For the first time, he seemed to see his own heart clearly, looking at me with a glimmer of hope.
In this relationship, he always held the upper hand. I’d never seen him so desperate and fearful.
If he’d said these words earlier, I would have been overjoyed.
But now, it’s too late.
I heard my own cold voice, “Who do you think you are, that everyone will wait for you?”
The light in his eyes dimmed.
After that day, it felt like a weight was lifted off my chest. I felt incredibly free.
I started looking for a job, reconnecting with the world. It felt like I found my 20–year–old self again.
But Eloise somehow found my new address. When I opened the door and saw her perfectly made–up face, I muttered “unlucky” and instinctively tried to close it, but she blocked it. “Phoebe, we need to talk.”
I didn’t think there was anything to discuss, so I tried harder to close the door.
Her voice turned pleading, “It’ll be quick; I won’t take much of your time.”
“Fine.”
I stopped pushing the door, but I didn’t invite her in. We awkwardly stood at the door, staring at each other.
She spoke first, “Since you and Nolan are divorced, you should make a clean break. I don’t want to see you two in contact anymore.”
I laughed, holding my stomach, “How shameless can you be? What right do you have to say that? As the third party who wrecked a marriage?”
Eloise paused, then took a deep breath, “Regardless, you’re divorced now, so why cling to Nolan? He’s been out of sorts these days. Isn’t it because you’re still keeping in touch with him?”
“Instead of guessing, why don’t you ask him who’s really clinging to whom?”
I rolled my eyes. No wonder she and Nolan got together in college; they both love their own narratives.
J
Just as I was about to shut the door, Nolan appeared at the staircase comer, holding flowers.
Full
He froze seeing Eloise, then angrily walked over to pull her away, “Who told you to come here and find her?”
Eloise wasn’t backing down, “Nolan, what do you mean?”
“Instead of speculating, why don’t you ask him directly who’s bothering whom?”
I rolled my eyes. No surprise they hit it off in college–both of them are so self–absorbed.
Just as I was about to close the door, Nolan appeared at the staircase corner with a bouquet. He froze upon seeing Eloise and stormed over to pull her aside: “Who told you to come looking for her?”
Eloise wouldn’t back down: “Nolan, what is this all about?”
“You said Phoebe was dull, that even after years of marriage, she never truly let go of me. Now that you’re divorced, we should be together, yet here you are putting on this emotional act. For whom?”
Nolan looked uneasy. I casually brushed my hair. “Could you two argue downstairs? Please don’t do it at my doorstep.”
Nolan pulled Eloise aside: “I’m warning you, don’t cause Phoebe any trouble in the future. Even if I’m divorced from her, I’m not going to be with you.”
Eloise’s eyes filled with tears, but she fell silent after Nolan shot her a fierce glare.
After Eloise ran off in tears, Nolan lingered and talked to me for a while, mainly about how he hadn’t appreciated things before.
Seeing that I wasn’t paying attention, he said, “I refuse to agree to a divorce.”
“Alright, then I’ll send your intimate photos with Eloise to your workplace for everyone to see.”
Nolan’s face grew paler by the second.
“I admit I went too far when I loved you, but you surely don’t think I’m easy to push around, do you?”
I let out a cold laugh and slammed the door shut.
A few nights later, I received a call from an unknown number. It turned out to be Nolan’s mom.
I was about to hang up when I heard her bitter sobs: “Phoebe, I’m begging you, please don’t divorce him.”
“Without you, Nolan can’t go on. Today, he smashed everything in the house and drank so much that his stomach bled, refusing to go to the hospital. As long as you don’t divorce, I promise I won’t say a word about the wedding or bride price. I won’t interfere in your lives at all, okay?”
I suddenly found it amusing and hung up amidst her sobbing
A week later, Nolan was probably out of the hospital.
He looked thinner and pale as he handed me an agreement at my place.
“During my hospital stay. I thought a lot. Ultimately, it was my fault. I’m sorry.”
I suddenly found it amusing and hung up amidst her sobbing.
A week later, Nolan was probably out of the hospital.
He looked thinner and pale as he handed me an agreement at my place.
“During my hospital stay, I thought a lot. Ultimately, it was my fault. I’m sorry.”
“I know it’s pointless to say anything now, but I hope you can give me a chance. Can
in any way, just don’t treat me like a stranger.”
He was utterly humble.
Wo
still be friends? Let me stay in your life
I took the divorce papers and signed them, recalling his past sarcasm. Finally, I could return all those humiliating memories.
“No need. You begging looks pathetic.”
