Chapter 3
After disappointment upon disappointment, I had become numb.
Leo Sterling took the incense from my hand and performed the necessary rituals amidst the swirling smoke,
I cast the fortune sticks, one face up and one face down–a sacred cup, an auspicious sign.
“Do you know what question I asked?”
Leo Sterling knelt on the prayer mat, his spine straight as a pine, eyes cold as stars.
“I don’t want to argue with you right now.”
His cold treatment had chilled my heart many times before.
But this time, I didn’t become hysterical with him.
“Let’s break up.”
My gaze lifted, my voice steadier: “The divine says it’s okay.”
Leo Sterling’s back suddenly stiffened.
His expression turned to complete bewilderment: “What did you say?”
I didn’t look at him, repeating word for word.
“Let’s break up.”
Leo Sterling frowned, his handsome eyes staring at me unblinkingly.
After a while, he let out a derisive laugh, impatience spreading across his face.
“Do you have to make a scene in front of Grandma? Have you forgotten what you promised her?”
I looked back at him, devoid of any emotion.
Although I was grateful to Grandma for taking me in for three years, and I had promised to take care of Leo Sterling
before she passed away.
But I hadn’t signed my life away. This wasn’t a reason for Leo Sterling to hurt me recklessly.
“Did you understand the fortune sticks on the ground? The divine says it’s okay, and Grandma has no objections.”
Leo Sterling clenched his jaw, rising silently to clear the altar.
I used to cherish this relationship deeply. In the past, no matter how embarrassed or angry I felt, I had never mentioned
breaking up.
Leo Sterling knew I was serious this time.
But I couldn’t understand why his face was so gloomy now.
He could be with his junior now without any burden.
Shouldn’t he be happy?
After Leo Sterling finished cleaning up, he came to stand in front of me.
Looking down at me from above.
His voice sounded as if something was pressing on it, hoarse and obscure.
“The ring I gave you on Valentine’s Day, where is it?”
‘I was stunned for a moment, not expecting that he, who had never been petty with me before, would now want to verify
my character upon breaking up.
But before I could answer,
Leo Sterling’s next words made me wonder if he had a fever.
“Find the ring, and let’s go get our marriage license.”
A sense of absurdity suddenly welled up inside me.
Admittedly, I had fantasized about many scenarios where Leo Sterling would propose to me, my heart full of anticipation.
But never like this.
What was this supposed to be?
Charity? Compensation?
The pitiful thing was, that tiny flame in my heart that was supposed to die out completely, upon hearing his words…
It showed signs of rekindling from the ashes.
I went into the bedroom and accidentally dropped the ring when opening the box. It rolled under the bed.
E
As I reached under to retrieve it, I unexpectedly pulled out Leo’s psychological counseling medical record.
I opened it without hesitation.
The contents within extinguished that small flame that had just begun to rekindle.
He had told the doctor he was tired of me, that someone else brought him joy.
I stared at it for a long time.
Leo’s phone rang outside.
I could faintly hear him agreeing to pick up Junior, whose phone was about to die.
His impatient voice came from the doorway: “Have you found the ring yet?”
“You’ve been nagging me to get married every day, and now you’re dragging your feet. Do you still want to get married or not?!”
Leo stood by the door, constantly checking his watch.
I smoothed out the wrinkles on the medical record that I had crumpled from gripping too tightly.
“I don’t want to get married anymore.”
The Secret of My Stepbrother
Sherry
For the past 18 years, Eva never met a man like this, he was her stepbrother, but every time she saw him, she could feel that her heart was beating like it was about to crazy. He was so popular at school, every girl like him, but he seemed to have a secret… Eva was so curious about this, he went out of the house late at night and dated another wo…..