chapter 1
Suddenly, I felt exhausted.
Looking at Oliver, my twenty-two years of life flashed before my eyes, like a movie reel.
It finally froze on the image of Oliver's mother lying in her hospital bed.
Once a stunning woman,she had been reduced to a shell by illness. Her deformed fingers gripped my wrist tightly as she rasped, "Linda, promise me..stay with Oliver...don't let him go down the wrong path."
"Alright." But barely had the word left my lips when Oliver kicked over the small table, cursing, "Damn it, still trying to put a shackle on me for life," he spat, before storming out in rage. Less than half an hour later, Oliver's mother's heart stopped. Her eyes remained fixed on the door, filled with longing. But even when the doctor pronounced the resuscitation had failed, she passed away without seeing him one last time.
At her funeral, Oliver curled up like a lost child, crying so hard his eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse. I felt a pang of pity and knelt beside him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. Oliver collapsed into my embrace, muttering, " I have no home anymore, Linda."
I cried too.
Because I didn't have a home either. That was the most peaceful time between Oliver and me.
He must have realized that in the vast Smith family, there was only me left, someone who shared his pain, someone he could rely on. So, he became desperate to hold onto me through some kind of ritual.
"Linda, let's build a home together."
He proposed, and I agreed.
But the engagement party was delayed over and over for various reasons.
He slowly emerged from his grief, turning back into the Oliver I knew-the Oliver who despised me, even hated me.
He used every method to torment me, to make me suffer.
I think Oliver acted so recklessly because he knew me too well.
The Smith family had given me a second chance at life. I would never lie to his mother, and I always kept my promises.
So, no matter how cruel he was to me, I would never leave.
I was lost in my thoughts when Oliver coldly interrupted, "How long are you going to stand there in a daze? Just looking at your face makes me sick."
I snapped back to reality and quietly said, "Oliver, this is the fifty-first time."
My irrelevant response stunned him for a moment. Then, in frustration, he kicked the table, "Speak in a language I understand!"
I took off the plain silver ring from my middle finger and placed it on the table, feeling as though I had finally laid down a thousand-pound burden.
Oliver's expression shifted. He suddenly shoved the woman beside him away and strode towards me, grabbing my wrist with gritted teeth.
"Linda, what are you doing?"
He was tall, and I had to tilt my head to look up at him, tracing his features with my eyes.
No matter how calm l appeared at this moment, I couldn't deceive my heart.
This was the man I had held in my heart for so many years.
While I had gradually fallen for him,I had also painstakingly torn him out of my life, piece by piece.
Perhaps noticing the lingering affection in my eyes, Oliver regained his confidence.
He grabbed the ring and tossed it with ease, the small glint of silver landing perfectly in the trash can as he sneered, "Getting bold, huh, Linda?Now you can get lost."
I looked away and calmly nodded.
"Alright."
I turned swiftly. Just as I closed the door behind me, I heard a loud bang-probably Oliver punching the wall Through the slight c***k in the door, I could hear his friends trying to soothe him.
"What are you so mad about? Bet you anything once we leave, she'll dig through the trash to find that ring. "Exactly, everyone knows Linda loves you to death. You think she's really going to walk away?"
Oliver's response was a cold laugh.
"Hah, I'd love it if she left. She's dull and lifeless-like something dug up from the past."
"Pfft-" Mia giggled seductively."Oliver, you're so wicked."
The sound of their friends cheering followed. They were probably back in each other's arms again. I fixed my hair and, this time, I truly turned and walked away.
