Chapter 10
Emily pried Harold’s hands away and turned to face him at arm’s length.
“Let’s talk.”
She led Harold back to the home they’d shared for four years as newlyweds. Only now, no trace of Harold remained within its walls.
In six months, Emily roughly changed the layout of the home, and even raised a golden shaded short–legged cat.
As soon as she came home, it meowed at Harold and made an attacking posture. Emily bent down and picked up the kitten, comfortingly stroking its head.
Harold slightly furrowed his brows.
Emily knew his cleanliness obsession had flared up again.
He had always disliked shedding animals, which once included herself. In the past, she would have cared about and respected his feelings.
Now, she just threw him a pair of unwrapped disposable slippers.
The living room sofa, Emily had long since replaced with a huge bean bag chair and a retro green single–seater she had long fancied at IKEA.
She sat in the corner of the beanbag chair holding the kitten and gestured for Harold to sit.
Wanting to clarify things quickly, she didn’t even offer him water, cutting straight to the point.
01 220
Chapter 10
“Harold, I know you’ve tried hard to change, but it’s too late. I get that
men have this first love complex, always playing the hero to save the damsel. Honestly, if we hadn’t married, that would’ve been fine–perfectly fine.”
“But your mistake was doing those things after we got married.”
“You either should’ve cleared your heart before accepting me, or never accepted me at all.”
Harold paled.
ال
“Emily, I didn’t realize back then-”
Emily nodded.
“You didn’t know before, but now you do.”
“I don’t need you to make it up to me, and I’ll never remarry you. Harold, I don’t want to constantly compare my present self to Sophia from the past every time you’re kind to me.”
“I’m tired of figuring out whether your kindness comes from genuine care or guilty compensation.”
Hearing this, Harold remained silent for a long while.
Just as Emily thought he wouldn’t speak again, he lifted his head and gazed at her quietly.
Their eyes met as he murmured softly, “I understand.”
Then Harold pulled a ring box from his pocket and slowly opened it.
When Emily saw the ring inside clearly, she froze.
61448
01/22
Chapter 10
It was the wedding ring she’d thrown into the airport trash bin six months. ago when returning home.
A faint smile lingered in Harold’s cool eyes, though beneath it hid a trace
of sorrow.
“The day Sophia and I flew back to England, we heard the airport’s lost- and–found announcement. I wasn’t going to check, but suddenly I remembered your bare ring finger when we went to divorce.”
He slid the ring box toward Emily.
J
“Did you drop this by accident, or…”
Emily instantly finished the unspoken possibility.
“I threw it away.”
Harold’s fingertip resting on the ring box trembled slightly before he nodded with dawning understanding.
“So that’s how it was.”
He thought it was fate between him and Emily, but it was actually a past she had long been determined to discard and sever. A shade of ashen defeat washed over his face.
Emily followed Harold’s fingertip and noticed he was wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch she once bought for 240,000 dollars.
In the past, he’d barely glance at anything she gave him–let alone wear it daily.
Harold caught Emily’s gaze.
“The anniversary gift you gave me… I’ve loved it.”
01 22
Chapter 10
11
“Actually, not just that. Every gift you ever gave me–I’ve loved them all.”
Emily shook her head.
“Had you said this earlier, we might not have ended up like this.”
“But… there are no ‘ifs‘ or ‘might haves‘ in this world.”
01 22
