Chapter 10
Landing from the flight, I was suddenly gripped by indecision.
When my parents first learned I was seeing Simon, they were dead set against it.
The Hoffmans, with their grand family name, would never accept my family’s tradition of non–cohabiting partnerships.
It was a tradition we had honored for years on end.
Love was not something that could be chained down with a marriage license–just like my parents‘ relationship.
Without any piece of paper, they have loved each other their whole lives.
However, caught up in my own fervor back then, they still opened their home to Simon with open arms and let me go.
My family’s home was by the sea, with a beach that had always been part of my journey home.
Nicole and I strolled along the sand when we bumped into my old elementary school teacher.
His hair had gone mostly white; but he was beaming, welcoming me back with a warm smile.
‘Yes, this is definitely home. This wonderful place, this wonderful city. Why on earth did I let Simon talk me into moving to that
cutthroat city?‘ I thought to myself.
‘I sprawled out on the plush king–sized bed, flicking on my phone to catch up on the news.
However, splashed across the top trending headlines was Simon’s name.
[Hoffman family engagement called off!]
I scrunched my forehead, puzzled by Simon’s latest antics.
He was supposed to marry Ella. I had stepped aside for them, but they called it quits.
What were they playing?
It was no longer any of my business.
