Shadows of the heart 18+

Chapter 3

Serena's POV:

Serena's heart raced as She felt a guilt for the accident earlier, fearing the repercussions of her mistake. The idea of his insulting her in front of everyone made her feel awful. he might even complain to her boss, and she could lose her job. And what if he asked her to pay for his coat? She knew she couldn't afford it. She understood that rich people like him could be mean to people like her. It made her feel really small and powerless. She couldn't stop thinking about all the bad things that could happen. The thought of facing him again filled her with dread, her fear holding her back from approaching him.

Instead, serena sent Lily to deliver the bill, her hands trembling as she watched her friend timidly approach the man. She desperately wanted to apologize for her clumsiness, to make amends for the trouble she had caused. But the words caught in her throat, her anxiety overwhelming her as she struggled to find the courage to speak.

As Lily handed the man the bill, serena held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she awaited his reaction. She couldn't bear to watch, her nerves fraying with each passing second.

---

Serena's friends, Lily and Sarah, approached her with concern as she returned to their table.

"Serena, are you okay?" Lily asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

Serena let out a shaky breath, her hands still trembling from the encounter. "I...I think so," she replied softly. "I just hope he's not too angry about what happened."

Sarah reached out to squeeze Serena's hand, offering her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Em. I'm sure everything will be fine," she said gently.

Serena realized her friends were trying to help her calm down. They didn't seem as worried because they were used to dealing with accidents like this calmly, but serena couldn't shake her anxiety. She knew her tendency to overthink things wasn't helping the situation.

Lily nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Sarah's right," she chimed in. "And even if he is a little upset, I'm sure he'll understand. Accidents happen all the time."

She forced a weak smile, grateful for her friends' support. "Thanks, guys," she said softly. "I really appreciate it. I just feel terrible about what happened."

"We know you do, serena ," Sarah said reassuringly. "But trust us, it'll all blow over soon. You're a great waitress, and one little mistake isn't going to change that."

Lily flashed Serena a reassuring smile. "Exactly, Em. You're doing great. Just take a deep breath and try to relax."

"Thanks, Lily," Serena replied with a weak smile. "You're the best."

"Anytime," Lily said warmly.

---

Nathaniel's POV:
Nathaniel seethed with frustration as he sat alone at the table, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. Despite his initial anger towards Emily for spilling coffee on his coat, he couldn't shake the image of her trembling form and wide-eyed fear.

As he waited for the bill, Nathaniel couldn't help but wonder about Serena's circumstances. She seemed so small and vulnerable compared to him. He found himself strangely drawn to her innocence, her sincerity, even as he struggled to understand it.
Nate glanced down at the bill, his anger momentarily forgotten as he read the message scrawled on the back. "I'm so sorry for the accident earlier. It was completely unintentional. Please accept my sincere apologies. - serena"

A flicker of surprise crossed Nate's features as he absorbed the words, his initial irritation melting away in the face of serena's heartfelt apology. He hadn't expected her to reach out to him like this, let alone express such genuine remorse for her mistake.

As he tucked the bill into his pocket,With a final glance around the café, Nate made his way towards the door, his mind still reeling from the unexpected encounter. He knew he would remember Serena and the incident with the spilled coffee for a long time to come.