I hadn’t gone far when I ran straight into Nathaniel. He was carrying an emerald bracelet, smiling so wide he didn’t even notice me.
“Catherine, look at this bracelet. Do you like it? I bought it just for you.”
That one simple sentence made me clench my jaw.
In my past life, I had liked that very same bracelet. But he had refused to buy it, saying it was too expensive. Yet now, he was smiling ear to ear while presenting it to Catherine. “I get employee discounts on it, it’s no big deal.”
One comparison after another pressed down on me like a boulder, and I quickened my steps to leave.
But it seemed he had noticed the marriage agreement in Catherine’s hands. His face froze, and he asked instinctively, “Where did you get that?”
Catherine gave a short laugh, her voice dripping with scorn. “My stupid sister gave it to me.”
He immediately lifted his head in a panic. But I had already turned the corner and disappeared by then.
The next morning, I went to work.
In the past, Nathaniel would walk me to my workplace. As I was always busy, I cherished those moments we spent alone together.
Seeing me arrive alone, one of my colleagues teased, “Where’s that boyfriend of yours today?”
I smiled faintly. “Don’t joke with me, Lucy. He’s not my boyfriend but my brother-in-law. He and my sister are getting married soon, so I won’t trouble him anymore.”
The words had barely left my mouth when I heard Nathaniel’s and Catherine’s voices not far away.
I quickly ducked into a corner and heard him asking in surprise, “Where’s Bella? Why isn’t she here?”
But Catherine just pulled him along carelessly. “Maybe she’s busy. Come on, let’s go get something to eat!”
By the time I came back, the two of them were gone, swallowed by the crowd. What I didn’t expect was that he would circle back. Luckily, I was in the middle of drawing customers to look at goods, and I spotted him immediately.
He raised his voice and called my name, “Bella!”
I didn’t answer.
By the time he pushed his way through, I had already vanished into the sea of people.
