Chapter 5
Gavin snapped back to reality and instinctively nodded.
“That Vera…I really thought Vera was above this kind of crap. Guess I misjudged her–what a cheap move. Let’s just carry on with the ceremony and ignore her petty drama.”
Saying this, he slid the ring onto Lilia’s finger.
He then kissed her as she looked up at him.
Lilia smiled brightly and asked, “Gavin, will you spend the rest of your life with me?”
to spend his life with Vera.
Gavin instinctively wanted to say that he had only agreed to give
Lin
a
wedding, a simple ceremony, nothing about a lifetime commitment. He intended
But the words that came out were different. “I do.”
The applause was thunderous, but Gavin’s heart felt hollow.
He scanned the crowd, hoping to spot a familiar face, wondering if it
all her kind of joke. But he couldn’t find any sign of her.
After the ceremony, he couldn’t wait to ask a familiar face, “Where’s Vera?”
Everyone shook their heads, saying they hadn’t seen her.
Gavin’s anger flared.
“How could she not understand a single word? I told her so many times to come to the wedding today. Where is she now?”
“If she doesn’t show up, forget about us getting our marriage document today!”
He was about to grab his phone to call Vera when Lilia approached.
She took the phone from Gavin’s hand and sighed. “Gavin, you’re too soft–hearted and impulsive. That’s why Vera keeps taking advantage of you. She keeps maintaining this high–and–mighty attitude in front of you. Think about it–how many years have you chased after her? Do you want to keep being under her control? Isn’t that exhausting?”
“If you contact her now, you’re just giving her what she wants. Let her stew for a while. She’ll learn her lesson.”
Gavin hesitated, but then he heard Lilia say, “Didn’t you say you’d listen to me today?”
He felt guilty toward Lilia. Hearing her words, he immediately gave in and became completely obedient.
He let Lilia guide him through the crowd, showing him off to the guests while they toasted.
By the time the wedding was over, it was already late.
Gavin helped the drunk Lilia into the car, then called Vera.
“We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service.”
Then came the busy signal.
His face darkened. He left a voicemail for Vera.
“What is this, Vera? I am late a bit for our wedding, and you’re acting like this, throwing a tantrum?”
“Are you home? I’m taking Lilia back now. Don’t put on that long face, it’s irritating. I owe you nothing!”
With that, he hung up and gripped the steering wheel, driving toward home.
When he arrived at the house, no one came to open the door for him.
Gavin had one arm around Lilia and struggled to use his other hand to find the keys, finally unlocking the door.
Lilia, still a bit drunk, rolled over on the couch and mumbled, “Gavin, I’m hungry, I want something to eat.” Gavin hurried to Vera’s room, banging on the door.
“Vera! Come out here! Lilia’s drunk, can you take care of her?”
“Did you hear me? She’s hungry. You’re good at cooking, right? Come out and make her some soup.” Chapter 5
But there was no response from room, and Gavin began to hesitate.
He leaned against the door, listening for a while, but he thought the silence was only a way to show her upset.
So, he softened his tone. “Vera, don’t be mad, okay?”
Still, there was no sound.
Gavin’s heart sank. He tried the door handle, and to his surprise, it opened easily.
Pushing the door open, he found the room eerily clean, as if no one had lived there. The only thing on the table was a box.
He opened it, and inside were all the things he had once given to Vera.
Above the box was a sticky note that read:
“A relationship of three people is too crowded. I’m out. I wish Mr. Locke and Miss Wilde a lifetime of happiness!”
