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His phone rang and he patted my shoulder apologetically. “Zoey, there’s an urgent
matter at the company. I have to go back!”
Just like that, Keith left me alone at the birthday party. I wasn’t a naive girl anymore–I could clearly sense the mockery, schadenfreude and pity in the eyes of others.
When I returned to Keith’s house feeling disheartened, his parents were still awake. As soon as Camilla saw me, she let out a cold scoff. “Six years and you’re still such a useless thing. My poor son.”
“Enough! Don’t say any more,” Charles said as he pulled her away, but I could still hear the disdain in her voice.
I shut the door to my room and gently traced the edges of my parents‘ photo. Perhaps it was the cool night breeze, but tears began to fall. “Mom, Dad, I don’t want
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anything. I just … I just want a home, I whispered.”
I sat on the floor the entire night, waiting. Unfortunately, Keith didn’t come back. Instead, I woke up to see the paparazzi’s photo of Keith kissing a woman.
When he returned in the morning, his explanation was casual. “A kiss? Zoey, you believe such things? I was merely helping a woman who had fallen.”
His excuse was weak, but I forced myself to believe it. After all, Keith had been kind to me for six years. He wouldn’t betray me, would he?
Looking back now, the fact that he didn’t love me was so obvious, yet I had never
seen it.
I ran out of the restaurant and wandered through the pouring rain for what felt like forever. The cold raindrops on my skin couldn’t compare to the chill in my heart.
So, all these years–was I the one who
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mistook gratitude for love? Was it all just my wishful thinking?
There were so many ways to repay a debt of gratitude. Why did Keith have to get engaged to me, needlessly causing me to lose myself for six years?
I returned to Keith’s house soaking wet, ignoring Camilla’s usual sneers. After so many years, I had grown used to their disapproval. They never liked me. believing I wasn’t good enough for Keith, but Elizabeth had always shown me kindness. With Keith’s protection. I
foolishly believed I could one day win them
over.
Now, I realized how ridiculous that was. How could Keith’s parents not know his true feelings?
In a daze, I dreamt of my parents. They waved at me, telling me to take care of myself and to take care of Keith. I
screamed back at them, “No! I don’t want to
be with Keith anymore. I want to leave!”
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When I opened my eyes again, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled my nose. It took
me a few seconds to realize I was in a
hospital.
Turning my head, I saw Keith leaning against my bed, holding my hand as he slept. He looked so handsome–his high nose bridge, thin lips and delicate features exuded a cold, distant charm. Even in his dreams, the grip on my hand didn’t lessen.
If this had been before, my heart would’ve melted at his tenderness, but now, all I felt
was bitterness.
I tried to pull my hand away and the movement woke him up. His voice, still heavy with sleep, carried a trace of weariness. “Zoey, you ran off again, didn’t you? What now? Is this because I didn’t take you with me last night? You know those business gatherings are dull. You
wouldn’t even understand the
conversations. Why not just go shopping with your friends instead?”
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He had claimed the night before that he was going out for work, but it was obvious he’d been drinking with his friends. He didn’t want me to know what they
discussed. His lies were paper–thin, so easy to tear apart, but what was the point of confronting him?
I obediently nodded, keeping my gaze fixed on the window. “It won’t happen again.”
Keith, I won’t chase after you anymore.
The gentle sunlight lit up his handsome face, devoid of any real emotion. It seemed as if, as long as I was obedient, he could continue to “love” me like this forever.
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