chapter 2

Eloise’s pov

Julian was my senior, two years ahead of me. I fell in love at first sight with him when I caught a glimpse of him during freshman registration.

When I first met him, he was wearing a white shirt and black casual trousers. He was tall, slender and upright, like a poplar tree. He walked from under the lush camphor trees planted along the campus path, the bright and dappled sunlight falling on him. He waved to me from afar, smiling with bright eyes and white teeth.

It was hard not to be tempted.

After we got together, I found out that he was from the business school and I was from the foreign language school. On the day of the orientation, he mistook me for a freshman from the business school and helped me carry my luggage to my dormitory.

He said that when he dropped me off at my dorm, he realized I wasn't a junior in his department, but because he fell in love with me at first sight, he gritted his teeth and went along with it.

He said that the moment he saw me, he had a feeling that if he missed me, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

When he was pursuing me, he was very proactive and romantic.

In the dead of winter, I usually lingered in bed. To ensure I could eat a hot mushroom and vegetable bun from the cafeteria. He had gone out early in the morning to queue up, bought some, and kept them tucked inside his coat to warm me up. 

He stood waiting for me as I slowly came downstairs from the girls' dormitory. When I finally ate them, the buns were still warm.

When we went hiking or sightseeing, he tirelessly carried a bag of snacks and fruit, a pot of cold water, and a pot of hot water, saying that no matter what I wanted to drink, hot or cold, he would bring it to me immediately. 

I was a pampered little princess, and all he could give me was gentle companionship and tender care throughout the long years.

After we got together, he remained as considerate and attentive to me as ever, always doing what I wanted.

Julian was born in a remote rural area. His father died early, and he had three older sisters who were all married with children. His mother raised him alone when he was young, and the family was very poor.

I was reminded of a quote: People who grow up in hardship often develop abnormal deviations due to psychological shadows.

Some people grow up bitter, distrustful, and greedy, while those who face hardships with wisdom often become kind, generous, and understanding of life’s ups and downs.

At that time, I thought Julian was the latter, and I was proud of him.

The summer, he was a second-year graduate student, he wore a heavy mascot costume and handed out flyers in the square to buy me a necklace as a birthday present. When I brought him lunch, he was soaked in sweat, but he still told me that he wasn't hot at all.

 "Lo, although I'm not well-off and can't afford expensive gifts, believe me, I will work hard in the future to give you a better life." He said.

He proposed to me, promising to stay with me forever.

That day, I took him home for dinner and told my parents that we were getting married, hoping to receive their blessings.

That was the first time he met my parents.

At the dinner table, Julian seemed a little uneasy. The usually confident and spirited student council president showed nervousness for the first time.

He quietly pulled me onto the balcony and asked me rather reservedly, "Lo, why didn't you tell me that your father is the dean of our business school?"

"If I told you my dad is your hospital director, would you still pursue me?" I teased as I hugged him.

He said with a serious face. "Go for it! Of course I'll go for it! I like you, not because your dad is the dean!"

I nestled happily in his arms. "That's settled then. Anyway, we're together, so it doesn't matter who my dad is."

Later, after he returned home, my father called me into his study for a heart-to-heart talk.

He advised me to seriously consider marrying Julian, saying that our families were not a good match and that marriage was not a trivial matter that required careful consideration.

I thought my dad looked down on Julian’s background and family conditions.

My dad shook his head. "Eloise, marriage can't be decided on a whim. Do you really know the man you're going to spend the rest of your life with?"

My parents advised me not to impulsively get married to Julian. At that time, I had just been accepted into a graduate program and was worried about the heavy workload after starting graduate school, so I told him that we would get married after I graduated from graduate school.

He was so clever. He knew my parents probably wouldn't approve of the marriage, so he hugged me and said, "Okay, Lo, I also need some time to prove to your parents that I'm worthy of your entrusting your life to me."

But the following summer, my parents were in a car accident and passed away before they could see me one last time.

During that time, I was depressed all the time and cried constantly.

Julian had stayed by my side every day, holding me and comforting me again and again.Three months later, Julian and I got our marriage certificate.

Because we were still in mourning, we did not hold a wedding ceremony; we only knelt and paid our respects at our parents' graves. He had knelt before my parents' graves and kneeled, promising to take care of me for the rest of my life.

However, ridiculous vows of eternal love can never withstand the test of time.

He cheated on me in the second year of our marriage.

It happened during my pregnancy.