To win John over, I went against my parents‘
wishes and rented an apartment near his
base, just so I could cook him a meal every
week.
We lived in that tiny apartment, just the two
of us, and we hugged, enjoyed the simple joy
of being with each other.
Then, Elle announced she was pregnant, and
John suddenly asked me to marry him. I’d
been waiting for this day for so long. I was
ecstatic, agreed immediately.
I really thought that John had finally let go of
Elle, that he wanted to be with me.
But then, at our engagement party, Elle
called, and John ditched me to run to her.
<
The day I was supposed to take wedding
photos, he went with Elle to her prenatal
appointment.
And our wedding reception never happened
because it was too close to Elle’s due date.
Later, Elle’s husband got into trouble. He was
arrested, and people kept coming to
investigate Elle. John stopped coming home
and spent all his time with her.
Looking back, it was like I’d been cast in John
and Elle’s drama, and I wasn’t even allowed to
have a name.
My father set up the date quickly. He never
really liked John, but the man’s position kept
rising, and my dad had to turn a blind eye to
L
I closed the coffee shop early, took a cab to
the restaurant, and waited for my date to
arrive.
But of course, I ran into John and Elle again.
They were sitting in the middle of the
restaurant, Elle’s kid on her lap, begging John
to feed her. When he saw me, John frowned.
“What are you doing here? You always liked
eating at home.”
John looked like a guy who’d been caught
cheating, all guilty…
“Wendy, so sorry. Lily said she wanted to eat
here, so John brought us. But you… you never
like this kind of place. What brings you here?
Did you meet someone?”
hn’s
لمصير
“Who did you meet
L
John’s eyes narrowed. “Who did you meet,
Wendy?”
I ignored them, walked right past them, found
a table near the window. John started to
follow, but someone rushed in and ran past
John straight to my side.
“Wendy, I’m so sorry I’m late!”
It was Ryan Cooper. His father and my father
were old friends, but Ryan had chosen
medicine. He’d gone to college out of state,
so he didn’t know much about what was
going on back home. But he knew John and
Elle.
“John, what are you doing here?”
r
“Ryan, we should be asking you that. Didn’t
you go away for college? Why are you back?”
Elle asked him.
“I went to study. Classes are over, so I’m
back. But I remember you were married
before I left. How come I never see your
husband? All I see is you with John.”
I’d told Ryan all about my situation with John
before the date. In this circle, even if you
aren’t close to someone, you’re bound to
have heard something. Him mentioning it now
made things really awkward.
“You should’ve told us you were back. Wendy
and I could have treated you to dinner,” John
said, his voice tight with anger.
<
“No need. I’m here on a date with Wendy.
You, Elle, and the kid can enjoy your meal,
don’t mind us.”
As soon as he said the word “date“, John’s
face darkened.
“What are you talking about? A date?! Ryan,
did you know Wendy and I aren’t divorced
yet?”
“But Wendy said she’s filing for divorce.
You’re with Elle now. She can’t keep waiting for you.”
“Who told you I was with Elle?”
John grabbed Ryan by the collar.
く
“Didn’t that kid call you ‘Dad‘? Why would
Elle’s kid call you ‘Dad‘ if you aren’t
together?”
Lily had been standing behind John since the
beginning, watching Ryan.
“Don’t say that. Lily’s not my daughter.”
Ryan bent down and ruffled Lily’s hair. “Hey,
what do you call them?”
Lily glanced at John. “Daddy…
Lily’s words made John’s face burn. He tried
to push her away, but she clung to him.
Ryan wore a smug smile, which pissed John
off even more.
“Wendy, let’s go eat. I came straight from the
hospital, I’m starving.”
“Okay.”
