"By the way, make sure you never show up in front of Jennifer."
I finally lifted my eyes to look at the man I had once loved, but now he seemed like a complete stranger.
Unable to bear it any longer, I covered my face and ran out.
There was a park nearby, and I found myself sitting on a bench by the lake, lost in thought.
The reason I fell for Brad was simple. Back in college, I had accidentally slipped and fallen into a lake, and it was he who jumped in to save me.
Wanting to thank him, I invited him to dinner. During the meal, I learned he was actually my senior from my first year of high school.
At the time, he and Jennifer had just broken up. After that, I began pursuing him and quietly stayed by his side.
That quiet devotion stretched into five long years.
Wiping my tears, my gaze was drawn to the shimmering surface of the lake. I stood and walked closer, feeling gusts of wind brushing past me. Suddenly, my wrist was grabbed.
"Faith! Are you out of your mind? Were you really about to jump into the lake because of him?"
Startled, I turned around to see Edgar standing there, panting, his eyes filled with worry.
Just as I was about to explain, he pulled me into his arms, holding me so tightly I could hardly breathe.
Realizing his actions, he quickly let go and awkwardly stepped back to create some distance.
"Although I liked him and was deeply hurt, I’m not at the point where I’d risk my life over him," I explained.
A long silence followed my words.
He eventually asked me about my future plans.
I had come to this city for Brad, but now that we were over, there was nothing left for me here.
I told him I just needed to go home, pack my things, and leave.
"Then I’ll go back with you. I have some documents with him anyway; I’ll take care of it while I’m there," he said.
I nodded, offering no objection.
The car ride was quiet, the silence stretching between us like an invisible barrier.
When we arrived home, I headed to the bedroom and began packing my few belongings.
I stood there staring at the black-and-white wardrobe, lost in thought.
Because Jennifer liked a minimalist style, I had deliberately mimicked her taste, hoping Brad would finally notice me.
Over time, I had completely lost myself.
As I scanned the living room, I carefully separated my things from everything else. While doing so, I accidentally knocked over a photo album.
It fell open, revealing pictures of Brad and Jennifer, their arms around each other, smiling and carefree.
At the very end of the album lay two couple rings, nestled together.
【"My wife will always be you."】
In an instant, all those small moments we’d shared clicked together, and the realization struck me like lightning.
It turns out he didn’t hate taking pictures—he just didn’t want to take them with me.
It turns out he didn’t find wearing a ring inconvenient—he just thought Jennifer deserved to wear it as his wife.
I was nothing more than a passing distraction during his long, empty years.
A flood of grievances and heartbreak surged through me, and I felt the world tilt before I fell into a warm embrace.
Without thinking about my pride, tears streamed down my face, soaking his shirt.
Above me, his gentle voice murmured, "Let it out. Just cry."
I didn’t know how long I stayed there, but eventually, I calmed down. My face flushed, and with red, swollen eyes, I sniffled and mumbled an apology.
As I got up from his arms, a voice cut through the room, sharp and cold.
"What are you doing!"
I spun around, startled. Brad was standing at the entrance, anger twisting his features as he glared at us.
He must have misunderstood!
I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could speak, a mocking smile curled on Brad’s lips. His tone turned icy.
"Faith, I really underestimated you. Moving on so fast, huh? Trying to seduce someone else the moment you leave me? How cheap can you get?"
His words were like a slap in the face, leaving me momentarily stunned.
