Chapter 54.1

Third-person POV As Christmas Day got closer, Elyana made herself busier, contacting people and going to places to gather everything listed on their servants' and guards' wish lists, all secretly. Felicity knew about all that, and he could understand how busy his best friend had been in the past few days since they confirmed what her ex-husband revealed. It was in his favor because he could use all the time working, but it was more like distracting himself from some misleading thoughts in his head. He also saw that time as a chance to leave. He finally decided to tell Elyana his plan to move back to his condo unit, and one afternoon, when he came back from work, he decided to tell her. "Why now? Christmas is just around the corner, girl." It was evident in Elyana's voice how much she wanted to stop Felicity from leaving. "I know. I won't be here on the 24th. I have clients to meet on this day and maybe until night," he replied, and Elyana felt something with the way the matchmaker avoided her stare. "Mom wanted all her children to have Noche Buena at home, so I couldn't join the party that night either, but I will try to visit you on Christmas day, though, to give you my gift," he continued. Elyana couldn't hide her disappointment with his announcement. She knew the party would be happier if her jolly best friend were around, but she tried to understand the situation. "Okay, if that's what you wanted," she said, smiling at him and ignoring what she noticed to pretend she was okay. Days passed. Every time Elyana found free time, she tried calling Felicity's number to have a short conversation with him, but every time she did, Felicity couldn't answer her calls. There were moments when his secretary was the one answering. Just to tell Elyana that her boss was busy at the moment. She couldn't deny that she had missed her best friend immensely, and because that had already happened several times, Elyana started to wonder why. It seemed he was avoiding her, and the matchmaker's secretary was noticing the same. "Did you both argue, boss?" she asked right after returning the phone to the matchmaker. "N-no…we didn't," he answered, stammering. "Christmas is near, boss. Don't spread hate, just spread love. Nothing else," his secretary told him before going back to her desk. "Hate? I don't hate her," Felicity murmured in his seat, lowering his head to look at the phone on the desk. He wanted to call her back, but once he did, he knew their conversation would only go on and on, and he would not finish what he intended to do for that day again. He hadn't been visiting her, not because he didn't want to see her, just like he did to her the day before. Elyana dropped by his office to give him the coffee she bought, but he strictly told his secretary that he didn't want anyone to disturb him that day, and she obeyed. He was secretly blaming Elyana with those piles of work, but deep inside, he knew in himself that it was him for being preoccupied lately. As he returned to work, Elyana was left in deep thought while sitting on the sofa. She took a break from wrapping gifts to give her best friend a call, and she didn't expect to be ignored. She went to his best friend's car in the parking lot when she went to him the other day, but his secretary told him he was not inside his office at that time. Elyana didn't care to ask where he went because she already felt strange to hear what his secretary told her. "Is he avoiding me?" Elyana whispered. She kept silent for a moment, thinking about how to find out what was wrong with Felicity, and the first person she thought of was nothing but Quintin, who was in Spain, attending an exclusive event related to world business. It was the same event Lucas went to. The reason he suddenly disappeared made everyone think he had already quit pursuing her. Elyana picked up her phone. She dialed his number, intending to just ring his phone; however, the call was answered right away. "Hey, Ellie!" Quintin exclaimed right after sliding the green button on his phone screen. "W-where the heck did you go? Are you trying to hide from me?" This was what Elyana immediately told him after getting stunned. Quintin let out a chuckle at the way she reacted. "I'm not trying to hide from you, silly. I'm in Spain right now; that's why I can't visit," he said after laughing at her accusation. "Then why you hadn't even called me? It had been days—nearly a week now." 'I was busy, sorry. The whole schedule of events was taking all my time, and I don't want to disappoint Dad once I get back home," Quintin reasoned. "This is the perfect time to say sorry too. Christmas is near, and I'm afraid you won't wrap me a present," he added as a joke that made Elyana laugh a little. "What are you, a kid? Maybe you are the one who won't wrap gifts. You are still far away, as you said; maybe you are just running away from your godchildren," Elyana responded while raising one eyebrow at its peak. "I'm not like that!" he denied and continued boastfully. "For your information, I am the kindest godfather. I don't have to wrap gifts for them; I just send the cash to their parents, and they will take care of the gifts for my godchildren. They can buy what they want, and I will be hassle-free." 'Wait—how about me? You're not going to give me anything?" Elyana was a bit stunned for a moment. She admitted she was impressed with his ways because she had been busy for a few days already and the lack of sleep. As she thought about that, she remembered something.