“No, I don’t,” Yuto said, and he took another drink. “I feel as if a weight has been lifted off me.”
“That’s your gut telling you that you made the right decision. Listen to it,” Foxx said.
“May I ask you a personal question, Douglas?” Yuto asked.
“Ask away.”
“How did you know it was the right move to end your relationship with Hani, especially after you’d learned she was pregnant with Ava?”
“It wasn’t easy, but then I asked myself what I would do if she wasn’t pregnant. It was a quick decision after that,” Foxx said.
“But what was it that made you want to end things in the first place?” Yuto asked.
“I’m not sure we should be getting into the details like that. She was your fiancée up until a little while ago. She’s Poe’s sister-in-law too,” Foxx said.
“I’d really like to know,” Yuto said.
Foxx looked at me.
“Don’t hold back on my account,” I said.
He turned back to Yuto.
“I didn’t think she’d ever put me first. Hani does whatever she wants to do and everyone else be damned. I knew I couldn’t make a relationship work in the long-term with a person like that,” Foxx said.
“I understand.”
Yuto finished his Manhattan and put the empty glass down on Foxx’s desk.
“Thank you both for your time. I wanted you to hear the news from me since I’m sure Hani’s version of events will be quite different. I hope we can stay in touch,” Yuto said.
“Of course,” Foxx said.
“Absolutely, Yuto. We’re friends. This doesn’t change that,” I said.
“Thank you.”
Yuto turned from us and exited the office.
I finished my drink and put my glass beside Yuto’s.
“I think I need a third Manhattan and a shot of tequila after that news,” I said.
“I’ll join you.”
I stayed at Harry’s for another hour and was pretty buzzed from my multiple drinks. I realized I needed to get home and break the news to Alana. You may be assuming that Hani had already told her, but I didn’t think that was the case since I would have already gotten a phone call.
I was in no position to drive, so I called a taxi to take me back. When it pulled up to the house, I saw Hani’s car and my mother-in-law’s in the driveway. So that’s why Alana hadn’t called, I thought.
I paid the driver and then walked into the house. The three Hu women were in the living room, four if you counted the diminutive Ava, who was on the floor playing with my dog.
Alana looked at me.
“You okay, Poe?” she asked.
I tried to figure out if I’d stumbled into the house. I didn’t think I had.
“I’m fine. How are you?”
Yes, it was a dumb question, but my brain was dulled by the Manhattans and tequila shot, which had actually turned into shots, plural.
“Hani has some terrible news,” Alana said.
I waited for Hani to say something, but she didn’t. It must be noted that she wasn’t crying. Instead, she looked furious.
“That idiot called off the wedding,” Ms. Hu finally said.
“Yes, I know. I just saw him at Harry’s,” I said.
“Then why the hell did you ask how we were?” Ms. Hu asked.
“Sorry, you’re right. It was a foolish thing to ask,” I said.
“Have you been drinking?” Alana asked.
There was no point in denying it, so I decided to spin it in my favor.
“Yes, I got so upset at the news that I had a few drinks,” I said.
Hani stepped closer to me.
“What did Yuto say to you?” she asked.
“I’m not sure you want to know,” I said.
“Why wouldn’t she?” Ms. Hu asked.
I said nothing.
“Out with it,” Ms. Hu continued.
“It’s a promise I made to your daughter,” I said.
Hani looked away and it was obvious she’d figured it out.
“What kind of promise?” Alana asked.
Once again, I said nothing, and the hole I was digging for myself continued to get deeper and deeper.
“Poe, we don’t keep secrets from each other,” Alana continued.
“Just tell them, Hani,” I said.
“Tell us what?” Ms. Hu asked.
“You went to see Dad, didn’t you?” Alana guessed.
I expected Hani to deny it. She didn’t. Actually, she didn’t say anything.
“You saw your father?” Ms. Hu asked.
“Yes, I did. More than once,” Hani said.
“How could you?” Ms. Hu asked.
“What does this have to do with Yuto calling off the wedding?” Alana asked.
“We got into an argument about him inviting Dad to Maui. I didn’t know Yuto was getting regular updates on my meetings,” Hani said.
“You got caught in a lie and Yuto walked. Is that what you’re basically saying?” Alana asked.
“I don’t know. He didn’t even give me an actual reason. He just said the wedding was off and he stormed out,” Hani said.
“There’s still time to get him back,” Ms. Hu said.
“I don’t want him back,” Hani said.
“It’s over, Mom, just accept it,” Alana said.
“My daughter will not be humiliated. She’s too good for Yuto Takahashi. If anyone is going to call off the wedding, it’s Hani,” Ms. Hu said.
Too late for that, I thought.
“I’m sorry for what’s happened, Hani. Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” I said.
I didn’t get a response, which was fine by me, so I walked upstairs and climbed onto the bed. I was asleep within seconds. I didn’t wake up until Alana sat on the side of the bed.
“Are they still here?” I asked.
“They left about an hour ago. How many Manhattans did you have?”
“How did you know I was having Manhattans?”
“Come on, Poe. That’s your drink.”
“True.”
“Did Yuto calling off the wedding really leave you that depressed?” she asked.
“It wasn’t just that. It was some photographs I found that my client took. They’re of an underage girl.”
“You’re talking about Guy Livingston?”
“Yes. She’s just a child, Alana. I don’t know how someone can do something like that.”
“I’m sorry you have to deal with this.”
“Thanks. I’m ready for you to lay into me over Hani seeing your father. I should have told you,” I said.
“I’m not mad. After you left the room,
