to grab the syrup, her sweater shifted, and I caught a glimpse of dark marks on her collarbone. Hickeys. Definitely fresh-they hadn’t been there yesterday morning when we’d talked last night.

Would she really tell me? I wasn’t so sure. But I nodded anyway.

I’d submitted my resignation to Sterling Fashion HQ three days after arriving at Sophia’s. An email to HR, brief and professional. Due to personal circumstances, I’m resigning effective immediately. Thank you for the opportunity.

No response yet. Maybe they were relieved. Maybe they were scrambling. Maybe they didn’t give a shit.

I told myself I didn’t care.

2:04 pm

Chapter 75

MA

The work that followed was a blur of fabric and thread. I threw myself into making Arthur’s vest, desperate for something to focus on besides my crumbling

marriage

Sophia was gone most of the time doing those days early mornings, late nights. She’d text me updates: Stuck in meetings or Grabbing dinner with clients of Running errands, be back late.

I didn’t ask questions. Mostly because I was too focused on my own project.

Arthur’s vest.

I’d decided on a classic three-piece look-charcoal gray wool for the suit jacket and trousers he already owned, with a vest in deep burgundy silk to

complement them. Something elegant. Something that would make him feel special without being too flashy.

I spent hours at my makeshift workspace in Sophia’s guest room, sketching and re-sketching. The lines had to be perfect.

The proportions had to flatter his frame-still strong despite his age, but softer around the middle now.

I wanted buttons that meant something. So I went to a vintage shop in the Village and found a set of brass ones with tiny engravings-flowers that reminded me of the Connecticut estate gardens where I’d grown up. Where Arthur had always made me feel like I belonged.

For the fabric, I hit up the Garment District. Ran my fingers over bolt after bolt until I found the perfect weight-something with just enough structure to hold its shape, but soft enough to drape well.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify