Chapter 8
The restaurant Emily chose via GPS was a Truffle–Infused Forest Fondue near campus. She’d expected Harold to suggest elsewhere.
That was his way–never setting foot in hole–in–the–wall eateries on Food Alley. As a doctor, he always deemed outside food unhygienic and stale.
But, Harold didn’t raise any objections.
After casually finding a window seat and sitting down, Emily smoothly took the menu from the waiter and ordered. All her favorites.
After ordering. Emily naturally handed the menu to Harold.
“Order whatever you want.”
Harold froze for a few seconds, not expecting Emily would stop arranging everything for him.
The Truffle–Infused Forest Fondue restaurant buzzed with chatter. A young couple sat near Emily and Harold, the guy sanitizing the girl’s tableware.
Right after, Emily watched Harold take his own bowl and chopsticks, then clumsily pour tea from the pot to rinse them.
She was momentarily stunned.
Harold seemed scalded, handing her the bowl and chopsticks with reddened fingertips. His handsome face remained impassive.
Emily hesitated before finally speaking.
Chapter B
“Honestly, you don’t need to look after me like this. At most, we’re just acquaintances now. Let’s each tend to our own needs.”
Harold didn’t respond to that.
“Emily, I’ve reflected a lot these six months since our divorce. I failed as a partner before. I’m sorry.”
Emily never expected this turn of events, momentarily speechless.
Harold smiled slightly, signaling she shouldn’t feel pressured. His tone stayed gentle.
“I’ve turned down the research institute’s relocation offer. I’ll be staying in the country for my career.”
“Mom and Dad prefer living here anyway. In the UK, we couldn’t even find Chinese friends to chat or play Backgammon with.”
“Besides, Edinburgh rains all year round. You never liked it, and neither did I.”
Hearing this, Emily snapped her head up to look at Harold.
Her gaze met his almond–shaped eyes, shiminering with faint guilt beneath their usual playful sparkle.
She couldn’t grasp why Harold would bring up words she’d spoken long ago. She’d once told him, “I dislike Edinburgh because it always rains.”
Yet he’d stayed there for Sophia for a whole year–even decided to settle
there.
Now Emily had forgotten that rainy city. Yet he brought it back to her…
The meal tasted like cardboard and ended quickly.
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Chapter 8
Outside the restaurant, Harold suddenly looked at Emily.
“Emily, if we’re just regular friends now, can you unblock me?”
Emily stayed silent for several seconds.
17
“Fine. As long as you stop bringing up remarriage and quit bothering me.
Harold paused before nodding. “Alright.”
Emily sighed and finally pulled out her phone. She dragged Harold’s account out of her blocklist.
Harold’s eyes lit up, a faint smile touching his lips.
He offered to take Emily home again, but she politely declined.
Back home, she gave Harold the meal money for today, with a note: “Settled up.”
After showering, Emily got another call from her ex–mother–in–law, that is, Harold’s mom, Mary.
Over the past six months, Mary would call from time to time, asking about Emily’s recent situation or talking about her and Kyle’s life in the England.
Emily lay on the big bed, her phone on speaker.
“Emily, in a couple of days, Kyle and I are heading back to San Francisco. We’ve had a rough time here in the England for half a year.”
“What’s worse, we thought we’d be living the high life in the UK, but instead, we have to take care of Sophia every day. I cook for her and help with the housework.”
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Chapter 8
“Her ex–husband keeps harassing us every now and then. Kyle already had high blood pressure and diabetes, and now it’s brought on heart trouble. He’s so anxious at night he can’t sleep a wink. Now both of us have lost a lot of weight.”
“Emily, losing you was our family’s misfortune.”
That was almost what Mary said every time.
J
She sighed and lamented, but never mentioned remarriage between Emily and Harold.
So Emily treated Harold’s parents like ordinary elders, listening to their complaints and caring about their health.
The call ended after half an hour.
Emily saw three unread messages in Harold’s chat window.
“Are you home yet? Let me know when you get there.”
“Emily, I’ve missed you these past six months.”
“Goodnight.”
Was this really the same reserved Harold from before? Emily could hardly believe her eyes.
She wondered what shadows those six months had cast over him. The once silent and introspective man now wore his heart so openly on his sleeve.
With mixed feelings. Emily closed the chat without replying and turned off her phone.
