06
By evening, there was still no sign of Gabriel returning.
I’m not sure when it started, but whenever we fought, he would stay out all night.
The same guy who used to cry to me about having nowhere to go now had a thousand places he could be once we were together.
If that’s how it is, there’s no need to see each other again. I closed the door behind me without a hint of nostalgia.
On Monday morning, I was just thinking how nice it was to have a shorter commute from my own place to the studio. No more rushing and watching the clock like before.
Then I got a message from Gabriel:
“Why haven’t you explained things to our circle yet? If I have to do it myself, this won’t end well.”
Looking at this message, I paused. So Gabriel was letting Rose be slandered by their social circle?
<
What cheap love.
I heard people in their circle were saying all sorts of things about Rose now.
She came from a modest background. If it weren’t for saving Gabriel when they were kids, she wouldn’t have even had the chance to study
abroad.
Now she repays his kindness like this? She must be blinded by money.
If I weren’t so drained to deal with any of this, I’d definitely pay people to spread even more rumors.
Seeing Gabriel’s follow–up questions, I thought for a moment before replying:
“I’ll say it again – it wasn’t me. Believe it or not, I don’t care. And about what you said the other day about calling it off? I think that’s a great
idea.”
“Gabriel, let’s break up.”
I had planned to tell him in person, to give
Home closure to this relationship I’d invested so much in.
But by evening he still hadn’t come home, and I suddenly felt there was no point in waiting anymore.
After sending the message, I ignored any further responses and headed to my studio with a spring in my step.
“Where’s Lily? Why isn’t she here yet?!”
I had just pushed open my office door when this angry shout made me stumble.
As I was about to fall, a pair of strong hands steadied me.
“Are you alright?”
I looked up to see Henry, the second son of the Huo family who I had repeatedly turned down before.
Seeing the question in my eyes, he explained kindly:
“I saw your social media post and thought I’d try my luck coming by.”
“Looks like luck was on my side – I ran into you right away.”
I felt my toes curl in embarrassment. That post was just something I threw up on a whim to celebrate my new lease on life. I didn’t expect anyone to take it seriously.
“Lily, who is this?”
Gabriel had heard the commotion and came out of the office.
His eyes were fixed on Henry’s hand supporting me.
