When I got home, both my parents looked startled.
But the moment they saw my red, swollen eyes, they didn't ask a single question.
As if by unspoken agreement, from that day on, neither of them ever mentioned Boris again.
Boris and I had been college classmates.
After graduation, he confessed his feelings.
I didn't say yes at first.
Six feet tall, good-looking in that sunny, effortless way, with girls constantly circling him. Exactly the type that made me feel the least secure.
Besides, we weren't close. I barely knew him.
My rejection didn't stop him.
He went through the interview process and landed a job at the same company where I worked.
He'd cook his specialty sweet-and-sour ribs and braised pork, pack them into a lunch box, and bring it to me every day.
He found out I liked Wang's Desserts and mango cake, and every evening after work he'd go out of his way to pick them up and bring them to my place. Never once complained about the extra trip.
No matter how busy he was, he'd always show up early to drive me to and from the office so I'd never get caught in the rain or the wind.
Whenever we walked together, he kept me on the inside of the sidewalk, shielding me, like he was terrified I'd bump into something or trip.
He turned down work dinners and nights out with friends on a regular basis. Any free moment he had, he spent walking with me, shopping with me, talking with me.
My feelings were always what he put first, ahead of everything.
He was meticulous like that, always looking after me.
He'd reach for my bag and anything heavy before I could, brush branches out of my way when we walked.
Even during my period, he'd remind me what not to eat, and quietly have heating pads and brown-sugar tea ready.
Three full years of this, and I'll admit it: he got to me.
I finally said yes.
That day, he was grinning like a kid. He lifted me off the ground and spun me around and around, then pressed a kiss to my cheek.
I thought we'd be together for the rest of our lives.
I never thought he didn't just want to spend that life with me. He wanted to spend it with another woman, too.
I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. The next morning I walked into the office like nothing had happened.
Boris passed by my desk with Tania trailing shyly behind him.
“Everyone, a quick introduction. Tania Finch, new to the company, and also my wife.”
A few nosy coworkers immediately started whooping.
“Boris, you kept that quiet! When did you two get your marriage license? How come none of us knew?”
Tania gave his chest a coy little punch.
“Stop it! You promised you wouldn't tell anyone. Now I'm all embarrassed.”
She smiled, all sweet satisfaction, her gaze sliding to me first before drifting across the room.
“Everyone, don't be shy—Boris says you should all come over to our place for dinner tonight. Here, let me hand out the wedding favors first.”
Boris was beaming. He held Tania's hand and passed candy to every person at every desk.
That was when the coworker sitting next to me suddenly spoke up：
“Kate, didn't you and Boris date for seven years? How did he end up with Tania out of nowhere? And already married? That's so sudden.”
The moment the words left her mouth, the entire floor went silent.
The smile froze on Tania's face, and she started whimpering, tears already spilling.
Boris looked like his eyes were about to fall out of his head from the heartache.
Without a word to anyone else, he stormed over to my desk and slammed the box of candy down in front of me.
“Kate Henson, this is a workplace, not your home. Can you rein it in a little? Stop being so childish.”
“Stirring people up to freeze Tania out—is that fun for you?”
I almost laughed. I stood up and shoved him back a step.
“I haven't said a single word this entire time. You're the one with a guilty conscience, so you're the one afraid of questions.”
Tania's tears spilled down her cheeks as she gently clutched the edge of his sleeve.
