Chapter 1
The silence inside the Devereux mansion was suffocating.
Every step Ramona took echoed against the polished marble floor as she walked toward the study at the end of the hallway. Expensive paintings decorated the walls, while crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead.
It was beautiful.
It had never felt like home.
She stopped outside the study door and tightened her grip on the blue file in her hand.
This was it.
No more hoping.
No more pretending.
She knocked once before pushing the door open.
Her father sat behind an enormous mahogany desk, flipping through documents while speaking on the phone.
"Yes, finalize the contract."
He barely acknowledged her.
"I don't care how much it costs."
Ramona stood quietly, waiting.
A minute passed.
Then another.
Finally, he ended the call and looked at her with obvious irritation.
"What is it?"
"I need your signature."
"On what?"
"A document."
"Leave it there."
"I'd rather you sign it now."
His brows knitted together.
"You've become quite demanding."
Ramona gave a humorless laugh.
"No."
She stepped closer.
"I've just stopped waiting."
His expression hardened.
"What does that mean?"
She placed the file on his desk.
"It means I finally understand something."
He looked at her without speaking.
"No matter how hard I try..."
Her voice trembled.
"I'll never be your daughter."
Something flickered across his face.
Not guilt.
Annoyance.
"Are you done?"
Ramona stared at him in disbelief.
"That's all you have to say?"
"What exactly do you want from me?"
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"I wanted a father."
Silence.
"When I graduated from high school, you didn't come."
"When I turned eighteen, you forgot."
"When I was sick, you sent your secretary."
"When I won awards, you told me you were on a trip."
"When I passed the college exam, you didn't even acknowledge it."
Her voice cracked.
"I spent years convincing myself you loved me in your own way."
She looked away.
"I was wrong."
Her father sighed impatiently.
"If you're finished being dramatic—"
"Dramatic?"
She slammed both hands onto the desk.
"I was a child!"
Her voice echoed through the room.
"I wasn't asking for money. I wasn't asking for expensive gifts."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I just wanted you."
For the first time, he looked uncomfortable.
Only for a second.
Then his expression returned to stone.
"I have a company to run."
"And I had a daughter to raise."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Ramona smiled sadly.
"There it is."
"The truth."
She pushed the file closer.
"Sign it."
Without opening it, he grabbed his pen and signed the final page.
"There."
He tossed the file back.
"Now leave."
Ramona stared at his signature.
Years of hoping...
Ended with a single signature.
She closed the file carefully.
"Goodbye..."
She paused at the doorway.
"...Mr. Devereux."
The office fell silent.
She walked away without looking back.
---
Outside the mansion, the warm afternoon breeze hit her face.
She refused to cry.
Not here.
Not because of him.
She climbed onto a bus heading toward the city and rested her forehead against the window.
Her phone vibrated.
Human Diary
A small smile appeared despite everything.
She answered.
"You're late."
"I know."
"You overslept again?"
"I wish."
A brief silence followed.
"You went to see him, didn't you?"
Ramona stared out the window.
"...Yeah."
"And?"
"He signed it."
"You okay?"
She shrugged even though he couldn't see her.
"I'm fine."
Ethan sighed.
"Every time you say you're fine, I end up buying you ice cream."
"Meet me outside the café."
"You have class."
"I'll skip the first lecture."
"Ethan."
"What?"
"You know I hate seeing you cry alone."
Ramona laughed through the tears she had been fighting.
"I'm not crying."
"Liar."
"I can hear it."
"You can't hear tears."
"I know your voice."
Her heart softened.
"You're impossible."
"And yet you've kept me around for ten years."
She smiled.
"I'll be there in ten."
"I'll be waiting."
The call ended.
When Ramona reached the café, Ethan was already sitting outside with two iced coffees.
He stood when he saw her.
"You look terrible."
"Wow."
"I was going to say beautiful, but honesty won."
She rolled her eyes.
"I should've stayed on the bus."
"You would've missed your free coffee."
He handed one to her.
She accepted it with a grateful smile.
"Thanks."
"For the coffee?"
"For being here."
Ethan nudged her shoulder.
"You don't have to thank me."
"What kind of best friend would I be if I let you survive today alone?"
"The annoying kind."
"I am annoying."
"The most annoying."
"And yet I'm your favorite person."
Ramona laughed.
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
They walked into the café together.
---
The clock struck nine.
Ramona untied her apron and sighed.
"My feet are officially suing me."
Her coworker laughed.
"You say that every shift."
"Because it's true every shift."
The manager switched off half the lights.
"Good work today, everyone."
One by one, the employees said their goodbyes before disappearing into the cool night.
Ramona stepped outside, hugging her cardigan around herself.
"Ready?"
She turned.
Ethan leaned against his motorcycle, tossing her helmet toward her.
She caught it.
"I thought you left."
"I said I'd wait."
They rode through the city in comfortable silence.
Ethan never forced conversations when she wasn't in the mood.
He simply stayed.
Sometimes that was enough.
A few minutes later, they stopped outside her apartment building.
Ramona climbed off the motorcycle.
"Thanks."
She handed him the helmet.
Ethan glanced up at the building.
"...Are you really staying here tonight?"
She frowned.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"You just cut ties with your father today."
"So?"
"Where are you getting next month's rent?"
The question hit harder than she expected.
Ramona looked away.
"I'll figure it out."
"You always say that."
"Because I always do."
"Ramona."
She stayed quiet.
Ethan sighed.
"My apartment isn't exactly five-star luxury."
She looked at him.
"But the spare room is clean."
Her eyes widened.
"Eth..."
"I'm serious."
"You can stay with me for a while."
"I'll even let you complain about my cooking."
She laughed softly.
"Your cooking is a crime."
"I've improved."
"You nearly burned water last month."
"That pot was defective."
"There was no pot."
"It was emotionally defective."
She laughed again.
Then his expression softened.
"I'm serious, Mona."
"If things get difficult, you don't have to carry everything alone."
"You've done that for long enough."
Her smile faded.
No one had ever said those words to her before.
Not her father.
Not her relatives.
No one.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Thank you."
He shrugged.
"That's what best friends are for."
She stepped forward and hugged him.
He hugged her back.
"I've got you."
The words were simple.
But after the day she'd had...
They meant everything.
When they finally pulled apart, Ethan pointed at her.
"And don't be stubborn."
"I know where you live."
Ramona laughed.
"I'll think about it."
"No."
He grinned.
"You'll overthink it."
She shook her head.
"Goodnight, Ethan."
"Goodnight, Mona."
She watched him ride away until the motorcycle disappeared around the corner.
Only then did she turn toward her apartment.
---
Ramona curled into the corner of her couch, her knees pulled against her chest.
The apartment was silent except for her uneven breathing.
She didn't know how long she'd been crying.
Minutes.
Maybe hours.
Her phone vibrated on the coffee table.
Human Diary Calling...
She stared at the screen before finally answering.
"...Hello?"
"I knew you'd pick up eventually."
She sniffled.
"What do you want?"
"I ordered takeout."
Ramona frowned.
"...What?"
"It's downstairs."
"I don't remember ordering food."
"You didn't."
She sighed.
"Eth, I'm not hungry."
"I know."
"That's exactly why I ordered it."
She rested her forehead against her knees.
"I don't want to eat."
"You haven't eaten since morning, have you?"
"...No."
"I knew it."
"Eth..."
"Go downstairs."
"I'm tired."
"I know."
"I don't want to move."
"I know."
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"You're so bossy."
"I'm practicing for old age."
"You'll be a grumpy grandfather."
"I'll be a legendary grandfather."
She laughed quietly.
"Come on," he encouraged.
"Stand up."
"My legs don't work."
"They do."
"They're on strike."
"I'll negotiate with them later."
Another laugh escaped her.
Slowly, she pushed herself off the couch.
"I'm standing."
"There she is."
She slipped on her sandals and made her way downstairs.
Waiting by the security desk was a paper bag carrying the warm scent of her favorite chicken alfredo pasta and garlic bread.
Her eyes softened.
"You remembered."
"I always remember."
She thanked the security guard and headed back upstairs.
"I'm back."
"Good."
"Now eat."
She opened the container.
Steam rose into the air.
She took a small bite.
"...Happy?"
"I'll be happier after the second bite."
She rolled her eyes but obeyed.
For several minutes, neither of them spoke.
He simply stayed on the line while she ate.
When she finished, she leaned back against the couch.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
Another silence settled between them.
This one was comfortable.
"Ethan?"
"Hm?"
"...Does it ever stop hurting?"
He didn't answer immediately.
"I don't know."
His honesty surprised her.
"But I do know something."
"What?"
"You won't have to carry it alone."
Fresh tears welled in her eyes.
"You promised."
"And I keep my promises."
She smiled through the tears.
"I know."
"Good."
He cleared his throat dramatically.
"Now..."
"You've cried enough for one night."
She chuckled.
"Who made you the expert?"
"I did."
"And besides..."
"If you're going to cry again, you should at least have the strength to do it."
Ramona burst into laughter.
Ethan laughed too.
"There she is."
"I've been looking for that laugh all day."
She lay down on the couch, still smiling.
"You really are ridiculous."
"I've accepted my calling."
He began talking about random things after that—his professor spilling coffee on himself, a stray cat chasing him across campus, and a customer who insisted ketchup was a beverage.
Ramona listened quietly, occasionally humming in response.
Her eyelids grew heavier.
"...Mona?"
No answer.
He smiled.
"I figured."
A long silence followed.
He stayed on the call anyway.
Just to make sure she wasn't alone.
A few minutes later, he heard the soft rhythm of her breathing.
She was asleep.
"Sleep well," he whispered.
"I've got you."
He ended the call.
For the first time in weeks...
Ramona slept without crying.
