Chapter 6
I woke up early the next morning.
After going downstairs, I noticed an unfamiliar car parked nearby. Though I’d never seen this vehicle before, I had a strange premonition and walked over. Through the half–open window, I saw James.
His eyes were closed as he leaned against the seat, his brows slightly furrowed. His sleep seemed restless, and he looked tired, even somewhat pitiful. Apparently, he had been keeping watch here all night.
Thinking about those thirteen missed calls from last night, I pressed my lips together but ultimately decided not to wake him.
I left the residential complex and managed to contact Link, giving him a call. As soon as the call connected, he immediately greeted me: “Sister–in–law.”
I was taken aback, but didn’t bother correcting his form of address. “How did you know it was me?” I asked.
My question caught him off guard. He cleared his throat awkwardly and after a moment replied, “About six months ago, James used my phone to call you. I saved your number with that nole.”
Chapter
I hadn’t expected this reason. Thinking back to six months ago, I suddenly remembered that incident. Back then, I had been taking an afternoon nap and was still groggy when I received that call. Assuming it was about a delivery I’d ordered a few days earlier, I said a few casual words before hanging up. The person on the other end never spoke, just listened quietly before finally giving a soft “Mm–hmm.”
At that moment, I thought the voice sounded familiar but didn’t dwell on it. Now I realized it had actually been James.
Noticing my silence, Link added, “He wanted to call you two years ago, stared at your number for two years. Even I memorized it, but he never dared to call. Finally, six months ago, I couldn’t stand it anymore and dialed it right in front of his face.”
“Didn’t dare“-it was inconceivable that someone so decisive, who could arrange everything so perfectly, could have such hesitant moments.
I sighed and told him I understood, then asked Link to come over and take James away. If he continued sleeping in the car, someone might take photos and post them online once more people were around.
Link immediately agreed: “Sure, I’ll be there soon.”
I didn’t see James again until several days later.
Chapter 6
After his initial impulse subsided, he calmed down and made some inquiries, quickly discovering that I didn’t have any fiancé at all–the engagement was completely fabricated.
Link called to complain that he’d gotten himself into serious trouble and would likely be busy for most of Christmas–James had assigned him several difficult projects as punishment for spreading false information.
That evening, I found James waiting at my doorstep.
Gone was his previous dejected appearance; he had regained his composed demeanor.
He called my name with his usual earnestness: “Ava.”
My heart tightened slightly.
He stepped forward, looking down at me, and said, “I misunderstood the situation before. I’m sorry.”
I didn’t know what to say and finally looked up at him.
In the dimly lit hallway, his features were still as handsome as ever.
He moved a step closer and, as if having made a difficult decision, said, “You know what? I’ve missed you so much this Christmas.”
I had never heard such words from him before. In that moment, I felt both angry and on the verge of tears.
Chapter 6
If I had heard these words earlier, perhaps our relationship wouldn’t have reached this point.
I would have understood that he wasn’t completely indifferent to me, and I might not have left so resolutely.
Strangely, my heart felt extraordinarily calm now. I even had the presence of mind to wonder about him and Yvonne–what were they to each other?
Would the relationship between those once called the golden couple also end in regret?
As if reading my thoughts, James frowned and said, “She’s been remarried for a long time.”
After a long silence, I finally looked up at James and said, “None of that matters anymore.”
Even without Yvonne, James and I probably wouldn’t have had a happy ending.
As others had said, we belonged to different worlds.
We weren’t compatible. I was his compromise, his second choice.
From the very beginning, it was wrong.
Wait for the wind to come
