Little did they know I had lost my mother forever because of him. If I had a choice, I would rather never have met Julian Winthorpe.
Leaving the company, I saw Julian with his childhood friend, Olivia Reed. Catching my gaze, Julian instinctively began to explain, “.
This is Olivia Reed, she’s my…”
Before he could finish, Olivia wrapped her arm around his. “Fiancée.”
I said nothing. Then, Olivia spoke again: “Excuse me, please move aside.” A flicker of challenge danced in Olivia’s eyes. I silently took a step back, clearing the path. Julian looked at me, hesitation in his eyes, as if wanting to say something, but Olivia pulled him
away.
That night, I went to the monastery and enshrined my mother’s ashes in the temple. I stayed until the prayers for her passing were completed. Julian did not appear, nor did he ask for me. I didn’t care. Whether he knew of my mother’s death was irrelevant now. I believed that if my mother’s spirit in heaven knew the truth, she wouldn’t want to see him either. Five years of misjudgment ended
right then.
Ireturned home at dawn. Julian hadn’t come back, but I didn’t care. As I packed my luggage, the news broadcast on the television was about the CEO of Winthorpe Corporation attending a gala with his fiancée, Olivia Reed. I watched the perfectly matched pair, feeling little emotion.
With my bags packed, I was about to leave. The sound of the door opening, and Julian appeared. The moment he saw me, Julian
rushed over, seizing my hand. “Where were you last night? Why didn’t you answer my calls?”
I froze, then pulled my hand free from Julian’s grasp. “Last night, I was with my mother. I didn’t want to disturb her rest, so I turned
off my phone.”
When I mentioned my mother, Julian seemed to remember what he had said the day before, and a hint of guilt crossed his face. “I‘ Il arrange for the best doctors to care for your aunt.” He then pulled out a small box and pressed it into my hand. “This is what I
promised to give your aunt.”
I instinctively opened it; inside was a bracelet. It was the genuine counterpart to the cherished bracelet my mother had carefully kept. I froze. Julian had once held my mother’s hand, swearing earnestly and solemnly that one day he would give her a priceless original. My mother’s eyes had held a smile then; she didn’t care if the bracelet was real or not. As long as it was from Julian, from
the good son–in–law she recognized, she would be happy.
Bu! I thought, that was then. I closed the box and handed it back. “If you get a chance, you can give it to her yourself.”
Julian frowned slightly. Each time, I made the choice he most expected, yet my politeness now seemed unfamiliar to him. A hint of unease flickered in his heart. He grasped my hand, clenching it slightly. “Your aunt’s health…”
Just then, Olivia Reed appeared, wrapping her arm around Julian’s. “Julian, darling, I want to stay in this room!” She pointed to my
room.
“This room is occupied,” Julian said, then immediately explained to me, “She’s a friend, and she’s staying here temporarily for work.” He then stared at me intently, seemingly expecting me to refuse. But I nodded, agreeing without hesitation: “You can have the
room. I’m going to stay with my mother.”
Julian paused for a moment, and Olivia, not giving me a chance to change my mind, immediately rushed into the room.
