On the way back, my eyes burned terribly.
But as a man, I didn't want to cry.
I didn't want to seem so weak.
Five years of dating, plus the four years I spent pursuing her.
I'd loved this woman for a full nine years.
Yet, this was the outcome.
I couldn't help but think about the chat logs I saw earlier.
She said that as long as Richard was willing to return from overseas, she'd dump me, the backup and marry him.
It turned out I'd just been a backup plan all along.
Today, she got what she wanted.
No wonder she'd rushed out so eagerly this afternoon; she must have been going to the airport to pick up Richard.
At this time, Cynthia's phone vibrated. I opened it and found that it was a message from Richard.
However, my gaze immediately fixed on his profile picture.
They'd actually switched to the couple avatars, probably at that gathering just now.
I remember hiring a famous cartoonist to draw a beautiful avatar for Cynthia and me last year.
I excitedly asked Cynthia to change her avatar.
She'd immediately scolded me, calling me childish and telling me to focus on work.
Now, she'd switched to an even more childish one with Richard.
Then, I felt a small box inside Cynthia's bag.
I carefully took it out.
The moment I saw the DR logo, my breathing quickened uncontrollably.
My hands were shaking even more.
The shallow breathing made me lightheaded; the world around me started to spin.
Finally, I still plucked up the courage to open the box.
Inside was indeed a DR diamond ring.
The two letters RS were engraved on the back, which was Richard's name.
I'd begged her countless times to get a DR ring for our marriage.
After all, each man could only customize one in his lifetime.
Still, she'd never agreed.
She said it was just a gimmick.
Yet, she'd simply been waiting for Richard Stone to engrave his name on this most crucial ring.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.
Then, while Cynthia was asleep, I used her fingerprint to open Richard's message.
[Honey, don't forget to pick out your wedding dress tomorrow. I'll come pick you up then.]
Boom! Seeing that message, my head buzzed.
I had brought up the wedding dress with her multiple times and she always told me to pick one for her. Whatever I liked would be fine.
She even said that she could pull off any style with her figure.
But the truth was, she never really cared what I chose.
She never even considered appearing in the most beautiful wedding dress at my wedding.
At that moment, I really wanted to punch the car window a few times.
However, when I saw the driver in front of me, all I could do was clench my fists and desperately try to hold back.
Men don't cry!
My fingernails dug deep into my flesh.
I could only use physical pain to replace the pain in my heart.
I tried to let go of this love I'd held onto for nine bitter years.
The next morning, as Richard had said, I still made her the ginger honey water.
She took a sip and spat it out.
"What are you making? Why did you add ginger?"
"Don't you know that I hate the smell of ginger the most?"
I remembered Richard clearly saying she loved the taste of ginger honey water.
Soon, I understood.
She didn't like the taste of ginger honey water; she liked Richard's taste.
She liked the taste of her first love.
Even if this first love had once abandoned her and gone abroad.
However, I hadn't slept a wink last night and had thought a lot about this relationship. Looking at her now, surprisingly, I wasn't angry. I simply poured the whole glass of ginger honey water into the trash can.
After Cynthia put on her shoes, she said coldly, "The company's going public soon; I have a lot to do. Don't cause me any more trouble."
With that, she turned and slammed the door as she left.
I knew she would accompany Richard to pick out the wedding dress.
