Chapter 8
Once I finish handling everything, I’ll return to New York and marry Quinton.
During the earthquake, I was buried for three days and spent ten days in the ICU. When I woke up, I was penniless and could only take on part–time jobs. Eventually, I found steady work- visiting homes daily to care for small animals.
This included Starry, the dog that traveled with Quinton on business trips. He was too busy with work to care for it, so I fed it in his place.
The first time I went to walk Starry, I entered to find Quinton sitting on the couch. His eyes locked onto me the moment I walked in. With an intense gaze, he asked, “Have you owned dogs before?”
I stammered a bit, and he added, “Starry usually isn’t friendly with people.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and carefully replied, “I was in a coma before and don’t remember much from the past.”
Quinton studied me for a long time, then said softly, “Would you like to come back to New York with me? You’d take care of Starry, and I’ll pay you ten times your current salary.”
I felt excited and nodded enthusiastically.
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One day, watching Starry act affectionately toward me, I asked, “Mr. Martin, Starry really seems to like me.”
He seemed to remember something, his gaze becoming meaningful.
“You probably remind him of his previous owner.”
I was curious about what kind of person could bring out such tenderness in Quinton.
“Actually, I only met her once. She was in the garden, holding the dog and crying terribly. I just looked at her once, and I couldn’t forget her. She was incredibly adorable.”
I couldn’t help but ask, “So you kept her dog, but where is she?”
Quinton showed rare vulnerability, his voice hoarse: “She was my nephew’s wife. The day I returned was their wedding day.”
He fell into memories: “My nephew doesn’t like dogs. Starry was the dog she’d raised since childhood. So I adopted it. I didn’t attend their wedding–I was afraid I’d lose control.”
I petted Starry, feeling somewhat moved. I didn’t notice at all that Quinton’s gaze toward me had become strange.
Gradually, he began enjoying our dog walks together. Later, during our walks, we’d also buy groceries and cook dinner
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Chapter 8
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One day, watching Starry act affectionately toward me, I asked, “Mr. Martin, Starry really seems to like me.”
He seemed to remember something, his gaze becoming meaningful.
“You probably remind him of his previous owner.”
I was curious about what kind of person could bring out such tenderness in Quinton.
“Actually, I only met her once. She was in the garden, holding the dog and crying terribly. I just looked at her once, and I couldn’t forget her. She was incredibly adorable.”
I couldn’t help but ask, “So you kept her dog, but where is she?”
Quinton showed rare vulnerability, his voice hoarse: “She was my nephew’s wife. The day I returned was their wedding day.”
He fell into memories: “My nephew doesn’t like dogs. Starry was the dog she’d raised since childhood. So I adopted it. I didn’t attend their wedding–I was afraid I’d lose control.”
I petted Starry, feeling somewhat moved. I didn’t notice at all that Quinton’s gaze toward me had become strange.
Gradually, he began enjoying our dog walks together. Later, during our walks, we’d also buy groceries and cook dinner
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Chapter 8
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together. Quinton claimed it was cheaper to buy in pairs, so everything we used came in matching sets. Even as oblivious as I
I knew the employment relationship between Quinton and me had changed.
was,
Over the next three years, traces of my life gradually filled the entire house. When Quinton went to work, I waited for him at home. After he got off work, we’d cook dinner and walk the dog together. During walks, when we’d encounter Starry’s friends, their owners would smile and say how heartwarming it was to see us as a couple walking our dog together. Both he and I would freeze, feeling shy.
I occasionally overheard his father calling to pressure him about marriage. Quinton would deliberately put it on speaker while I pretended not to listen. He told his father he was going to get married. When I snapped back to reality, Quinton was holding a ring, gazing at me intensely. We agreed to get married after returning to New York to meet his parents.
But just one week before our return to New York, I suddenly recovered my memory.
Quinton frantically explained: “Evelyn, don’t hate me. Thomas didn’t treasure you, but I won’t let you get hurt.”
I didn’t know how to react. He seemed somewhat humble: “I’ve had a crush on you for so many years. God let me meet you again. Evelyn, at least give me a chance.”
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Chapter 8
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I hadn’t expected Quinton to address all my hesitations one by
one.
“My parents have already agreed. Don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer any grievances.”
I tentatively reached out to hug him: “I trust you.”
“But I need to go back to California first. I want to see my parents and child, and also Thomas. I need to make things clear
with him.”
Quinton hugged me back. So I returned to California first, waiting for him to finish handling company matters before coming to get me.
As I thought about this, my gaze turned cold.
