Love Waits for No One

After being caught in the rain, Maude came down with a mild cold.

She fell into a hazy sleep, and when she finally woke, the afternoon was already well underway.

As she stepped out of her room, she froze in place.

Right before her, Orson was carefully drying Imogen's damp hair with a towel.

"Oh, come on, stop fussing. It's not like I got drenched," Imogen said.

"Still, even a little dampness can make you sick. I don't want you to end up with a cold," Orson insisted.

Maude stood frozen as a sudden memory washed over her.

In their first year together, Orson had taken her to a concert he'd been eager to see.

Though Maude wasn't feeling well, she stayed quiet, not wanting to ruin the evening.

Orson noticed immediately.

Less than ten minutes into the show, he didn't hesitate to leave and rushed her straight to the hospital.

Afterward, he felt guilty for overlooking the warning signs and causing her to suffer in silence.

For the next four years, even the faintest cough from her would send him into a frenzy.

Now, that same man was showering all his care on someone else.

After drying Imogen's hair, Orson finally noticed Maude standing there.

"Honey, don't overthink things, we—"

Imogen cut him off. "There were cockroaches at my place, and I got scared. Orson said I could stay here for a while."

Maude turned to Orson. "So that's the urgent matter you had to rush off for?"

"Immy's not like you," Orson snapped. "She's been spoiled her entire life. She's never known real hardship. She…"

Maude's eyes welled up with tears.

Orson froze, wishing he could take the words back.

"I'm sorry, that's not what I meant—"

Maude's parents had divorced shortly after she was born. She spent her entire childhood moving from one household to another, always feeling like an unwanted burden.

Orson knew her greatest dream was simply to have a place to call home.

By their third year together, he had worked himself to the bone to buy this house—a place he proudly called theirs.

Now, he was letting another woman move in.

His words broke Maude's heart.

"It's fine," she murmured.

After all, she had bared her soul willingly.

However, this time would be the last.

Orson let out a breath of relief and grasped Maude's hand.

Without warning, Imogen spoke up. "Orson, since you gave me the bedroom, where will you be sleeping?"

A shiver ran through his hand as he held Maude's. "I'll be in the study," he answered.

Once Imogen had gone inside, Orson hurried to explain, "Please don't misunderstand this, honey. I want you to rest well before the wedding. I will sleep in the study, really. Imogen and I are just friends now."

Maude withdrew her hand. "It's fine."

Her voice was steady, but it stirred a strange unease in Orson's chest.

Later that night, a thunderstorm raged outside.

Maude's phone lit up with a message from Orson.

"Honey, I'm not used to sleeping without you."

At the same time, a photo arrived from Imogen.

In it, Orson sat by the bed, smiling gently while Imogen held onto his wrist.

"I was frightened by the thunder, so he offered to stay with me. Do you want me to send him away?"

Maude felt a tightness in her chest.

She got up and reached for her cold medicine. Just then, another message from Orson came through.

"I really wish we could get married soon so that we could fall asleep in each other's arms every night."

Maude took the pills with a sip of water, forcing down both the medicine and the rising nausea in her throat.

She quickly typed a short reply. "It's coming soon."

Opening Imogen's chat, she wrote, "It's fine. Do whatever you want."

Lying in bed, Maude counted the days.

Only 14 remained.