“Get back together? What about your current girlfriend?”
A flicker of joy crossed his face. “I was just playing around with her. I wasn’t thinking straight. You’re the one I love.”
Disgusting.
What did he take me for? What did he think our years together meant? Was I a dog he could summon and dismiss at will?
I yanked my hand back. “Let go of me! Adam-
Before I could finish, a disheveled figure stumbled out of the darkness, collapsing on the ground with a hysterical cry. “Adam!”
It was Chloe. Her makeup was smeared, her clothes looked like they’d been torn, and her legs were wet. Seeing Adam emerge from the shadows, her eyes lit up, and then tears started streaming down her face. “Adam, take me to the hospital, quick! Your
mom, she…”
Halfway through, she saw me. A venomous hatred flared in her eyes.
“Jenna! Are you happy now? You told Adam’s mother all those horrible things about me, she hates me, she’s been making my life living hell.”
“And now I’m having a miscarriage! Are you satisfied?!”
Adam spun around, his hands clamping down on my shoulders. “Why?”
“When did you learn to play these vile, manipulative games?”
“It has nothing to do with me! Adam, let go!”
His eyes were dark and menacing. He raised his hand.
Just as it was about to fall, my dog, Lucky, finally seemed to realize this wasn’t the same man he knew. He was trying to hurt me.
“Woof! Woof woolf
The barking seemed to snap Adam out of it. Lucky pressed against my leg, ready to lunge If Adam made another move.
Adam gave me one last, deep look, then turned, swept Chloe into his arms, and left.
As I got closer to my house, I ran into Adam’s mother. She looked exhausted and gave me a bitter smile.
“Adam’s new g
girlfriend… she’s a handful. Not an easy one…”
I had no interest in her complaints. I closed my gate. I still had studying to do.
A few weeks later, my mother tearfully saw me off at the airport. The future was mine. I could do anything I wanted. I didn’t have to worry about someone’s “traditional” family, his three meals a day, his social life. I could fly all over the world for art exhibitions and concerts without worrying about my reputation as someone’s fiancée who was never home.
Chaster?
To do what you want, , and not do what you don’t–I had forgotten how joyful that could be.
“Click!”
0123)
I looked up. A tall man with deep–set eyes and brown hair was holding a camera. Seeing me turn, a handsome smile bloomed on
his face. “Forgive me,” he said in English, “but you are so beautiful, my camera couldn’t help itself.”
“I hope I didn’t offend you.” He walked over, scratching his head sheepishly. “May I buy you a coffee?
Perhaps it was his charming smile, but I didn’t refuse.
As we talked, I discovered he was a fascinating Italian man named Vittorio. He also loved to travel the world, chasing beautiful
moments with his camera. I don’t remember who asked first, but we ended up traveling together for a while.
We went to concerts, marveled at world wonders, visited art galleries. And then, I invited him to my own solo recital.
At the end of our journey, he got down on one knee with a ring in his hand,
Everyone said I was being impulsive, that Italian men look at dogs with the same soulful expression. For a moment, I wondered if they were right.
But now, my daughter is over a year old.
The memories faded.
I picked up my phone and did what I should have done a long time ago. I blocked Adam’s number.
But that afternoon, as I was pushing my daughter in her stroller for a walk, I saw a familiar face.
He had dark circles under his eyes and looked haggard.
“Jenna?” Adam’s voice trembled when he saw me. “Is this… your child?”
His eyes were filled with a complex emotion I couldn’t read. They were red–rimmed. “Did you have to do this?”
you hate me, you can’t just go and find some random guy
“Even if you
I understood immediately and let out a cold laugh. “The kind of man I find is none of your concern.”
He stepped in front of me, his gaze stubborn.
“Jenna, I know I hurt you. But you went and got married without a word. We both made mistakes. Let’s just put the past behind us.”
“Let’s get back together. Your child… I’ll treat her as my own.
I instinctively pulled my daughter from her stroller and into my arms, taking a moment to process the sheer audacity of his words.
“It has nothing to do with you,” I repeated.
His pupils constricted. He lunged forward and grabbed my wrist, completely disregarding the small child in my arms. “How can it
have nothing to do with me?”
“ijt weren’t for me, would you have gotten married in such a rush?”
“What kind of good man can you find in such a hurry? Jenna, you’ve always been headstrong. Running off to another country was one thing, but you can’t be so reckless just because you’re angry…”
A tall figure suddenly stepped between us. He forcefully pried Adam’s hand off my wrist and gently steadied my daughter in my
arms.
The charming smile that was usually on Vittorio’s face was replaced by a sheet of ice.
*Sir, harassing a lady is not the act of a gentleman. If you are a man, you should take up any issue you h
wife.”
Adam looked up at him sharply. Vittorio met his gaze without flinching.
have with me first, not my
“Do you have any idea who she is? She’s my fiancée. We were just having a small fight. We’ll get back together eventually.”
