Chapter 19
Emily was thrown off.
“Well, I did dislike you before. You seemed to have zero sense of
boundaries or shame.”
“But later I realized–it was all Harold’s fault. Had he truly loved you, he wouldn’t have married me and hurt me. Had he truly loved me, he wouldn’t have kept stringing you along and ended up hurting you.”
Sophia stayed silent for a long moment before speaking again, her voice choked up-
“I get what you’re saying. Thanks.”
“And… sorry.”
Emily couldn’t tell how much sincerity lay behind Sophia’s gratitude and apology.
Yet over Harold, two strangers had turned rivals, settled their differences, and walked away. Sighing, irony, sorrow…
Emily made a silent vow: never again would she recklessly give her whole heart to any man.
Because love makes you lose all reason.
Staring at the number showing a five–minute call duration, Emily ultimately didn’t block it.
Instead, she saved the contact name: Sophia.
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That night, whether from exhaustion or true peace of mind. Emily slept deeply.
The next morning, she didn’t hear Keith’s numerous calls. In her sleep, Emily felt a burning gaze.
Her eyes snapped open to find a magnified handsome face, startling her into panic.
Instinctively, she hurled a pillow at him. Keith yelped in pain, jolting Emily fully awake.
Only then did she realize it was her own Buckwheat Hull Pillow–notably heavy.
“Are you hurt?” Emily tensed up.
Keith sat half–slumped on the floor, his broad palm pressed tightly against one cheek. He didn’t respond.
Growing worried, Emily leaned closer to check where he’d been hit.
Keith sensed her approach and abruptly released his grip, leaning playfully toward her.
In an instant, the gap between them closed completely–close enough to hear each other’s distinct, thumping heartbeats.
Emily blinked slowly, feeling her face gradually warming.
Just then, a loud voice rang out: “Keith, is Emily awake?”
Both Emily and Keith looked up simultaneously.
The speaker was her closest colleague at school–Ashley.
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Seeing their intimate posture, Ashley hastily covered her eyes while peeking between her fingers, murmuring: “Keep going! Pretend I don’t exist!”
Emily laughed, then stood up and reached out to Keith.
“Get up, you weren’t hit but still pretending, how did you get in?”
Ashely replied, “Of course I asked the front desk for the key card. If it weren’t for packing your things for the outdoor activity today, Keith wouldn’t have been the one to call you.”
Keith held Emily’s hand and stood up, then smiled at Ashley.
“Thanks, Ashley, for giving me the chance.”
“You’re welcome, I’m rooting for you!” Ashley winked at Keith.
Emily couldn’t stand seeing them like this, so she turned and walked to
the bathroom.
“Wait for me fifteen minutes, I can leave right away.”
“Okay!”
Today’s destination was Riverside Town’s most famous Botanical Garden. They say it’s peak bloom season now, like a fiery ocean.
Emily still rode shotgun in Keith’s car. Only this time, an extra Ashley chattered away in the backseat, handing out snacks nonstop. Made the drive less boring.
At the Botanical Garden, Emily gathered a whole bag of red camellias to bring back to the hotel. She’d make pressed specimens or bookmarks for
her students.
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Keith trailed behind her, documenting everything with a handheld camcorder.
Then a gust swept through, shaking loose countless wind–tossed red camellias that showered down. Emily stood drenched in that floral rain, dreamlike and ethereal.
Keith watched quietly, forgetting the camera in his hand.
Just then, Emily’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen–her former mother–in–law was calling.
Frowning, she answered to hear a frantic voice.
“Emily, you need to come back! Harold did something foolish!”
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