1-Unrequited Love

The sunset is like a painting, it's the most beautiful moment of the day.

In a café near the Twin Towers, the piano music is just right, low and gentle, not disturbing the customers discussing serious matters.

Theresa is familiar with this business café, she often brings clients here to talk, the environment and service are both commercial.

However...

Theresa pushes her coffee cup away, picks up the glass of water next to her, and gets straight to the point, "Miss Johnson, I came to talk to you about me and William's marriage."

Margaret, across from her, wears a plain dress, looking nervous with her long eyelashes trembling, you can even hear her anxious breathing.

"Miss Norman, I'm sorry..." Margaret listens and turns pale, trying to steady her voice, "I believe Bill has already made it clear to you, he, he won't marry you..."

--I'm sorry, Theresa, I can't marry you.

Yes, three hours ago, William said the same thing to her over the phone, each word decisive and resolute, just like him, no beating around the bush.

At that time, Theresa's head felt like it was filled with paste, everything was chaotic, she was confused, shocked, and panicking...

"What about the wedding in a week, with over a hundred guests attending the reception?" Theresa sets down the glass of water and gently asks.

"Bill said he has arranged all these things and will notify all relatives and clients one by one..." Compared to her calmness, Margaret is even more anxious and even begs her, "Miss Norman, we have been in love for eight years, this time, we both don't want to miss out, please, help us out!"

Theresa lowers her eyes and stays silent.

Just when the other party thought they had convinced her, she slowly raises her eyes, "The Norman and Russell families have worked on numerous projects together, involving billions of dollars in funds. This marriage is more than love. Even if William, who is blinded by love, can handle it, can the Russell family? 'Don't want to miss out?' I'm sorry, I'm not trying to ridicule you, I'm just stating the facts, and..."

Margaret's face is already without color, her hand on the table is shaking uncontrollably, obviously she is on the verge of collapse.

Seeing this, Theresa suppresses her pity and delivers the final blow, "I'm pregnant."

Yes, she's pregnant.

The baby is 8 weeks along and developing well. But before she could tell William, he cruelly announced that he had found his lost love from years ago and couldn't marry her.

Margaret looked at her with fearful, red eyes as she handed over the test results, trembling and tearful.

But she still held onto hope, saying "I thought we lived in a modern society, not the suffocating 18th century..."

Theresa smiled slightly, "I'm sorry to tell you, but it's not quite that simple. Look at those bigshots on TV...wake up, Miss Johnson, you shouldn't have fallen in love with William Russell."

...

Hospital.

After receiving the news, Theresa raced to the hospital and rushed into the intensive care unit without even taking the car keys out.

The elderly Russell couple, along with Miss Martin who had served the Russell family for years, were all there with worried expressions on their faces.

"Tess, Grandma has been revived, but her condition isn't very good," Mrs. Russell came over and held her hand, consoling her in a hoarse voice.

Before Theresa could even speak, she was suddenly stopped by a figure walking out of the ICU.

William was wearing a bulky sterile suit, but still looked sharp with his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

He wasn't conventionally handsome, but his features were deep and distinct, though somewhat contorted at the moment.

"What did you say to Margaret? She disappearred overnight? What did you say to my grandma that forced me to marry you?"

Theresa didn't know how to respond. The man sneered, his eyes shining like bloodthirsty blades, "Alright, congratulations, you got what you wanted! Meet me at City Hall in an hour. Satisfied?"

Despite the Russells almost fainting with anger, William roughly tore off his sterile suit and stormed away with heavy footsteps.

She had indeed won, but there was no sense of victory in her heart.

Watching his disappearing figure, Theresa's hand slowly slipped onto her still-flat belly, a soft smile on her lips.

At that time, she thought that her life would be endless with him.

...

Six years later.

In Collins City, spring was in full bloom and everything was coming back to life.

The Twin Towers, the 20-story office building, belonged to Russell & Norman. Looking out of the transparent glass windows, all that could be seen was the blue sky and white clouds.

The reason it's Russell & Norman is that William and Theresa were the only inheritors of their respective families. After they got married, their family businesses merged and, not satisfied with just finance, the couple invested in real estate and were unstoppable.

In the office, a woman in a silver suit sat on a high-backed chair, her flaxen curls immaculately coiffed behind her head, exuding the charm of an elite.

"Mr. Russell is back from his business trip? How's the land in the northern suburbs?" Theresa asked without looking up, holding a pen in her hand.

Her assistant held the signed documents in her arms and handed over another book, excitedly saying, "Yes, he came back this morning. We've secured the land in the northern suburbs, and we've done a thorough evaluation. It's really worth its weight in gold!"

Theresa nodded without saying anything. She knew his strength - if he wanted to do something, there was nothing he couldn't do.

After signing the last document, Theresa finally looked up. Her assistant was already holding a thick stack of papers, and she looked at her wristwatch. "It's five o'clock. I have to go home and see my son."

When she thought of her son, her expression softened, and her voice became soft and delicate.

As she prepared to leave, her assistant called out to her. Theresa couldn't help but look up, and saw the young girl blushing, her voice sweet, " Ma'am, I'm getting married next month, and I haven't made my final decision on the wedding dress. Here are a few samples from the bridal shop. Could you help me choose one, as you have a good eye?"

"Sure!" Theresa readily agreed.

She carefully flipped through the album in her hands, stopping at one page and smiling, "This one is perfect for you. The design of the short flutter sleeves is cute, and the back with the hollowed-out lace is sexy, and the skirt is like a mermaid, you'll definitely be stunning at the wedding."

"Ma'am, don't make fun of me. You must have looked absolutely gorgeous in your wedding dress. No one can compare to you!" The soon-to-be bride was a little embarrassed by her compliment and quickly flattered her.

Theresa slowly closed the album and smiled faintly, "I never wore a wedding dress."

Under the stunned and remorseful gaze of her assistant, she put on her coat and walked confidently out of the office.

There was no wedding dress, no wedding banquet, and no honeymoon, only a document stamped by the city hall binding them together as husband and wife.

Six years ago, William eventually married her, without a wedding ceremony, publicly announcing that they had gotten married while traveling. In reality, she was left alone in an empty loft, pregnant with his child.

This was the humiliation he had given her, but it was also the marriage she wanted.

……

Theresa got out of her white Mercedes with a plastic bag full of groceries in her hand. After entering the password, the electronic door opened with a flicker of light coming from the gap.

 "Joe, Mom's back!" she shouted as she bent down to change her shoes.

Unlike usual, there was no childish and cute cheering from her son.

Theresa frowned and hurried inside without even taking off her coat. She found her son sitting on the couch, chin resting on his knees, holding a crayon drawing in his hand while picking at his nails.

"Joe, what's wrong?" Theresa walked over and crouched down, her soft white palm on top of her son's head.

Her eyes caught a glimpse of the drawing, which depicted a house, a big tree, flowers, white clouds, and a smiling family of three.

Under her gentle voice, the little guy finally lifted his head slowly, but his reddened eyes made her heart ache. "Mom, does Dad... really hate me?"

The child looked up at her with red eyes, his voice low and choked at the end.

Theresa, who was usually eloquent when facing clients, was a bit flustered by her son's question.

William didn't like this marriage, this family, or even... Joe. From pregnancy to delivery, the arrival of this child was not what he wanted, but what she forced upon him.

When the child was born while he was holding onto an actress abroad, he came to the hospital under his grandmother's scolding but did not even hold the child. He took just one look and left without saying a word.

Theresa sat on the couch and lifted her son onto her lap, gently stroking his little back.

The child had the same fierce eyebrows, the same black and bright eyes, and even the high nose bridge was carved from the same mold as William's. The little guy was becoming more and more like him as he grew up...

"Joe, how could Dad hate you? Don't think that way, and don't say such things!" Theresa said firmly.

"But... but I showed him the crayon drawing, and he said it didn't matter to him and that I was silly..." The child's voice grew lower as he spoke, and his eyes were about to well up with tears again.

Theresa tried to keep her expression calm, but her heart was in pain.