All Chapters of Wishes Exhausted, Love Dispersed: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Someone in the crowd couldn't resist stirring the pot."Wait... isn't that ring about Cecily's size?"Cecily's face immediately flushed. She quickly hid her hands behind her back."Don't be ridiculous."The more flustered she looked, the more suggestive the atmosphere became.Someone else laughed."Cecily, why are you hiding your hands?"Don't tell me it really is your size."Amid the roomful of laughter, I stood frozen as my fingertips slowly turned cold.Cecily hurried over and gently looped her arm through mine."Summer, don't take it the wrong way."I'm sure Donald didn't do it on purpose."Her voice was soft, as though she were sincerely worried about me."He helps me hold my rings and bracelets all the time."He probably just mixed up the sizes."Her eyes were slightly red, but beneath the concern flashed a fleeting look of triumph.So they had already become that close.Close enough that Donald held onto her rings, fastened her bracelets…And remembered the size of her finger be

It wasn't long before Donald came home.He was carrying a small jewelry box, which he carefully held out to me."Summer, buying the wrong ring was my fault."So I bought you a new one."As he spoke, he slipped the ring onto my finger.This time, it fit perfectly.But when I lowered my eyes, I noticed a tiny engraving inside the band.C & R.Donald Cole and Cecily Reynauld.I stared at the letters and let out a mocking smile.Donald followed my gaze, and his expression stiffened for a split second."The salesperson must've given me the wrong one."Don't overthink it."Just then, another receipt slipped out of the box.I picked it up.Same day.Same jewelry store.Donald had purchased two rings.This one cost three times as much as the other.In that instant, I understood.The expensive ring engraved with his and Cecily's initials...Had never been meant for me.Donald paused before gently patting my head in reassurance."When we get married, I'll buy you another one."Another one.Next

Before my flight took off, I glanced at my phone one last time.Donald hadn't sent another message.He probably still thought I was just throwing another tantrum.That all it would take was dinner at my favorite restaurant and an apology to Cecily, and everything would go back to normal.A faint smile crossed my lips.Then I powered off my phone.Outside the window, the plane climbed above the clouds.My palm was still wrapped in gauze.The cut from the broken glass wasn't deep.But it throbbed in steady waves.Suddenly, I remembered when I was eighteen.I cut my finger making that glass picture frame for Cecily.She hugged me and cried."Summer, why are you always so good to me?"If anyone ever hurts you, I'll be the first one to stand up for you."In the end...The person who hurt me the most was her.By the time the plane landed, it was already late at night.I turned my phone back on, and messages flooded in all at once.The first ones were from Donald."Stop being stubborn."I've

During my first week overseas, I was so busy that I barely had time to think about everything I'd left behind.The project moved at a relentless pace.Meetings started at eight every morning and often didn't end until ten at night.Everyone on the team was a stranger.No one knew I'd once had a boyfriend I was only steps away from marrying.No one knew my best friend had stolen the seven-year relationship we'd built together.And that was a good thing.For the first time...I didn't have to explain why I was unhappy.I didn't have to hear people say,"Cecily was only joking.""Donald was just being careless.""You're being too sensitive."That weekend, I went grocery shopping.As I passed a florist, I noticed a bouquet of white lisianthus displayed outside.I stopped walking.They were my favorite flowers.I'd told Donald that countless times.He always said,"Flowers wilt after a couple of days. It's a waste of money."Later, Cecily mentioned that she loved tulips.From then on, Donal

Later, I heard from our mutual friends...After returning home, Cecily completely fell out with Donald.She went to his company to confront him.Crying, she accused him of being responsible for losing her best friend.She demanded that he take responsibility.But in front of the company receptionist, Donald said,"Cecily Reynauld, we were never actually together."I was the one who failed to maintain proper boundaries."That won't happen again."Cecily broke down and threw her bag at him."Never together?"Donald, then why didn't you say that when you held me while we slept?"Why didn't you say that when you bought me a ring?"Why didn't you say that when you pushed Summer away to protect me?"The receptionist and the employees nearby heard everything.All the blurred lines they'd once hidden behind jokes...Were finally exposed by Cecily herself.The news spread quickly through their social circle.Cecily became the punchline of everyone's conversations.The project she had nearly use