'Genuine'

"What?" Jeffrey was stupefied and, at the same time, confused. He was at Jalil's office after Jalil called him for something urgent. "Someone, what?"

Jalil opened his phone and showed an unknown number to Jeffrey. "Someone's using Emily's spare number."

Jeffrey got Jalil's phone, and then he looked up with his brows furrowed. "The number called you?"

"No. They contacted Eliza," Jalil replied, which made Jeffrey confused even more.

"Eliza? How did they get her number? It's not like Emily saved hers before, right? They didn't know each other."

"I know." Jalil agreed. "That's why I wanted to know who's using the number. Emily threw away her spare number long ago."

Jeffrey looked at the number again and asked, "Did she really throw it away?"

Jalil was paused. "What do you mean?"

"It just doesn't make sense. If it wasn't Emily, then I guess it was someone related to her. Like, who else would be interested in knowing Eliza? She's your wife," Jeffrey explained. "Or, let's say it could be journalists, reporters, or scammers. But, it was Emily's spare number. Was it just a coincidence? I don't think so."

Jalil was in deep thought as he remembered how the caller instantly ended the call after hearing his voice. He also didn't see Emily dispose of the number. He just believed what she said. Jeffrey could be right.

"Why did she throw the number?" Jeffrey asked, which got Jalil's attention.

"Spam calls, she said." Jalil answered. 

"She could've just blocked them," Jeffrey said while looking at Jalil's phone. Jalil leaned into his swivel chair, then crossed his arms in front of his chest while staring at his best friend.

"I guess you really dislike Emily," Jalil said, which made Jeffrey look in his direction. 

Jeffrey sighed after putting Jalil's phone on the table. "It's not that I dislike her, but, to be honest with you, even before you got together, I really thought there was something off with her. I just couldn't tell you because you literally fell in love the moment you saw her."

Jalil's brows furrowed. "Something was off?"

"Yes. Sorry to tell you this, but she seemed like a gold digger or something."

"Hey," Jalil said with a defensive tone. He was a bit hurt by what Jeffrey said about his ex-fiancée.

"I think your grandparents saw that as well. No offense." Jeffrey looked at his watch, and then he looked seriously at Jalil. "I guess you can even tell by comparing how your grandparents treat Eliza and how they treated Emily before. I'm not with them 24/7, but I noticed enough details to see the difference."

"Technically, Eliza also married me for money. What's so different between them?"

Jeffrey sighed. "Why did you become a CEO, bro? You're so dumb. Whoa. Love is truly blind."

Jalil glared at him, which made Jeffrey take another sigh. 

"Well, from what I have observed, Eliza was a genuine person. Although your marriage is temporary, she was showing the real her; she was truly caring for everyone around you. I think you witnessed that too."

"Are you saying Emily didn't?" Jalil's brows furrowed; he was a little annoyed, which Jeffrey noticed.

"You still love her, don't you?"

Jalil was taken aback by Jeffrey's question. He didn't know why he couldn't directly answer that question with a 'No'. Jalil knew he stopped loving her a long time ago, so why did the words stick in his throat? 

Why was he annoyed when Jeffrey spoke poorly of her?

Jalil was pulled out of his thoughts when Jeffrey stood up and fixed himself. 

"I have to meet my parents. I need to go. Regarding this matter, I'll talk to my uncle to seek some help. I'll call you later," Jeffrey said.

Jalil just nodded in response, and then Jeffrey left his office. Now, he couldn't stop himself from reminiscing about the past. Not because of longingness, but to compare it to his present. 

He was wondering what 'genuineness" Jeffrey was referring to.

If Eliza was genuine compared to Emily, did he mean Emily was feigned? Thinking about the latter, Jalil felt a sudden tightening of his chest. 

Did those seven years they spent together mean anything? 

Jalil covered his face with his hands. He had a lot of questions to ask. He demanded clarity. He was seeking closure. Where did it go wrong?

Jalil's attention was caught as someone knocked at his office's door. After a second, his secretary entered with a folder in her hand. 

She put the folder on top of his table and looked at him with that worried expression shown in her face. "Another client had withdrawn, sir. They didn't renew the contract that had been sent to them yesterday."