Chapter 31: The Elusive Devotion
Evelyn’s fingers absently traced the rim of her coffee cup.
“Alexander hasn’t either.”
Her voice was soft as she gazed at the plane tree leaves drifting outside the window. That man, too, had been trapped in the cage of “best friends” by Annabelle—never truly experiencing love.
Vivian pursed her lips. “He’s not like Alexander. Back when Gregory was abroad, he didn’t even have a fling. Just buried himself in the lab every day.”
“Vivian.”
“Hmm?”
“If someone confessed to you right after a breakup, would you say yes?”
Vivian’s smile froze.
The café’s gentle piano music stretched the silence unbearably long.
“…Fair point.” Vivian finally sighed. “No one moves on that fast.”
Evelyn took a sip of her now-cold coffee.
“But Gregory’s waited seven or eight years already. What’s a little longer?” Vivian suddenly leaned in. “Honestly, I think you two would be perfect together.”
Evelyn closed her eyes, pretending to rest.
Perfect?
The Dempsey family had deep roots in H City. Anyone who could be their longtime friends must come from elite circles.
Would such a family accept a divorced woman who’d lost a child?
Vivian seemed to read her thoughts. “Alexander did. He even accepted the baby in Annabelle’s womb.”
“There aren’t many fools that devoted in this world.”
The piano music shifted abruptly to a cheerful tune, clashing with the mood.
Vivian opened her mouth but said nothing.
Romantic TV plots could never withstand reality’s cruelty.
The days that followed kept Evelyn unusually busy.
For the first time, she used up all her accumulated vacation days. A new runner appeared in the park at dawn, the kitchen smelled of freshly baked goods, and gym equipment bore witness to her sweat.
A month later, the mirror reflected rosy cheeks—even a slight weight gain.
Then one day at the gym entrance, a toddling little girl suddenly hugged her leg.
“Mommy!”
The sweet, childish voice was a blunt knife plunging into her heart.
If her baby had lived, would they be crawling by now? Would they have called her “Mommy” in that soft voice?
The child’s mother hurried over, apologizing that her daughter called everyone that.
Evelyn forced a smile.
Neither she nor Alexander were outgoing. Their child probably wouldn’t have been this lively. But remembering Alexander had been a school troublemaker in his youth, she laughed despite herself.
Then the tears fell.
I’m sorry, baby.
I hope you’ve found a better mommy in heaven.
One… whose daddy loves her with all his heart.
