After the annual meeting, we still had to work for three days. It was tough.
As soon as I entered the company, I noticed everyone secretly smiling at me.
I heard the real gossip in the restroom.
“Fresh news hot off the press: Director Gu and Lily are a couple. Director Gu personally confirmed it, and he even beat up Lily’s ex yesterday!”
“I heard about that too. Director Gu has such a good temper normally, he must really love Lily.”
“I think they make a good couple. A match made in heaven.”
I waited until the footsteps outside disappeared before I dared to come out.
Looking at my blushing face in the mirror, I realized this is what it feels like to be the
subject of gossip.
During lunch break, I knocked on Ethan’s office door under the pretext of delivering
some forms. I thought I was being discreet, but I saw everyone’s knowing smiles through the glass window.
“What do you think about the company rumors?” I asked casually.
“Are these rumors? Isn’t it just the truth?” Ethan looked up at me after signing a contract, a puzzled expression on his face.
He added, “You are my girlfriend, after all.”
Well…
He had a point.
No problem there.
We had agreed before not to reveal our relationship to others, but yesterday’s situation
was unavoidable.
Besides, now I had a house and would soon have a car, savings, and a job. I guess I was
somewhat worthy of him now.
So this is what it feels like to be in a blessed relationship. It’s so sweet.
My future in–laws liked me a lot. They took me shopping and dining on weekends, and introduced me as their daughter–in–law to other aunties.
Although my colleagues were quite envious of me, they didn’t gossip behind my back, because Ethan gave them red envelopes!
When my best friend Samantha found out we were dating, she was even happier than I
was. She cried a lot, saying I had suffered too much before and finally got to taste some
sweetness.
The weather was nice on the weekend, and I was doing a big clean–up at home.
Ethan came back from grocery shopping, and I smiled when I saw him, “The weather is
really nice today.”
Ethan nodded, “Why don’t we go get our marriage certificate?”
A few days later, after getting our marriage certificate, I posted on Instagram: “I love today’s sun, today’s wind, the smell of cake from the bakery I passed by, and the brightest sunflower in the flower shop. And you.”
Ethan was more direct. He posted a photo of our marriage certificate with the caption: “I’ve married the girl I’ve had a crush on for eight years.”
We were walking hand in hand slowly back home when we saw Jack waiting at our door.
His eyes were red, “Lily, let’s get back together. I’ve cleared things up with Rose. She won’t appear in front of us anymore.”
Ethan turned to look at me, “Do you need me to step aside?”
He always gave me space to handle things.
But I shook my head and held his hand, “Honey, are you really this trusting of me?”
Ethan immediately straightened his back, his smile becoming even more radiant, “I’ll go home and start cooking. Come back when you’re done.”
After he left, Jack fell to his knees with a “thud” in front of me.
“Lily, give me one more chance. I’ll treat you well in the future, a hundred times better
than this Ethan!”
I never thought he would kneel in front of me, begging for forgiveness without any
dignity.
He was crying his eyes out, apologizing and admitting his mistakes to me while sober
for the first time.
I sighed, crouched down in front of him, and said softly, “Jack, we’re over. It ended three months ago when you were dancing with Rose in your arms.”
“It ended every time you watched your friends mock me, let Rose and I fight over you, and coldly watched your mother bully me.”
“It ended every time your stomach was upset, and I spent a whole day cooking for you,
only for you to take two bites and stop eating.”
“It ended when you knew it was the anniversary of my parents‘ death, but couldn’t spare
the time to accompany me to their grave.””
“Jack, you made me feel terrible during the five years we were together. You made me feel like the sky became brighter after breaking up with you.”
“A few apologies can’t make up for all the hurt I suffered during our years together. Some damage can never be repaired.””
Jack left, stumbling away. He crouched on the curb and cried for half the night until his friends took him to the hospital.
How do I know this? His friends called me to go to the hospital to see him, but I blocked
them all in response.
