Only you in my love

Just as Michelle was leaving the office, she stopped at the door. She looked back at Caroline with a firm look on her face.

"What's wrong?" Caroline asked. Knowing Michelle well, she felt that something was up. She knew that Michelle only looked serious during photo-shoots.

"Cara, I want to tell you a secret," Michelle said with a pout. "Leon and Valerie have already broken up. She's not his girlfriend anymore."

The shock was visible in Caroline's eyes. "Just last week, I saw them together at the auction. She even made the highest bid that day. The Feng family must be really rich."

Of course, they were rich. Although the Feng family wasn't that rich on C Island, they were richer than most families in Lexingport City.

However, Michelle was from a humbler background. A lot of times, she would even wonder how she'd take care of Leon.

She knew that she had to work harder to earn money.

A bit depressed thinking about it, she didn't say anything more.

Back at her desk, Michelle sent a message to Lydia who was in B City.

"Hey, Lydia. Leon and I are together now. I haven't told anyone else, but I know I can trust you."

Lydia replied in an instant, "Leon? How did that happen?

Didn't he just break up with Valerie? Do you think he's serious with you?" Michelle replied, "Calm down, calm down.

I know what I'm getting into. And besides, nobody forced me to be with him. It was my decision.

We're keeping our relationship a secret for now. That's why I haven't told anyone. Debra thinks he's a bad guy. But you know what? I honestly think he's a good person."

In response, Lydia just sent an emoji with a sarcastic smile.

Michelle asked, "Aren't you with Austin?"

Lydia replied, "I shouldn't have told you that. This way, you wouldn't have accepted Leon.

The relationship between me and Austin is different from yours."

Michelle replied, "I think they are the same. The people we love don't love us back. But we want is to be with them."

Unable to deny it, Lydia became silent for some time.

After a while, Michelle sent her two question marks. Still without a response, she just thought that maybe Lydia was busy.

But another message came just as she was about to turn off her phone.

In the message, Lydia wrote, "Michelle, I don't want you to end up like me. Now, I already know how hard this can be. You've got to look after your own heart because no one will do that for you. When Austin and I got together, it was because he needed help keeping some women at bay. What I mean is that I'm just his girlfriend by name. But to be honest with you, I was happy. However, it isn't easy at all. The longer I stay in this kind of relationship, the more I want from him.

I want to hold his hand and kiss him.

But it's an impossible situation. You know that, right? You're my friend. I really don't want you to suffer like me."

For a second time, Michelle read her message carefully. "It seems we're quite different after all," she replied.

"Maybe. Just don't make the same mistakes I did," Lydia answered back.

"Leon didn't just take my hand. He kissed me as well," Michelle explained.

She waited for Lydia's reply for a few minutes.

But still, nothing came.

Eventually, she felt that it was taking way longer than normal. She thought maybe Lydia's hand was injured. "Are you alright? Is your hand hurt?"

Another couple of minutes passed by, and still no response.

"I need to rest, Michelle. Remember, you have to look after your own heart. Take care," Lydia finally replied.

A confused look appeared on her face. Michelle sent her a few more messages before finally turning off her phone.

After turning on her computer, she opened the e-mail Caroline sent her. She sifted through all the information systematically, listing down all the details she needed for the job.

Once she finished taking notes for her upcoming shoot, she reviewed her past projects.

Looking at her work, she couldn't help smiling. Some colleagues noticed her smiling by herself and teased her about being in love.

With a smile, Michelle just looked at them without confirming or denying it.

At noon, everyone went to the canteen to have lunch. As long as Caroline didn't have a project to shoot, she would have lunch with them.

Although the staff were experienced professionals, the work environment was very casual. All of them seemed to have a good relationship with each other, talking and laughing during lunch.

The canteen was in a beautiful place. To get there, they had to walk through a picturesque stone pathway through the lawn.

Many colorful lanterns hung at the entrance. Inside, art pieces gave the canteen a vibrant atmosphere. Most of these were props from previous projects that Caroline put there on display.

As the objects were collected through all those years of Caroline's career, they had great sentimental value to her.

While everyone was waiting in line for food, someone came looking for Michelle. Both she and Caroline looked towards the voice and saw that it was Janice Zhou.

All the staff knew her.

She was very young and well-liked.

"Janice, you're here for lunch?" Gray asked.

"No, I just finished lunch. I just dropped by because someone ordered food for Michelle. I couldn't reach her earlier, so I went here to find her. Here you go, Michelle," Janice said with a smile.

"Sorry, I forgot to bring my phone," Michelle apologized, taking the paper bags from her hand. "Thank you, Janice. Do you know who ordered it?"

"I have no clue, sorry."

After Janice left, Michelle peered into one of the paper bags. She saw a dozen strawberries neatly packed inside a clear, round container.

Instantly, she knew who sent them over.

It was from Leon. Thinking of him, she couldn't help but chuckle.

"I knew it. You really are in love. Be honest, Mimi. That's from your boyfriend, isn't it?" Gray teased.

"No, no," Michelle denied, shaking her head.

But her blushing cheeks gave her away easily. All the others banded together to tease her. Even Caroline joined in to make fun of her. "Mimi, even if you two aren't in a relationship yet, you must like him already, right? It's so obvious." Without saying anything, Michelle turned around and sat down.

"That lucky girl. Since nobody orders lunch for us, we all have to wait in line," Gray said playfully.

The studio was spacious, but there weren't many employees. After a couple more minutes, they were already back with their food. Seeing the food that Michelle had, they seemed to have lost appetite for theirs.

Gray couldn't help swallowing as he imagined the taste. "Can I have a sip of your soup? The food here in our canteen is the same as in a top restaurant. Our chef here is well-known as well.

But, the food Mimi got is just on another level. I don't even think I can afford it." Then Caroline sat beside Michelle and stared at the strawberries. "Mimi, can I have one?"

"Of course you can have one, Cara. I don't mind sharing my food with all of you. But you have to leave some strawberries for me," Michelle answered gently. She looked at the three dishes and the soup on the table. "You can have the dishes. They are too much for me, anyway."

Unsurprisingly, Gray was the first to dig in. "I just want to have a sip of soup."

"Thanks a lot, Mimi." The rest of the team then started to share the food.

Opening the pretty box, Cara took a strawberry and noticed the logo on the packaging. "Hmm. Dream Manor. Mimi, look at this logo. Do you know who owns this place?"☐☐☐☐