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"Dealing with clients is sooo exhausting,Sophie.Don't wait up for me next time.Rest.I don't want you overworking yourself."
Not being able to sleep even one bit,I opened Emily's social media while he slept.I knew her too well—she just loved to flaunt.Anything new,she'd post instantly.
Sure enough,she had posted a video where was holding 99 roses,kissing Daniel with William and Laura's applauding,wearing a ring he had bought her.
Though I'd long suspected,the video felt like a dagger that stabbed through my heart,c ausing immense pain.
Every each one of her post was about Daniel.One Valentine’s Day which was not so long ago, she was with Daniel too, apparently enjoying a lovey-dovey-date.
That day,my shop was swamped.I didn't eat and was too busy to think of dates.I just hoped Daniel could help me.
He answered came late and rushed:"Sophie,I'm in a meeting with an important client and I can’t walk away,can't make a date,I'll make it up to you,promise."
One sentence,then he hung up.
I had starved all day,stomach aching,but didn't tell him.I didn't want to be a burden to him when he was already busy.
I was just fooling myself.He never cared.
I held it in all night.The next day,I couldn't anymore.
My throat burned."How long has it been?"
Daniel looked baffled."How long what?"
He was still playing dumb.Tears fell as I said,"I know everything about you and Emily."
He went silent,I felt the air went thick with his panicked heartbeat.
Finally,he spoke:"I'm sorry."
My emotions erupted."Forgot what you swore to Mom?You promised to cherish me forever,to never leave me alone.
Can you face her photo now and repeat those vows?"
He sounded weary."Sophie,those promises were real then,but that was the past.Reality's harsh.
I'm tired of this mediocre life.Your mom's illness drained all our energy,and our money.
You,of all people,know how painful poverty is.
I realized only later—it’s only human nature that people want to clikmb higher.Don't blame me."
I never imagined Daniel would say this.
In high school,I felt inferior,unworthy of him.
Daniel was handsome,sunny,with plenty of girls wanting to date to him.
They were all richer,prettier than me.
I had told him,"You're so great,you deserve someone great.People climb higher.I'm afraid I'll hold you back."
And everytime I said that he would pat on my head,annoyed."Don't say that again,or I'll get mad.You can’t just “give me away” to other girls,people follow their hearts."
I laughed bitterly—I had predicted this.
Ten years of love, all a mirage.
I couldn’t accept this fact.I even begged so humbly for him to stay.With no family left,I'd seen him as the one person closest to me after Mom died.
I regretted not turning a blind eye—would my beloved boy have stayed that way?
Reality slapped me hard in the face.
Daniel packed eagerly."I've been looking for the right moment to tell you.Since you know,let's part ways amicably without making things ugly.I'm sorry.I'll make it up to you."
He pulled out a bank card."Here's$10,0000 as compensation for you.From now on,we're even."
Even?He gave me$9.99 flowers but tossed me$10,0000 now?The Stones must've offered more.
Daniel left coldly.
That was the last straw.
