Small Things You Promised Chapter 10
I couldn’t stand the harassment anymore, so I applied for a transfer.
The process was completed quickly, and I left as soon as possible. I took only a suitcase and a backpack—less luggage than when I moved out of Cayson’s place.
My new workplace was in a small city. Life moved more slowly there, and the air was always humid.
The branch office had fewer employees than the headquarters, so it was much quieter. Even the computers took longer to boot up.
But I found it comfortable.
Once, during a business meeting, I spoke with a potential partner.
After the meeting ended, he suddenly asked, “Raelynn, you have a problem with your waist, don’t you?”
I was surprised.
“You’ve been sitting slightly to your left. I guess you have an old injury on the right side of your waist.”
He pointed at my chair. “This kind of chair doesn’t provide proper back support. I can get you a one with a better lumbar support.”
I thought he was only being polite, so I turned him down politely.
But the next day, when I arrived at work, my old chair had been replaced with a new black one. The curve of the backrest fit me perfectly, making it more comfortable than the old chair.
We tacitly agreed not to say much about it.
But after that, we gradually grew closer.
But after that, we gradually grew closer.
He wasn’t a man of many words and always expressed himself through actions.
At one business dinner, after I casually mentioned that the fish was a little spicy, he quietly moved the milder dishes in front of me instead.
When I worked overtime and yawned during phone calls, he would drive a long way just to bring me a cup of hot milk instead of coffee.
When I forgot to bring an umbrella on rainy days and hesitated about running through the rain, he would appear with one for me.
All of these were small things.
But he noticed every detail.
Even when I casually mentioned craving burgers, he would wait outside the company building with a takeout bag in hand, the aroma reaching me the moment I walked out.
He remembered everything I said and fulfilled every little wish of mine.
It was really that simple.
My friend still texted me from time to time, sometimes complaining about work and sometimes gossiping.
One day, she suddenly sent me a long voice message.
One day, she suddenly sent me a long voice message.
“Rae, remember the house Cayson bought back at that ridiculous price?”
“His projects are in trouble. The capital chain broke, and the house was supposed to be mortgaged. But guess what? He’d rather borrow from loan sharks than give up the house. Everyone told him to let it go, but he refused. He’s unbelievably stubborn.”
I listened to the voice message but didn’t reply.
“Why do you think he’s so obsessed with that house?” she asked.
Maybe he just couldn’t let go of the blue slippers, the new air conditioner in the kitchen, or the mug sitting alone on the table.
I had no idea.
“Sweetie, don’t send me anything about him anymore.”
The last time I saw Cayson was on a business trip to a nearby city.
I was waiting for the bus after work.
He stood on the other side of the square, leaning against the railings. His suit was wrinkled, his tie hung loosely on his neck, and his hair had grown long and messy.
He had lost so much weight that his cheeks were hollow. His face looked pale, and the dark circles under his eyes made him look as though he had been punched.
I almost didn’t recognize him.
When our eyes met, he froze.
He parted his lips and suddenly smiled. It was an awkward smile. The corner of his mouth twitched, and his bloodshot eyes narrowed slightly.
“Raelynn.”
His voice was so hoarse that it almost sounded like someone else’s.
“You’re so cruel.”
I looked at him calmly.
His eyes reddened, but he didn’t cry.
Seeing the calm expression on my face, he found himself unable to say anything more.
Then he turned around and left.
He walked so quickly that he was almost running.
I stood there watching until he disappeared into the crowd.
Just then, a voice called out from behind me.
“Rae?”
I turned around and saw my boyfriend holding a drink.
“I remember your business trip ended today, so I came to pick you up.”
He walked over and glanced behind me. “Who was that man?”
I took the drink from his hand. It was neither too hot nor too cold—exactly the way I liked it.
I withdrew my gaze and smiled at him.
“No one important.”