City of Longing

The ninth time it happened, George Lambert abandoned Cora Shepard on the highway just because his first love called.

"Cora, something urgent came up. I need to go. You can get out here and take a cab home, right?"

Without waiting for her answer, he shoved an umbrella into her hands. He did not care that it was pouring outside or that she was on her period. His mind was already racing ahead to see Kimberly Hayes.

"Call me when you get home."

The moment Cora saw him enter Kimberly's address into the navigation, her heart clenched painfully.

The sports car roared away. The rain hit her sideways, soaking her dress in seconds. A biting night wind cut across her face. Cora trembled uncontrollably in the cold. She walked alone through the downpour. Her heels rubbed her feet raw, leaving them bloody.

Five hours later, she finally reached Clearwater Bay villa.

Her dress was stained crimson with blood. Clutching her cramping abdomen, she collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

Rain blurred her vision. Through the haze, she saw Kimberly approach with an umbrella, smiling.

"It hurts, doesn't it? Are you regretting that wager you signed with me now? Did you really think that after all these years, George would have even the slightest feelings for you?

"But you forgot something. He loves me most. Whatever small affection he had for you means nothing compared to that."

Cora stood shakily. Her pale face was expressionless.

"Nine times. You won. As you wished, I'll divorce George."

She stumbled forward, walking slowly toward the house. Memories of the past came flooding back with the rain.

Cora and Kimberly had been college roommates. Cora first met George during Kimberly's freshman year birthday party. One look at his cool, refined bearing made her heart race.

That day, Kimberly introduced her childhood friend George to everyone. Then, she publicly announced her new boyfriend, a campus troublemaker notorious for being a slacker.

Cora still remembered the shock, hurt, and loss of composure on George's face. She knew in that instant that he loved Kimberly.

However, Kimberly had always chased thrills. She liked rebellious bad boys who would skip class with her, race cars, and fool around in bathrooms. She had no interest in a proper, upright heir from a wealthy family like George.

She found him too controlling. Eventually, to shake him off completely, Kimberly discovered Cora's feelings and began creating chance encounters and dinner gatherings. She tried every method to push George and Cora together.

Cora witnessed George's entire journey from resistance to humiliation to numbness, and finally to acceptance.

In their junior year, they became a couple, just as Kimberly wanted. Then two years later, George proposed.

After three years of marriage, they treated each other with courtesy. Their days together were calm and warm.

Cora thought they could grow old together like this. Until a month ago, when Kimberly returned from abroad and asked to meet her. She made Cora sign a wager.

"Cora, I regret it. I want to take George back. You two have known each other for nine years, right? So, let's bet on it. If he abandons you nine times for me, you lose. You divorce him and give him back to me."

On some strange impulse, Cora agreed. She wanted to know if Kimberly still held a place in his heart.

Then she watched George rush to Kimberly's side without hesitation, over and over.

The first time was their third wedding anniversary. She knew he was fascinated by astronomy and had picked the perfect spot for an outdoor picnic, planning to watch a meteor shower with him.

Yet he turned back halfway because of a text from Kimberly, leaving Cora alone on the mountain to brave the wind all night.

The second time, she needed surgery for appendicitis. He disappeared for an entire week right before the operation to rescue Kimberly from some thugs who were harassing her.

Cora signed the surgical consent form herself. After the surgery, she endured the pain alone, going to checkups, changing dressings, and eating meals by herself.

The third time was when her grandmother died. He left the funeral to have dinner with Kimberly.

All of Cora's love for him was exhausted through being abandoned again and again. After all these years, not only did Kimberly still occupy his heart, but he had never forgotten her from the very beginning.

This time, she lost completely. She would accept her loss.

After returning home, she took a hot shower and changed into comfortable pajamas. She went to the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea.

After drinking it sip by sip, Cora finally felt like herself again.

She took out the divorce papers she had prepared the day of the wager, signed her name, and pushed them across to Kimberly.

"Take these to him to sign."

Kimberly raised an eyebrow, seeming somewhat surprised. "Why me?"

"I don't want to waste time explaining to him why I want a divorce. Only if it comes from you will he sign it without even looking."

Hearing that, Kimberly looked quite pleased as she accepted the papers. She offered some false comfort. "Don't be too upset. In a few days, I'll introduce you to a handsome guy."

"Sure."

Seeing her agree so readily, surprise flashed in Kimberly's eyes.

"You said yes? You're over George already? Just like that?"

Cora laughed softly, her tone bitter. "I've only ever loved one person with my whole heart in this life, and this is how it ended. I gave him nine chances, and he made me lose everything. If I still can't let go, I'd be pathetic. From now on, I'm only living for myself."

Just as she finished speaking, the door opened.

George, who had just returned, froze when he saw Kimberly. "Kimberly? Didn't I just drop you off at the hospital? How are you here?"

Kimberly did not explain that her sprained ankle had been fake. She simply smiled, picked up the papers, and walked over to him.

"I came to find you. Come on, help me sign this."

George's gaze stayed fixed on her. Without even looking, he signed his name where her finger pointed. After putting down the pen, he thought to ask what it was. Kimberly had intended to tell him directly, but something made her change her mind.

"It's a gift Cora and I prepared together, something really meaningful. You'll find out in a month. Don't worry, you'll definitely be surprised when you see it!"