Moonlight After Goodbye Chapter 02

Moonlight After Goodbye Chapter 02

Bright and early the next morning, Laura burst into our room, brimming with excitement.

“Let’s head to that Arctic tasting restaurant! I’m so lucky! I finally booked a table!”

Declan smiled softly at her.

“Sounds perfect.”

I stared down at my lap quietly.

We’d promised to visit the Golden Circle today. I’d booked the tour guide and car in advance.

Yet everything had to give way to Laura. No one asked for my opinion at all.

I gathered my things and trailed behind them out the door.

Our ride pulled up outside.

Declan steered me toward the passenger seat.

“Sit up front, Celeste, since you’re feeling under the weather.”

He climbed into the backseat with Laura.

They talked endlessly the entire way, bouncing between camera angles, lighting, and photography equipment.

I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

Our driver was an outgoing local.

He glanced over at me, then checked the rearview mirror at the pair behind us.

“Here for a vacation? It must be lonely traveling with a couple.”

I let out a faint, bitter laugh.

“Yeah. It really is.”

Their laughter from the backseat drowned out my quiet exchange with the driver.

When we arrived at the restaurant, I tugged my thick coat tighter and stepped out of the car.

Declan got out first, pulled out his scarf, and wrapped another layer around Laura’s neck before sparing me a fleeting, indifferent glance.

“Let’s go inside.”

We sat down at our table, Laura sliding into the seat beside me while Declan sat across from her.

He skimmed the menu, flagged down the server, and ordered in fluent English.

Laura wrinkled her nose playfully at him.

” Did you order the food I like?”

Declan tapped the tip of her nose gently.

“Everything I picked is exactly what you love. You’ll find out soon enough.”

Once the plates were set before us, I realized the entire spread was seafood: Icelandic lobster, baked cod, smoked salmon, seaweed dip, and a whole platter of shellfish.

My cramping lower abdomen ached sharply.

I have a severe seafood allergy—I couldn’t eat a single bite of any of it.

Laura was the only one who adored shellfish and ocean fare.

Declan would never have let seafood appear in front of me before.

Now the whole table was filled with Laura’s favorites, not a single dish made with me in mind.

Declan peeled a shrimp meticulously and set it onto Laura’s plate.

Laura glanced toward me and murmured a quiet reminder.

“Declan, peel a couple for Celeste too, won’t you?”

Declan didn’t lift his eyes from his task.

“She can’t eat seafood.”

So he still remembered my allergy.

I stared at him, stunned.

A second later, he dropped a single roasted potato onto my plate, still steaming hot.

My eyes stung with sudden emotion.

But his tone was flat as he spoke.

“Laura doesn’t like them, so you eat it.”

I froze mid-breath.

Staring at that warm potato sitting alone on my plate, I couldn’t bring myself to take a bite.

Once Laura finished eating, Declan ordered her a cappuccino.

“Your usual, to warm you up.”

Then he turned to me.

“No drink for you, Celeste. You’ve never cared much for coffee anyway.”

He still remembered countless little details about me.

Only now, every thoughtful gesture always came to Laura first.

By the end of the meal, I could tell I was coming down with a fever.

Declan was the first to notice something was wrong.

He pressed his palm to my forehead, then pulled out a thermometer.

“103.6 degrees? Celeste, you’re really being a hassle.”

He sighed heavily.

Laura stepped over, her expression etched with concern.

“We should cancel today’s plans. It’s too risky leaving Celeste alone at the hotel with a fever this high.”

Declan hesitated for a moment.

I forced a small smile.

“Don’t bother sticking around for me. You two should go enjoy your trip.”

“Are you sure? Your fever is really severe…”

Laura fetched me a glass of warm water.

“Here, take a fever pill first, Celeste.”

I swallowed the pill with water.

Once he confirmed I’d taken the medication, Declan checked his phone.

“The pack tour guide is already waiting downstairs. It’s too late to cancel now.”

“I’ll leave your medicine right here, Celeste. Make sure you remember to take it later. We’ll be back before you know it.”

He left with Laura.

After the medicine took effect, I slept for a while.

When I woke up, the room was still silent—they hadn’t returned yet.

I called the front desk and ordered a bowl of oatmeal.

While waiting for my food, I opened my social media.

Two photos pierced my eyes.