Chapter 7: The Truth Behind Puppy

I couldn't concentrate for the rest of the afternoon.

Every word Carl had spoken replayed in my mind.

"If that person truly cares about you... he'll wait."

Puppy had said almost the exact same thing months ago.

Coincidences were beginning to pile up.

After work, I returned home and opened my old backup phone.

The account I had blocked was still there.

Dozens of unread messages filled the screen.

None of them blamed me.

None of them sounded angry.

The last message simply read:

[I'll wait until you're ready to hear me out.]

My heart ached.

The next morning, Neil called everyone into the conference room.

"Good news!" he announced.

"Mr. Graham has officially approved the investment."

Applause filled the room.

Carl merely nodded politely.

As everyone began leaving, he stopped me.

"Ms. James... could you stay for a moment?"

Neil looked between us with a mischievous grin.

"Don't work my employee too hard, Carl."

"She still has to save my company."

When the room became empty, Carl walked toward the window.

For several seconds, he remained silent.

Finally, he turned around.

"There's something I should have told you a long time ago."

A strange nervousness crept over me.

"Yesterday... you asked whether mistakes could be fixed."

"I think they can."

"But only if both people stop hiding."

He slowly reached into his coat pocket.

Then he placed a familiar object on the table.

A lacquered titanium cup.

The very same one I had picked over a month ago.

I stared at it without breathing.

"Recognize it?"

I nodded weakly.

"You..."

"Yes," Carl interrupted gently.

"I'm Puppy."

Everything around me went silent.

"No..." I whispered.

"That can't be right."

"I thought... I thought it was Neil."

Carl gave a helpless smile.

"Neil borrowed my cup countless times."

"The photo I sent you happened to be taken on his desk."

"And the steak..."

"We were eating together in the company cafeteria that day."

Every misunderstanding suddenly began falling into place.

"The sweater..."

"I bought it because you chose it."

"The necklace..."

"You once showed me a picture wearing it."

"The song in the car..."

"It became my favorite because you said listening to it reminded you of rainy afternoons."

I covered my mouth.

Tears slowly blurred my vision.

"Then... why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Carl lowered his gaze.

"Because we promised each other we'd meet naturally one day."

"I didn't want our relationship to begin because I investigated you."

"When I realized you worked at Mike Tech..."

"I wanted you to discover me on your own."

"But before I had the chance..."

He smiled bitterly.

"You broke up with me."

My face instantly burned red.

"I... I'm sorry."

"I misunderstood everything."

"I thought Neil..."

Carl couldn't help laughing softly.

"Neil has been laughing at me for two days."

"He said I deserved it for keeping secrets."

I laughed through my tears.

It was the first genuine smile I'd had in days.

Carl took one careful step closer.

"I'm not asking you to forgive me today."

"I only wanted you to know the truth."

"Whether you choose to block me again..."

"Or give me another chance..."

"I'll respect your decision."

For the first time since we met in person...

The distance between us finally disappeared.