With a smile, Luis replied, "My bad! I'll make sure to look out for my team more. Now, get back to work! And keep this between us, okay?"

Luis once found happiness in sharing his life with Holley, feeling complete with her by his side.

But ever since they broke up, his nights seemed void of meaning, lacking the warmth and connection he once cherished. He thought about going back in his apartment, pouring glasses of wine, and losing track of time watching movie. He used to do so while waiting for Elva to finish work.

The memories of Holley being to that apartment as well lingered, haunting his thoughts. Seeking refuge, Luis retreated to the comfort of his expansive villa. There, he poured himself a glass of red wine and sank into the inviting cushions of his home theater sofa. The silence amplified his sense of isolation.

At ten o'clock, Luis summoned the courage to call Elva, his heart racing with uncertainty.

But Elva had blocked him.

Undeterred, he dialed again from another phone, his fingers trembling as he waited for her to answer. This time, Elva's voice greeted him, tinged with surprise. “Luis, what's the problem with you?"

With a heavy heart, Luis confessed, “Elva, it's over between me and her."

A moment of silence hung in the air, filled with unspoken emotions.

Then, a soft laugh broke through. “Oh, Luis, seeking comfort from your ex-ex-girlfriend? You really know how to keep things interesting. I'm seeing someone now, so it's quite inappropriate for us to chat like this."

Before she could disconnect, Luis blurted out, "Is there still hope for us?"

Elva paused, her response Lingering, her voice barely audible when she finally spoke. “Luis, just because I'm not yelling doesn't mean I'm not hurting. You've left me reeling, the hurt is like a weight on my chest. You really think we can just turn back time and pretend like none of this ever happened?"

But Luis persisted. "Yes! I messed up. But I'm willing to make it right. Can't you give us another chance, Elva?"

Elva's voice shook with emotion as she spoke, struggling to find her words. “Are you only trying to win me back because she didn't meet your standards?" She paused, the bitterness evident in her tone. “If she really meant something to you, you'd be building a future with her, not circling back to me now. You never truly loved me; I was just a distraction from your loneliness. Holley was no different. You didn't love her either."

With that, Elva abruptly ended the call.

Tears filled her eyes as she struggled to process the flood of emotions.

How could she forget the years they shared? Luis was playing games with her feelings once again, and it stung more than she could bear.

That night, a simple phone call had torn open old wounds, leaving Elva feeling broken.

She curled up on the sofa in her apartment. With a flickering candle casting a warm glow around her, she silently watched the flame dance, lost in her thoughts. Their romance started off thrilling, but as time went on, life lost its spark and became a drudgery of routine.

Elva endured the drudgery because she feared losing him or causing any trouble.