Whisper of the Heart

Chapter 21

Noah's surprise visit brought an unexpected joy to Chloe. Hindi siya makapaniwala nang biglang sumulpot si Noah sa desk niya, all smiles, as if no time had passed. "Hey, lunch?" he asked, like he always did, as though he hadn't been away for what felt like an eternity. Parang walang nabago. Chloe's heart skipped a beat, her surprise melting into the warmth of seeing him up close again. The way he looked at her, yung parang siya lang ang nakikita ni Noah sa isang buong kwarto, made her feel as if they had their own little world.

At work, everyone knew about their lunch dates, their habit of clocking out together, and how Noah would send over little snacks to her desk, knowing exactly what she liked. Ang simpleng "Good morning" coffee niya or "You're doing great" pastry from Noah brought so much brightness to her day. Naging routine na ito, pero para kay Chloe, it was more than routine, it was proof of Noah's quiet, consistent love. Kahit pa simple lang, it made her feel valued, seen.

But Noah's return didn't just impact Chloe; Wyatt began to notice her in a way he never had before. He saw the way her face lit up every time she was with Noah, the sparkle in her eyes that seemed to brighten the whole room. Hindi man siya fully aware, but there was a shift inside him every time he saw her like this happy, glowing, and radiant. Chloe was simple, yes, loose dresses, minimal makeup, but there was no hiding her natural beauty. Even in her simplest form, Wyatt noticed her curves, her gentle confidence. She didn't flaunt it, pero naroon lang, subtly, undeniably.

He watched as she handled her work with a quiet strength, never making a big show of her efforts, but always delivering her best. She was resilient in ways that Wyatt hadn't realized before handling her tasks, dealing with challenges, all without breaking stride. Nakita niya ang maturity ni Chloe, the grace with which she carried herself even in difficult situations. It was a strength he couldn't help but admire.

Over time, he found himself thinking, Why did I ever despise this woman? The Chloe he used to overlook was now a vision he couldn't ignore. She had a quiet intelligence, a kindness that was deeply rooted, and a humor that only seemed to come out at just the right moments. Naalala niya ang mga masasayang tawanan nila noon, before things had gotten complicated. Maybe, just maybe, he could be friends with her again.

It was one of those days when everything seemed to fall apart. Wyatt felt the pressure of the big investor potentially pulling out, like a dark cloud threatening to crush him. He barely noticed Chloe walk in, only to catch the tail end of his anger. His frustrations burst out, aimed straight at her, words filled with resentment he didn't even mean. "Why can't you get it right, Chloe?" he spat, his voice sharp and uncharacteristically harsh. "We're on the brink of losing everything! I don't have time to clean up after you!"

Chloe felt each word strike her like a blow, pain settling in her chest as she tried to process his anger. She had always seen Wyatt as someone calm, collected, and rational never had he directed such frustration at her, not even during the hardest days. Alam niyang pressured si Wyatt, but she never thought he would take it out on her. She blinked back the tears, forcing herself to keep her composure, pero masakit. The Wyatt she once knew seemed like a stranger now.

They managed to save the investor, and the crisis passed, but something inside Chloe felt irreparably broken. Her hand unconsciously rested on her belly, now rounding with her third trimester approaching. In just a few weeks, there would be no hiding her pregnancy. Wyatt would eventually notice, and she had no strength left to explain. That incident became a bitter confirmation of what she'd been dreading that maybe, this was no longer the place for her, and neither was Wyatt.

The next morning, Chloe approached Wyatt's office, resignation letter in hand. Wyatt looked up, his eyes widening in shock. "Chloe...ano 'to?" he asked, almost unable to believe the paper she handed over.