CHAPTER 59: MEETING RAFAEL

The next morning, Bianca woke up to find Adrian’s side of the bed empty. Blinking against the soft morning light, her eyes fell on a small note on the nightstand.

I went to the office first.

You were sleeping so peacefully,

I didn’t want to wake you.

Don’t forget to eat.

I made breakfast for you.

Bianca smiled softly as she read Adrian’s message. She then made her way to the kitchen, curious to see what he had prepared for her. On the table sat fried rice with a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg on top. Little gestures like this, so thoughtful, so simple always made her heart flutter.

As she took a bite, her mind drifted to Rafael. Being with Adrian made her automatically compare the two. Rafael had been kind and attentive, yes—but he had never made her heart race like Adrian did. He was quiet, guarded, and careful with his feelings. She had only known about his engagement to Miranda because Miranda had told her.

So when she heard from Adrian that Rafael was easy to read or predict, Bianca felt a little skeptical.

She shook her head. Yes, she had felt something for Rafael, but it had never been love, just admiration, maybe a spark of attraction. What she felt for Adrian was different. Around him, she could laugh freely, speak her mind, and be completely herself. With Rafael, she had always felt cautious, like walking on a thin line. Adrian made her feel alive, unrestrained, and seen.

Thinking about Rafael, Bianca felt a sharp pang in her chest. She felt guilty for hurting him.

I need to meet Rafael and properly end things.

Even though things between them were over, Bianca wanted to end it properly. Their last conversation hadn’t gone well, and it still bothered her. Even at her wedding, when Rafael gave his blessing to her and Adrian, she could see in his eyes that he hadn’t fully let go. Now she needed to tell him that Adrian knew about their past, so Rafael better move on.

Bianca picked up her phone and typed a message.

Bianca: Can we meet? I need to talk to you... it’s important.

Rafael: Sure. When?

Bianca: Whenever you’re free.

Rafael: I’m free today. I’ll wait at the usual restaurant at lunchtime.

Bianca: Okay.

Bianca let out a soft sigh, clutching her phone tightly after reading Rafael’s last message. She hoped this meeting could finally put their past to rest. Being Adrian’s wife meant she had to face Rafael, who wasn’t just her ex but also one of Adrian’s close friends.

She didn’t want a repeat of what happened in Bali, Rafael might accidentally blurt out something about their past and stir things up between him and Adrian. Even though Adrian already knew about her history with Rafael, Bianca couldn’t help feeling a little nervous about how things might unfold.

She hadn’t told Adrian about the meeting, fearing he might forbid it or misinterpret her intentions. Bianca arrived at the restaurant first, playing with her phone as she waited.

Not long after, Rafael walked in, wearing his navy blue office suit. Seeing him like that, with his calm and confident demeanor, made Bianca pause for a moment. She shook her head, trying to compose herself.

"Sorry I’m late. You haven’t been waiting too long, have you?" Rafael asked, taking the seat across from her.

"No, not at all. I just got here," Bianca replied, offering a small, slightly nervous smile.

"Have you ordered yet?"

"Not yet," she said.

Rafael waved over the waiter and started placing their orders.

"You look different," he said, leaning back, studying her face.

"Huh? Different how?" Bianca asked, raising her eyebrows.

"You look... happy, B," Rafael said softly, his gaze resting on her a little too long.

Bianca nodded, a small lump forming in her throat. "Oh..." she murmured.

"How was your honeymoon?" he asked, keeping his face neutral but Bianca could hear a hint of bitterness in his tone. She swallowed, a bit tense, trying to stay calm.

Rafael’s question made Bianca think back to her Japan trip with Adrian, and before she knew it, a small smile appeared on her lips.

"Looks like your honeymoon went well, huh?" he said, still sounding a bit resentful.

Bianca just sighed softly, staying quiet.

"So, what did you want to talk about that made you ask me to meet? Does Adrian know his wife is out meeting another guy?" he asked, his voice a little harsh.

Bianca sighed. "Raf, can we just talk calmly?"

Rafael let out a short scoff and ran a hand over his face, feeling frustrated. He had already given his blessing to Bianca and Adrian, but letting go of the woman he loved wasn’t as easy as he thought.

"Sorry if I went too far earlier," Raf admitted.

Bianca nodded, her eyes soft and guilty. "I asked you to meet because... I just wanted to say I’m sorry, Raf. I didn’t mean to hurt you."

Rafael let out a quiet sigh. He gave a small, tight smile, leaned back in his chair, and looked her straight in the eyes.

"You don’t need to apologize to me, Bianca," Rafael said, his tone softer now. "If anything, I should be the one apologizing for breaking our agreement. You don’t have to carry this guilt, it’s not your fault. I’ve already told you, I’m not going to interfere, and I won’t stand in the way of you and Adrian. It’s just..." he exhaled slowly, his eyes dropping for a moment, "I’ll admit, letting go of what we had... it’s still not easy."

Bianca froze, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out. A part of her wanted to reach across the table, to say something, anything—to make Rafael feel better.

But deep down, she knew it wouldn’t help. If anything, it would only make the wound deeper. So she kept her hands folded in her lap and her eyes dropping to the table.

Bianca suddenly remembered she needed to tell Rafael. She looked up at him and said,

"About our past... Adrian already knows about... what we had before. I just hope from now on you can be careful not to say anything about me or what we had in front of him."

Her hands clenched under the table as she watched Rafael’s face, worried he might not take it well.

***