Chapter 9
I nodded obediently and covered my eyes with the dry handkerchief.[]
The moment I covered my eyes, I heard the sounds of a scuffle.
When I lowered the handkerchief, Marcus was lying on the ground with blood at the corner of his mouth.[]
Dylan walked over to me and helped me up.[
“Come on, let’s go home.“[]
After that day, Marcus knelt in front of the villa day and night.||
Through wind and rain.[]
No matter how many times the security guards drove him away, even after Dylan got tired of beating him up.
I stood on the third–floor balcony looking down.[]
My heart felt surprisingly calm.]]
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***
“Vera… are you… softening? If…“[
Dylan stood behind me like a child who had done something wrong.
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73
I pressed my lips together, withdrew my gaze, and looked at him with a smile.
“Dylan, do you know why I said ‘again‘ when you saved me from drowning?“]
Dylan shook his head.
“Because you saved my ability to love and be loved.”
I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his waist.
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“Dylan, I have a lot of negative press, plenty of rumors and gossip. My health isn’t good, I’ve had a miscarriage, and my chances of getting pregnant again aren’t great. If you mind any this, please push me away now, so I can feel comfortable calling you brother from now on.”
Dylan embraced me back, almost without hesitation.[]
Autumn had arrived. The weather unusually got cold and gloomy.
I walked toward the kneeling figure, holding an umbrella.[]
I didn’t look down at him, just tilted the umbrella slightly in his direction.[]
“Vera, I was wrong. It’s all my fault. Please don’t abandon me. Come with me. I’ll give you everything I can.
- “0.
Marcus hugged my legs. He looked up at me with stubble on his face, appearing completely defeated.]
“We can’t go back, Marcus. This umbrella can only shelter one person. How can your love be split between two people? I’m not
Chapter 9
someone who can’t live without you, and it’s not like no one else wants me. Besides, so what if no one wanted me? I am myself, not anyone’s accessory.”
My calm tone made Marcus even more frantic.[]
Once, in his eyes, my composure represented my obedience.[]
But now he could see it was simply because my love was slowly disappearing.[]
You only become calm toward people you don’t love enough.
“Vera, I promise, this time I won’t contact Sienna anymore. I’ll be good to you.“[]
I looked up at the figure on the third–floor balcony and couldn’t help but smile.[]
“I’m with Dylan now.“]
The hands gripping my calves suddenly loosened.]]
Marcus stood up and met
my
eyes.
“Vera! What does he have that I don’t? Why choose him over me?“]
I took a deep breath.[]
“Marcus, ask yourself–you keep saying you love me, but when have you ever truly chosen me? I’m only now realizing that maybe you do truly love me, but you also love Sienna, love your friends, love everyone. More than loving me, you love being pursued, having people wait for you.“[]
“And that time at Mount Hood–I never want to
to walk that path again in
my life.”
Marcus looked shocked. He lowered his head, seemingly not knowing how
to
answer me.
“And at the riverside, your first reaction was always that I was trying to hurt Sienna. Do you know how much subconscious reactions hurt? It hurt me. Fortunately, I don’t love you anymore. I escaped from the nightmare you gave me.
Marcus opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.
His eyes just grew redder, and he looked even more defeated.]
I pressed the umbrella into Marcus’s hands.[]
“My wounds have healed. Don’t tear them open again. The same goes for Sienna–be good to her.“[]
With that, I stepped around Marcus and prepared to run back.]
I hadn’t taken two steps when an umbrella appeared above me.[]
Dylan put his arm around my shoulders.[]
“Don’t catch cold, or Dad will scold me again.“[]
Behind us, Marcus hesitated for a few seconds, then slowly took his first step forward.[]
This time, neither of us looked back.
Chapter 9
Five years later.
I handed my crying daughter to Dylan.]]
“Take her to Mom, or… give her to your dad. Let’s sneak out for some late–night snacks, what do you say?“]
Dylan and I exchanged glances and immediately reached an agreement.[]
Marcus and I never saw each other again.[]
Only occasionally, when Mom had people over to dinner at home, I’d hear some gossip.
I heard that Sienna developed intermittent amnesia.[]
She forgot everything about me, only remembering herself as a teenager running around after Marcus.]
And Marcus remained unmarried and childless, taking care of Sienna like a little sister.
This time, we had truly become passing strangers to each other.
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W
www
GOD
