Chapter 18
Hearing this, Emily suddenly burst out laughing again. This time, she doubled over clutching her stomach, tears welling at the corners of her
eyes.
Keith grew annoyed. Gripping Emily’s arm, he said through gritted teeth, “Why laugh again? I’m dead serious–took me forever to muster the courage.”
Emily watched his cheeks puffing with irritation, finding it utterly endearing.
She straightened up solemnly.
“After we return, come adopt a puppy with me. You seem experienced.”
Keith pointed at himself.
“Me?”
“Yep.” Emily reined in her smile and gave a firm nod.
Keith furrowed his brows slightly, half–doubting.
“You serious?”
Emily was about to speak when a familiar teacher approached them.
“Emily, Keith, what’s got you two so cheerful?”
His booming voice instantly drew attention from other teachers, and soon a crowd gathered.
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A buzz of overlapping voices filled the air.
“Heard you two just had dinner together? What’d you cat? Candlelit dinner?”
“Meant to ask–did you get along driving here? Want me to swap seats with Emily for the ride back?”
To this question, Emily and Keith responded in unison.
J
“Not necessary.”
As she spoke, Emily and Keith exchanged a glance, seeing a smile in each other’s eyes. The other teachers, seeing this, started teasing even more raucously.
Emily couldn’t handle this kind of situation. She pushed Keith into the crowd, swiftly turned, closed the door, all in one smooth motion.
Listening to the enthusiastic concern for Keith outside, she couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile.
Just then, Emily’s phone rang.
It was actually Sophia.
Emily didn’t want to answer. She blocked the number right away, but another unknown number called again.
One after another, as if they wouldn’t give up until she answered.
She let out a heavy sigh and had no choice but to answer this call from who knows how many different numbers.
The other end seemed surprised she picked up this time, with only heavy breathing for a moment. Then, Sophia’s hoarse voice came through.
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“Emily, did Harold come to see you again today?”
Emily didn’t want to answer Sophia’s obvious question, so she put the phone aside and opened her computer to work.
Sophia rambled on.
“I don’t know why Harold and I ended up like this.”
“You know? After we met at the cafe that day, he actually told me we should go our separate ways, said we’d never see each other again. I don’t understand, we were so good together in England…”
“Emily, I don’t know what to do. I owe a lot of money now, I can’t lose
Harold.”
Emily typed the last word on the keyboard, then picked up the phone and asked calmly.
“So, are you trying to borrow money from me or looking for some love advice or something?”
Emily was even a bit impressed with herself for cracking a joke at a time
like this.
Sophia seemed stunned and didn’t speak for a moment.
Then Emily added, “Even though I got a good settlement from Harold after the divorce, it’s what I deserved. And I’ve put it all in a fixed deposit, so I really don’t have any money to lend you.”
“As for love advice, I don’t think my experience is any reference for you. You’ve called the wrong person.”
Sophia quickly said, “I’m not trying to borrow money, nor…”
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“Then what do you want?” Emily interrupted.
“Sophia, I’m telling you for the last time–Harold and I are completely done.”
“And speaking woman to woman, depending on men won’t get you anywhere.”
“Men are the least reliable creatures on earth.”
Emily wondered if her words had sunk in.
Just as she was about to hang up, Sophia suddenly stopped her, her tone turning serious.
“Emily… don’t you hate me?”
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