When I heard that, I was so concerned. I disregarded how long he had abandoned me or how hurtful his cold treatment was. Instead, I drove under heavy rain to pick him up. When I arrived, there was no one else in the room. He was lying on the couch, presumably asleep."Faye, why did you leave me? Why?" Right when I wanted to pull him up, he mumbled those hurtful words that threatened to shatter my soul and my entire being. I loved him for five years, yet in the end, all he cared about was Faye.I gave him five years of my life. In his eyes, it was worth nothing. What kind of love would plague him so? Right, unattainable love. No wonder he never smiled at me. It was because he had never opened up to me. He didn't love me. He had never loved me. My love was but a sorry one-man show.That night, he slept on the couch. I ordered a dozen beer bottles and drank till I passed out. When I woke up, I held my head that throbbed with massive hungover and groaned. A pair of cold hands appeared a
Light gleamed in Chris' eyes. I had never seen him this happy or gentle in the past five years. So, he could be gentle and loving if he wanted. Why didn't he give me any of that in the past? Was I not good enough? Or was I too good to him?But I didn't want him anymore. I didn't want his love or affection. Why was he doing this? The pasta on my plate suddenly looked so bland, just like my mood. I took a few bites and lost all my appetite. Then, I asked him what he wanted.He looked at me for a while and smirked. Then, he grabbed my hands and put them in his. "Forgive me, Zara. I've been neglecting you because I've been very busy lately. We're getting old, and my parents have been asking me to get married. I also want to get married to you sooner."I was shocked. I couldn't believe that this was what he wanted to tell me. "Zara, my parents want to meet your parents so that we can discuss the wedding."I looked into his eyes, trying to glean any proof that he wanted to marry me becau
The instructor returned my phone. I charged it and switched it on. My phone was immediately flooded with many messages and voice messages that it almost died on me. Among all of them, Lulu left me the most messages. She must have missed me a lot.So, I decided to call her instead of my parents. I didn't know what she was doing, but she sounded excited when she picked up. She bombarded me with a lot of questions, and I didn't know which one I should answer first.She told me that Chris continued to wait downstairs in anticipation of me. He also went to Crystal House several times. Then, Lulu added that she once saw Winston punching Chris until Chris' nose bled. However, Chris was too cowardly to fight back.Lulu told me many things, most of which were saying that I shouldn't reconcile with Chris because he wasn't worth it. She wanted me to be happy and not lose myself to an infidel man. In the end, I asked Lulu to call my parents and Zachary to tell them that I was doing well.I als
"Can you handle spicy food?" Winston pointed at the menu and inquired seriously."I love spicy food."Winston cheered and said he finally found someone who liked spicy food. "Two servings of spicy meatballs and some cajun fries, then. Thank you."The owner then left with a smile. Before he left, he even gave Winston a mischievous look. I looked at him and at Winston in shock. They seemed to be harboring a secret from me.Winston saw that I noticed the discreet exchange between him and the owner, so he scratched the back of his head as he explained shyly, "I've been to this restaurant a few times. There's an event today. If you bring your girlfriend over, you'll get 50% off. I'm just a cheapskate. Please don't have any wrong ideas."I thought I could save some money if I didn't tell you. The owner looked at me weirdly just now because I always came here alone. I've never brought a girlfriend with me. But today, I brought a girl. So, he's just a bit curious."Urgh. He was too young
I focused on my meal while Winston chatted away. Despite his tall and slim appearance, which initially made him seem unapproachable, he turned out to be quite easygoing.His extensive knowledge and humor made even the simplest stories entertaining when he told them.The dinner ended swiftly, and the owner brought the bill, which totaled 56 dollars. Indeed, it was half the original price. I had to admit that playing the role of his girlfriend turned out to be quite a bargain.After the meal, it was still early, and I remembered my original purpose for being out. I intended to say goodbye and head back on my own.However, Winston was adamant about escorting me back to where he had picked me up, insisting that he didn't want me to get lost or kidnapped. But he was clearly exaggerating.Knowing he was joking but acknowledging his point, I couldn't argue further. I let him accompany me to the entrance of the training center.Standing at the gate, I waved goodbye to him. He smiled and
Love was indeed sweet, but life was real. A relationship that could withstand the trials of everyday life was the true test of belonging.The past between Chris and Faye had been superficial. When it came to living together, both had hoped the other would make sacrifices while they enjoyed the benefits, which naturally led to conflicts.After all, there wouldn't be another woman like me who would dedicate herself entirely to Chris, treating him as her everything.Of course, this was Chris' choice, and he would have to bear the consequences. Not all love was worthy of a lifetime commitment.I had heard that Faye's family was quite wealthy, which probably played a role in their engagement.It was laughable when I thought about it. Chris and I had dated for five years, and the day we got engaged was the first time I met his parents.Before that, I had often suggested visiting his family during holidays, but he always coldly refused. When I asked why, he said it wasn't necessary beca
Stepping out of the apartment building, I spotted Chris sitting dejectedly on a stone by the roadside across the path, his face obscured and unreadable.I walked closer, stopping two steps away from him.Chris quickly raised his head. "Zara, you're here."He stood up abruptly, grabbed my hand without a word, and pulled me into his arms. His head rested against my cheek, and he kissed my hair while apologizing profusely, "I'm sorry, Zara. It was all my fault. Whatever you decide, I'll accept it. Just don't leave me. Zara, promise me you won't leave me.""Chris, we've been broken up for more than half a year," I reminded him."No, I don't want to break up. Zara, it's my fault. I was wrong. Don't leave me. Forgive me. Give me a chance," Chris rambled incoherently.His embrace felt as cold and hard as it always had, but now, it was tainted with an unfamiliar perfume. The smell was unbearable, and I felt nauseous.I couldn't understand why he was doing this after all this time.If C
Immediately after asking about his engagement, I regretted bringing it up. The question was unnecessary, and given his current state, he was clearly unhappy.My careless words had inadvertently poked at his wounds, making it seem like I was highlighting his misery. That wasn't my intention at all. Yet, the knowledge of his unhappiness did bring a certain sense of relief.Hearing my question, Chris looked uncomfortable for a change. He hesitated, carefully studying my expression. "You heard about it too? It's true that we were planning to get engaged, but the night before the ceremony, I couldn't sleep."Every time I closed my eyes, I saw you. That's when I realized that after all those years with you, I've fallen for you. Zara, I can't live without you. I can't go through with it because I don't want to be with anyone but you."His words hit me like a punch to the gut. My hand slipped, and the bottle of water I had just opened fell to the ground, spilling its contents like a bird e