Chapter 4
“I need to ask you something.”
I looked up and asked, “What is it?”
He stared at me intently, though his grip loosened as if afraid of hurting me. “What you said that day… it wasn’t true, was it?”
I was momentarily confused before realizing he was referring to when I said I was “tired of him.”
“What if it was? We’re already divorced.”
With that, I broke free from his grasp and walked away.
I later found out that they were hosting a welcome–back party for Yvonne that day.
But after seeing me, James’s enthusiasm noticeably waned, and after sitting for just a short while, he made an excuse and left.
Days passed one after another. To my surprise, neither James nor I saw spaghetti again for a long time after that.
At the end of that year, I received an opportunity to study abroad. On my second day overseas, I lost my phone and wallet while walking down the street. I had no choice but to get a new
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phone number and reapply for a WhatsApp account.
At five in the morning that day, I suddenly woke up from my sleep. Opening my phone, I saw a photo of Yvonne leaving the Thompson Group. Internet users had already uncovered her relationship with James and found videos and photos of Yvonne winning dance competitions abroad during these years. Everyone was discussing this couple who had found their way back to each other.
I noticed someone mentioning me in the comments: [I heard this Thompson family member was married before, is that true?]
Someone quickly replied: [I have a friend in their circle who said they’re already divorced. There wasn’t much feeling between them, so the divorce was straightforward.]
Looking at these comments, my fingers paused. I suddenly remembered those three years I spent with James–no one had ever sincerely wished us well, nor did anyone believe we would last.
A few days later, I received a call from a friend.
She told me, “James has been frantically looking for you these past couple of days, saying he couldn’t reach you. Didn’t he know you were leaving?”
After thinking for a moment, I asked, “Did he say why he was looking for me?”
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My friend sighed and said, “I don’t know, he didn’t say.”
In truth, if he really wanted to know my new number, it wouldn’t have been difficult. However, I never received a call from him after that.
When the first snow fell that winter, I stood by the window looking down and thought I glimpsed a familiar figure. But when I looked more carefully, there was nothing there.
Since coming here, I haven’t kept in touch with many people, and when chatting, I never mention James. Occasionally I wonder if he’s married by now, to someone he truly loves.
3/6
Two Christmases had passed in the blink of an eye.
When I returned to China, my best friend happened to be getting engaged.
She called and asked me to accompany her to try on wedding dresses.
I went, but never expected to run into James.
Across the street, he stood by his car looking down at his phone, not noticing me.
After two Christmases, he seemed to have grown more stern and reserved, his entire demeanor settling into something more composed, making him appear rather unapproachable.
Jo to
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I looked away and followed my friend into the store.
She tried on several dresses before finally selecting two.
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As we were about to leave, she suddenly remembered something and refused to go, encouraging me to try one on as well.
When I came out after trying it on, she examined me for a long while before saying, “Ava, have you ever thought about getting married? You’re still Christmas–young and so beautiful–you could marry anyone you wanted.”
I smiled and replied, “I haven’t really thought about it yet.”
My friend sighed and said, “Why don’t I introduce you to some guys? I have several good candidates in mind. We could arrange for
you to meet them when you have time.”
As I was patiently listening to my friend’s suggestions, we were suddenly interrupted by another voice calling out, “Sister–in–law!”
I turned to see Link Thompson.
He was James’s cousin who had always been respectful toward me, and one of the few who never mentioned Yvonne in my presence.
He looked me up and down before saying, “Sorry, force of habit, Ava. When did you get back? Are you getting engaged or married? How come there’s been no news about something this
Chapter 4
big and important?”
f awes
5/6
Just as I was about to explain, a store employee interrupted our conversation, saying to Link, “Sir, Mr. Thompson is waiting for you outside. He says to hurry up.”
I glanced outside and saw a figure with his back to us, shirt sleeves slightly rolled up, idly twirling his car keys.
The cousins had always been close, and he must have come with Link.
He apparently didn’t want to enter such a place, not even glancing inside.
Link suddenly became flustered, looking at me nervously before saying, “I have to go. Let’s catch up later.”
Before I could respond, he hurriedly left with the woman who had been quietly standing beside him all along. However, I didn’t expect to come face–to–face with James so soon.
I was invited to a business summit, seated toward the back. After listening for a while, I noticed someone in the front row slowly rising and walking toward the stage. The man wore an immaculate suit and casually glanced at the audience below. He spoke at an unhurried pace, as if nothing could disturb his
composure.
After his presentation, the young woman beside me whispered, “He’s so handsome. I heard he’s still single, without any woman in his life.”
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I was somewhat surprised–he was still single? Just as this thought. crossed my mind, I looked up to see James’s gaze suddenly freeze, losing that calm and indifferent expression he had maintained.
As the summit ended, I headed toward the exit but spotted James at the doorway. His eyes fixed directly on me, not avoiding contact at all. With too many people around, I instinctively changed direction, planning to leave through another exit, when I received a call from my friend.
She asked, “Are you free tomorrow? Come see the venue I’ve chosen.”
I replied with a smile, “For your engagement? Sure, I’m available.”
After hanging up, I looked up again to see James watching me from a distance, his gaze intensely cold. He stared at me, the corner of his mouth slightly curving upward, and after a long moment, he left without saying a word.