I had been preparing to go home, counting down the hours until morning. But when I finally woke up, the sight that greeted me left me frozen in place. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming.
Dozens—no,
hundreds
of flowers filled the room, their vibrant colors painting every surface around me.
I pinch myself, I wasn't dead. I thought I had already crossed over, and these were flowers meant for the grave.
They weren't, though.
They were fresh, blooming, alive in every sense.
The air was thick with their sweet fragrance, almost suffocating in its intensity. Roses of every imaginable shade surrounded me—rich reds, soft pinks, delicate whites, and deep purples.
Wherever I looked, it was a sea of petals. It was beautiful, breathtaking, even. And yet, something about it felt wrong. I felt uncomfortable looking at them.
"W-what is this . . .?" My voice cracked as I spoke, the words barely making it past my lips.
Before I could process it, a soft knock echoed through the room, and a woman stepped in from the doorway, her presence as crisp and professional as her tailored suit. She had a no-nonsense air about her, her posture straight, her face stern.
"Good morning, my lady," she said, her voice smooth and calm. "My name is Terese. Young Master Cole asked me to deliver these flowers for you. As well as . . ." She motioned toward the hallway, and within seconds, men in spotless aprons filed into the room, each holding trays piled high with food.
The scent of breakfast hit me before I could say anything, and my stomach betrayed me, growling loudly at the sight of my favorite dishes. Poached eggs, smoked salmon, crispy bacon, rice, squash soup, mashed potatoes, fresh fruits and vegies—all laid out perfectly in front of me.
My eyes widened. What was this? Why was he doing this?
What was Cole doing?!
Terese stood there patiently, watching my reaction. I could feel the weight of her gaze as I struggled to make sense of the absurdity before me.
Finally, I forced myself to speak. "What's all this for?"
"These are all gifts from Master Cole," she explained with a practiced calmness. "He instructed me to ensure that you have everything you might want or need. And if there's anything else you desire, I am to get it for you immediately. Or if you prefer, you can contact Master Cole directly."
The mere mention of his name made my head pound. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the headache away.
"No. I don't need all this," I muttered. "I don't need
any
of this. Definitely not this much food. And certainly not this many flowers."
I could feel the frustration bubbling up inside me, threatening to spill over.
Was Cole serious about all of this?
Was he really trying to win me back with an over-the-top display like this?
It wasn't love. I could feel that much. No matter how grand the gesture, the emptiness of his feelings was clear. This wasn't about love; it was about control.
I could see it now—this was his way of keeping me tethered to him, of ensuring that I stayed by his side.
But what for? To play the role of the lovesick fool again? To chase after him like I always had, knowing full well that he would never love me back?
Was he enjoying me making a fool of myself after him?
Or maybe . . . maybe he just wanted me to stay in his life as some twisted version of friendship.
Either way, it didn't matter. I wasn't going to let myself fall for it.
Not this time.
What I wanted was clear. My goal from the start was clear.
I took a deep breath, pushing down the knot of emotions that had risen in my throat.
"We will leave you to your food, my lady," Terese said, her tone still polite, though she must have sensed my growing discomfort. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call for me."
"Wait," I called after her, gesturing to the overwhelming display of roses. "It's a waste. Wrap them up and send them to every patient in the hospital."
Her eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting that response. "Y-you want to give them away?" she asked, hesitating for a moment as if unsure whether she had heard me correctly.
"What else would I do with them?" I replied, my voice sharper than intended. "I can't eat them, and certainly wouldn't bring them with me. I'm leaving soon anyway. They'll just sit here and rot if I don't. Better to give them to someone who might actually appreciate them. Maybe it'll brighten someone's day."
"But, my lady, these flowers were all sent for you," Terese said, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. "They were gifts from Master Cole himself. Are you sure you want to dispose of them?"
"Exactly. They were
gifted
to me, which means I can do whatever I want with them." I could feel my frustration building again, but I kept my voice steady. "And I'm telling you, I don't need them. Send them to the patients. It's better than letting them go to waste."
She pursed her lips, but after a moment, Terese nodded, clearly deciding not to argue. "Very well, my lady. I'll see to it that they're distributed."
"And one more thing," I said, my voice dropping. "Tell your master to stop sending me useless things. In fact, tell him to stop sending me
anything
at all."
Terese's professional smile never wavered, but I saw the slight tension in her eyes as she gave a small bow. "As you wish."
With that, she turned and left, leaving me alone with the absurdly lavish breakfast that Cole had sent.
I glanced at the trays, my stomach still growling, and sighed. I wouldn't waste the food. That much I knew.
But the flowers . . . the flowers would be better off in someone else's hands.
Because no matter how many roses Cole sent, no matter how many grand gestures he made, they would never make me stay.
Not this time.
Not anymore.