9
“I told Lily’s company; they fired her; it’s her
retribution.”
He crumpled the report, his gaze downcast.
“Sarah, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect this.”
“Knowing Lily was from a single–parent
family, I related to her and wanted to help,
but I neglected you.‘
“I helped Lily a lot, but I wasn’t with her
during my busiest time; I was working.”
“My parents left me little; I wanted to provide
you with a good life. I didn’t tell you, thinking
L
you’d understand.‘
“”
H
His expression darkened; his voice became
hoarse.
“How could I know? This shows we’re
incompatible; you needn’t dwell on the past.
“Even without Lily, we’d have parted ways
eventually.”
I knew about Ethan’s complex family
situation; I wanted to be with him, to save
him.
But I realized I couldn’t save him; I’d be
dragged down.
He’d done a lot, but it wasn’t what I wanted;
it was futile.
From the moment he chose Lily over me, our
fate was sealed.
“No, Sarah, we never broke up!”
I’d left hastily, not formally breaking up with
him.
“But in my heart, we’d broken up. When you
<
protected Lily, you didn’t think of me as your
girlfriend?”
“Ethan, I chased you for too long; you got
used to me revolving around you, believing I
wouldn’t leave no matter what.”
“Stop with the excuses; wrong is wrong;
some mistakes are unforgivable.”
I remembered Grandpa’s stroke.
I’d hated myself; if it weren’t for me, Grandpa
wouldn’t be like this.
I watched the doctor rehabilitate Grandpa, my
eyes welling up.
“Ethan, why do you think I’d forgive you?”
He trembled, looked at me, and left in
disgrace.
That night, a jealous Jasper returned.
He hugged me tightly.
“Lily’s true face was revealed; she was fired,
ruined, and is in debt; she’ll go to jail.”
“Ethan did this for you. Sarah, are you
く
softened?”
Seeing me shake my head, he hugged me
tighter.
“I heard he’s been researching your
grandpa’s illness; he might cure him. What if
he uses this to get back together?”
I pondered, shaking my head.
“He won’t.”
But Jasper seemed even more jealous.
Meeting his resentful gaze, I looked at him
seriously.
“Are you particularly knowledgeable about
him?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
