Chapter 1005 Coming to See You

The winter rain chilled the bone, and in Lake City, the cold cut deeper. I had taken a cab there with the intention of buying an umbrella, but I got so caught up in my window shopping that I completely forgot about it. As I stood at the mall's entrance, the relentless rain showed no mercy. I was about to head back inside for that forgotten umbrella when I collided with someone. "Ouch... Watch where you're going... Oh, Ms. Scott, it's you!" It was Cambria, apparently in a rush. Her shopping bags slipped from her grasp and tumbled to the ground. I crouched down, gathered her bags, and handed them back with a friendly smile. "Sorry about that, Ms. Fuller. I didn't mean to block your path." She waved off the apology, accepted her bags, and thanked me. We were not exactly acquaintances, so there was not much to say. I was ready to move on when she stopped me. "Ms. Scott." I gave her a side glance, an invitation to speak her mind. She took a moment, then dropped a bombshell, "I know who you are. You're Iddy's ex-wife." That caught me off guard, but before I could respond, she added, "And I know Iddy still hasn't moved on from you." I just nodded, remaining silent. She seemed to be searching for the right words, hesitating before finally asking, "Do you... really not care about Iddy anymore?" I looked at her, the woman who was a few years my junior. Instead of answering directly, I asked, "Are you really into him?" My question might have been a bit too blunt. Cambria glanced down as she gently bit her lip, which was a tender pink. She gave a small nod. "Yeah, I fell for him the moment I saw him," she confessed. "Idris is the mature, understated type, all grace and poise. It's hard not to be dazzled by a man like that. It's hard not to fall in love with him." She was not wrong. Idris was a knockout, and his pedigree and manners only added to his allure. As boyfriend or husband, he was quite the catch. I gave her a knowing smile and said, "Ms. Fuller, Idris and I are history. I wish you both the best. I hope you two lovebirds make it to the altar." A snicker cut through the air from behind me, sending a shiver down my spine. I spun around and found myself locked in Idris' composed and detached stare. "Lovebirds?" he repeated, his voice icy. "It's too bad you aren't in the matchmaking business." "Idris, you made it!" Cambria's grin grew wider at the sight of him. She looped her arm through his and turned to me. "Ms. Scott, it's pouring out there. You didn't drive, did you? "Perhaps Idris could give you a lift home later?" "No, it's fine." I dodged his icy glare and forced a half-smile. "I'll let you two have your time. I just remembered I need to pick something up from the mall." I made my way toward the mall, leaving them without another word. Yet, the chill I felt persisted long after I had walked away. When I finally left the mall, the rain was coming down even harder. Lucky for me, I had an umbrella now and hailed a cab to take me straight home. When I snagged that house from Emily, I was all about the spacious rooms, chic decor, and sweet location. What I did not factor in was the sprawling complex, with the front gate a mile from my building. On a clear day, the walk was a chance to relax and admire the landscaping. However, now that the rain was pouring, that walk turned into an epic ordeal—especially with winter's biting winds. Battling the elements, I dashed for cover. My flimsy umbrella barely held up against the gusts. I was almost home when a voice cut through the rain. "Yvette." There, by a sleek black Maybach, stood a man with a black umbrella. He was a mere ten steps from me. Wow, talk about a heartthrob. The downpour, his dark suit sculpting his frame, his tall, lean silhouette, and his chiseled, stoic face—it was the stuff of fantasies. A few seconds of swooning later, the wind snapped me back to reality. Idris was there, just a stone's throw away. I scowled. "What brings you here?" Was he not supposed to be escorting Cambria to the Fullers' place? "I came to see you." He approached, and as my pathetic umbrella buckled, he shielded me from the deluge.