Rylan smiled, handing me my daily vitamins and a glass of warm
water.
“We’ve been married for five years now, and I still feel so happy every day.”
“I’ve booked a cruise suite and restaurant for tomorrow –
the same cruise where I proposed. Let’s have a wonderful anniversary.”
If I hadn’t overheard his conversation with his secretary earlier, I would have been touched to pieces by his thoughtfulness right
now.
But now, I really want to ask him.
Are these vitamins he just gave me really vitamins?Every day spent with me, was it truly blissful?
My nose tingled, and I turned off the lights a second before tears could fall.
“I’m a bit tired from shopping today. Let’s go to sleep, Rylan.”
Rylan, unsuspecting, wrapped his arms around me as we lay in bed.
After some time, Rylan’s sleep–talking softly began.
“Lily… Lily…”
My tears silently rolled from the corners of my eyes, trickling into my hair and disappearing.
I secretly took out my phone and sent a message to my brother
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overseas.
“Brother, I’m begging you, please help me.”
The next day, Rylan took me to the cruise ship he mentioned last night.
But as soon as we sat down in the restaurant, we saw a visibly pregnant Lily also walk in.
Seeing that the pregnant Lily was alone, Rylan immediately stood up to greet her.
“You’re six months pregnant now, where’s Elliot? Why isn’t he with you?”
The concern in Rylan’s voice was undisguised.
I lowered my gaze, inwardly mocking myself. Such an obvious thing, yet I had never noticed it.
Was Rylan’s acting really that good, or was I truly as stupid as he said?
Lily walked up to me with a smile, answering Rylan’s question while her eyes remained fixed on me.
“The company’s been busy lately. Elliot had to fly to the
out–of–state branch office on short notice. He won’t be back for a few days.”
“Since we’ve met by chance, Britta wouldn’t mind if we share a table, right?”
Rylan’s eyes were full of eagerness, but he still glanced at me
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with a troubled expression.
Pretending not to notice his look, I smiled and said,
“Today is mine and Rylan’s fifth wedding anniversary. Rylan specially reserved this restaurant, so it might not be convenient. “I knew that in Rylan’s eyes, I didn’t even measure up to a single strand of Lily’s hair, but even for just a moment, I wanted to reclaim a shred of my dignity.
Sure enough, hearing my words, Lily’s expression changed. But in the next second, she quickly composed herself, a gentle smile blossoming on her face.
“This cruise ship restaurant is my favorite. I used to fantasize about being proposed to on this very ship. Rylan is so good to you.”
“Well, enjoy your meal. I’m heading back to my room now. My stomach’s feeling a bit off.”
Hearing this, my shoulders tensed.
So, this cruise ship was Lily’s favorite too?
Then, was Rylan’s cruise ship proposal to me also because Lily liked it?
My hands clenched into fists under the table. It took every ounce of strength I had to restrain myself from confronting Rylan.
When you proposed to me, who did you really see – Britta or
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When you proposed to me, who did you really see – Britta or Lily?
Rylan, completely oblivious to my distress, looked anxiously in the direction Lily had left.
“Britta, wait here a moment. Lily’s not feeling well. I’ll walk her back to her room. It’s not safe for her to go alone.“I hadn’t even answered before Rylan impatiently rushed after her.
A moment later, I followed in the direction they had just left. Sure enough, on the deck outside the restaurant, I found the two of them embracing.
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09:29 Mon, 3 Feb
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Lily’s beautiful eyes were filled with discontent.
“Didn’t you say you didn’t like her? Why are you celebrating
your anniversary with her, and at my favorite place?”
Rylan’s face was full of affection as his slender fingers smoothed
out her furrowed brow.
“Because it’s your favorite place, so it had to be here.”
“Besides, her parents both died by my hand. Being nice to her is also a way of praying for the baby in your belly.”
“Forget about all that depressing stuff. Don’t be upset, it breaks my heart.”
My ears could no longer hear anything as I stumbled back to my seat, but Rylan’s words kept echoing in my mind.
Depressing stuff?
Was spending the anniversary with me depressing, or was the death of my parents depressing?
“Britta, hasn’t the waiter brought our food yet? I’ll go check on it.”
I grabbed Rylan’s hand, staring directly into his eyes.
“Rylan, I’m only going to ask you this once, and you need to answer me honestly.”
Rylan looked puzzled but nodded solemnly.I spoke, carefully enunciating each word.
“Are you truly happy being with me?”
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Rylan’s face showed a fleeting moment of hesitation.
But before I could fully grasp that instant, his voice had already clearly pierced my ears.
“Yes.”
Looking into his eyes, still filled with the same deep affection, I finally stopped struggling and nodded heavily.
After dinner, Rylan held my hand as we walked to the deck to enjoy the sea breeze.
“Britta, do you remember? It was right here that I proposed to you five years ago. That was the happiest day of my life.”
These words, which usually filled me with joy, now felt like needles pricking my heart.
My chest felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand. Happy?
Rylan, are you truly happy?
But before I could open my mouth, a coquettish voice interrupted me.
“Britta, I’m so envious of you! To be proposed to in such a romantic place – that’s my dream!”
“Rylan really loves you so much, putting in all this effort for
you. Look at Elliot, his brother – when it comes to making girls happy, he’s no match for Rylan.”
“Even at my own wedding… Oh, I’m sorry, Britta. I shouldn’t have
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said that. You don’t mind, do you?”I lift my eyelids to look at Lily
standing before me, not missing the fleeting satisfaction in her
eyes.
To be honest, I’m not very close with Lily. I only know that she grew up as childhood friends with the Sterling brothers, and the three of them have a very good relationship.
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In their junior year of college, the Li family emigrated overseas, while the Sterling family stayed in the country. That’s when they lost touch.
I met Elliot in college. He was a junior and I was a freshman, two years apart, but I fell in love with this upperclassman at first sight during new student orientation.
From the beginning, I knew Elliot had an ex–girlfriend, but they had broken up due to the long–distance relationship.
After we got together, Elliot always assured me that there was no possibility between them anymore, so I never doubted him. Later, as Elliot and I grew more stable in our relationship, I gradually became part of his social circle and also met his brother, Rylan.
But it wasn’t until our wedding day that I found Elliot and Lily in a passionate embrace in the dressing room.
At that moment, I realized that in our four years together, he had never forgotten her for a second
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had never forgotten her for a second.
What I didn’t know was that Lily wasn’t just Elliot’s pure love.In the years that Elliot waited for Lily.
Rylan was also waiting for her to return.
I glanced at Lily, my voice sounding cold even to my own ears. “We’re not close.”
“You should call me sister–in–law.”
