Chapter 8
The day of the exchange conference, River’s entrance had countless female faculty and students screaming.
When it was Serena’s turn, the male faculty and students went wild.
People in the audience were openly discussing them.
“That American specialist is so hot! With all that experience, I thought he’d be some old guy, but he’s so young.”
“The girl next to him is gorgeous too. Wonder if they’re dating.”
They suddenly turned to me. “Willa, you’ve had the most contact with them. Do you know what their relationship is?”
“No clue. If you want to know, ask them yourself!”
After the conference, someone actually did ask.
They didn’t dare approach the cold–faced River, so they went to the warm, friendly Serena.
I clearly heard Serena’s enthusiastic yet slightly shy response: “Dr. Kingsley and I are boyfriend and girlfriend. We’ve been together for many years.”
After the crowd dispersed, she walked up to me.
“Willa, did you hear what I said?”
“Yeah, I heard.”
She apologized. “Sorry about that. I just wanted to avoid unnecessary complications.”
“Of course. You don’t need to apologize to me or explain anything.
River walked over.
Serena shrugged. “River, I.think I made your little girlfriend mad again.”
River asked me, “Are you mad?”
“Nope.”
Getting that answer didn’t make him happy–instead, he stared straight at me. “Why not?”
I pointed to the actor I’d hired in advance. “Because I have a boyfriend now! Why would I get mad about some other guy’s business?”
River’s face went dark instantly. “Say that again. Who is he?”
I walked over and linked arms with the cute foreign guy. “I could say it ten thousand times–same answer.”
River was furious. “Willa, you’ve got balls. Don’t regret this!”
River and Serena left that very night.
I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
But why did I feel so empty inside?
Whenever I had free time, I couldn’t help thinking about River, about our past.
Turns out completely cutting the person you once loved most out of your life is really hard.
Just thinking about him made my chest feel tight.
So I packed my schedule completely full every day.
I wanted to exhaust myself enough to fall asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.
But ever since the conference, news about River and Serena kept reaching my ears.
“Did you see Dr. Vale’s post? She and Dr. Kingsley are so happy together–they even work together.”
“Right! They’re perfect for each other!”
“Wow, Dr. Vale updated her relationship diary again. She says she overheard Dr. Kingsley planning a huge birthday surprise for her.”
“Wow! Dr. Kingsley is so smooth! He literally wrapped himself up as a gift for his girlfriend.”
I clutched my phone, heart pounding.
Turn’s out saying you don’t care and actually seeing him with someone else are two completely different things.
It hurt so much I could barely breathe.
A photo Serena posted of River’s silhouette in the bathroom made my heart race so hard I kept dry–heaving.
River, you finally ended up with the person you like.
You must be so happy?
But sorry–I can’t bring myself to wish you well.
