When Love Is a Lie (Whitney and Damian)

Whitney turned and saw Caleb. "Hey, Caleb."

He had once asked her to call him "Cal", but she'd always thought it sounded too intimate.

"Do you have time for coffee?" Caleb paused, then smiled faintly.

"Sure, give me a minute." Whitney discussed the remaining details with the construction manager and followed Caleb to a café near Seabourke University.

"I heard you're marrying Noel?" Caleb asked once they had ordered and sat down. He looked at her with an earnest gaze, as though hearing it from her was the only way he could believe it. Whitney nodded with a smile. "Yeah, you have to come to the wedding."

It wasn't that she didn't notice Caleb's feelings for her, but she just couldn't return them. She didn't want to hurt someone who had always been kind to her. All she could do was avoid any misunderstandings.noveldrama

A flash of disappointment crossed Caleb's eyes, mixed with a subtle reluctance to let go. He looked at Whitney and asked, "If it had been me you met first, would you "

"Here you are," Noel said, suddenly cutting into the conversation.

Whitney jumped in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I talked to Donald about the project before I went to the construction site to find you. They told me you were with a man," Noel said as he sat beside her, glancing briefly at Caleb.

He added, "I guessed it was Caleb. I know he likes to come here, so I thought I'd check."

Yet, his tone made it seem like he meant something else. Whitney raised an eyebrow, unsure how to react.

Noel ruffled her hair. "This café has your favorite coconut caramel candy from when you were little. I had them buy all of it and bring it back. You can eat it whenever you like." With Caleb still sitting across from them, Noel's affectionate behavior left Whitney shy and uncomfortable.

"You two knew each other when you were kids?" Caleb asked, clearly surprised.

"Yeah, I used to go to the Howard residence to play when I was little," Whitney replied. "What were you going to ask me earlier?"

Caleb looked at Whitney, disappointment and regret flashing in his eyes. When he turned away, he noticed Noel watching him closely.

"It's nothing," Caleb said, forcing a smile. "Congrats to both of you. I'll definitely come to the wedding."

With that, Caleb stood and left.

Whitney turned to Noel, speechless. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

She knew Noel had deliberately brought up their childhood in front of Caleb.

Just then, the waiter brought over a glass of orange juice. Noel pushed her coffee aside and handed her the juice. "He's after you, so I have to make him give up." Whitney sighed. "I'll still be visiting Seabourke University. It'll be so awkward if we run into each other."

She had agreed to meet Caleb to make it known there was no chance between them. But then, out of nowhere, Noel appeared, acting all jealous and marking his territory.

Noel took a sip of the juice to check its temperature, then handed it to her. "You won't see him again."

"Why?"

"Caleb's getting a new research project. It won't be at Seabourke University."

Whitney tilted her head and asked, "Did you... arrange that?"

Noel gently tapped her nose, making her frown. "You think I have that much influence?"

He wouldn't tell her that, during his visit to Seabourke Architectural Institute earlier that day, he had spent most of his time talking to Donald about Caleb.

He subtly Suggested that someone with Caleb's research talents should

be working on more impactful projects, not just wasting them on experiments at Seabourke O University.

Donald then recalled a national research project that needed researchers from Seabourke, which, coincidentally, was based outside the university.

A month later, Noel and Whitney's wedding took place. It was simple, with no fanfare or media attention, just close friends and family in attendance.

...

The weather was perfect, with clear skies and warm sun, setting the scene for a simple and beautiful ceremony on the hotel garden lawn. Still, Whitney overheard whispers.

"Why doesn't the bride have her parents here, just her brother?"

"I don't know, it's a little strange."

Whitney had kept her word and didn't invite Westley. If it was just a formality, she didn't need him there. Her brother, Matthew, was enough to walk her down the aisle.

She heard the murmurs but chose to ignore them.

At that moment, Noel took her hand with a mysterious smile. "I've got a surprise for you."