Chapter 4

I shook my head, trying to push the memories away.

In the fading sunlight, my shadow stretched long across the pavement, leaving me looking smaller and more alone than ever.

I had no family left in this world.

After walking a few more blocks, darkness had completely settled in.

I was just reaching for my phone to call a ride home when I heard a familiar voice nearby, full of laughter and affection.

"Lucia, hold on tight. If you fall, don't blame me!"

I turned around.

Outside a brightly lit bar, I saw Jim carrying Lucia in his arms like a princess, spinning her around like something straight out of a romantic movie.

Lucia had both arms wrapped tightly around his neck. Her dress fluttered around her legs as she laughed happily, looking every bit like a princess.

A crowd had gathered around them, cheering.

"Come on! Three more rounds! Keep going, Jim! And don't forget to come back and raise a glass with your wife afterward!"

"Lucia looks gorgeous! Remember when we used to play house as kids? Jim beat all of us up because he wanted to be the prince. Who would've thought the prince and princess from back then would actually end up together?"

Jim looked completely pleased with himself.

He gently set Lucia down when she started getting dizzy, handling her as carefully as if she were made of glass.

Then someone handed them two glasses.

Jim and Lucia crossed their arms and took a drink together with practiced ease.

The crowd immediately erupted into louder cheers.

"Kiss! Kiss!"

Jim froze.

He did not move.

Lucia smiled and came to his defense.

"Weren't we just told that was the last game? We've been at this wedding celebration for ages. Everyone should probably head home..."

However, in the next second, Jim wrapped an arm around Lucia's waist and lowered his head to kiss her.

His eyes remained open. There was nothing drunken or confused in them. They were clear, gentle, and filled with a deep possessiveness.

Then, just as quickly, he looked away. He slowly released Lucia and covered his head with one hand, pretending to be drunk.

"I want to go home... My head hurts..."

I saw everything: the way Jim cared about Lucia, the careful tenderness he showed her, and the way his expression softened whenever he looked at her. Then I watched as he swayed unsteadily, pulled out his phone, and made a call.

Then my own phone rang.

Several yards away, Jim heard the ringtone.

The moment our eyes met, he straightened up.

...

Everyone looked back and forth between us, clearly confused. One of them asked Jim, "Jim, who's the pretty girl?"

Jim's eyes flickered. He answered vaguely, "She's my housekeeper's daughter. My mom probably sent her to tell me to come home for dinner."

Lucia looked unbearably pleased. Putting on the sweet, dutiful manner of a wife, she deliberately emphasized every word.

"Oh, the housekeeper's daughter. Well, you'd better take good care of the heir."

If this had happened before, I would have cried and demanded to know who Jim really loved.

Now, I just found the whole thing boring.

I did not even bother giving them another glance. I turned around and got into the rideshare I had already called.

When I got home, I realized I had not eaten anything all afternoon. A sharp pain twisted through my stomach, so I made myself a simple bowl of noodles in clear broth.

I had barely taken two bites when I heard the sharp clicking of high heels outside.

The next second, Jim kicked the door open.

When he saw me eating, his brows furrowed. He reached over and yanked the utensils from my hands.

"Rose! Why did you walk away just now? Do you have any idea how embarrassed you made me?"

What surprised me even more was that Lucia had followed him home. She slipped her arm around Jim's and looked genuinely concerned as she spoke softly.

"Jim, Rose is just a girl. Didn't you say you were going to talk to her nicely?"

Then, she turned to me with a smile that barely concealed the satisfaction in her eyes.

"Rose, please don't be angry. Jim has always had a terrible temper. Ever since we were kids, he's only ever been patient with me. Still, you weren't completely right either. Jim was drunk. How could you just leave him there all by himself?"