Chapter 43: New Neighbors
1643 Words
Time passed quickly. Before Adrian knew it, he had been discharged from the hospital. On the day of his discharge, he threw himself completely into work, day and night, perhaps so he wouldn't have to think about Willow.
But only Adrian knew that late at night, on the way home from the company, he would inexplicably drive to the building where Willow lived, staring blankly at her dark living room window for ages.
As for Willow, she seemed to be slowly accepting the days without Adrian. Occasionally she would take walks in the park, watching the crowds come and go, finding inspiration to complete her paintings. Speaking of which, her paintings were selling quite well. Besides purchases from Sophie and Lucas as friendly support, Lucas's clients had also ordered several pieces. Willow was gradually gaining a sense of accomplishment.
But before falling asleep at night, she would occasionally see Adrian's face flash before her closed eyes. Sometimes she would wonder what Adrian was doing alone. However, Willow would quickly pull herself together. All in all, life wasn't as difficult as Willow had imagined it would be. After all, the earth wouldn't stop spinning just because someone was gone.
Life went on.
These past two days, the house next door to Willow's finally got rented out. After half a month of renovation, the hammering and banging had finally stopped, and furniture was starting to move in.
Once again, she failed to squeeze into the elevator. Sighing at the fully loaded elevator car, Willow thought, it's only the fifth floor anyway—why not treat it as exercise and just walk up?
So Willow grabbed a bag of fruit and slowly made her way upstairs. Ever since reaching five months of pregnancy, Willow had noticeably become less agile than before. Sometimes her legs would cramp at night, not to mention running to the bathroom countless times. Other than that, the morning sickness had completely disappeared. It's just that Willow simply couldn't eat much.
With her mind completely blank, Willow had already walked up to the fifth floor, somewhat breathless. She rested by the railing for a moment before continuing home.
"Excuse me, watch out!" A person carrying a tall stack of boxes that blocked his face walked straight toward Willow.
Wait—why did that voice sound so familiar?
Willow circled around the person and finally saw his face.
"Lucas?!!" Willow shrieked.
Lucas stumbled back in shock.
"Oh, Willow, what a coincidence." Lucas struggled to greet her while balancing the boxes.
"What are you doing here?" Willow looked at Lucas in disbelief, then glanced at the workers continuously moving furniture in and out around them.
"Well, didn't I tell you on the phone that I would be busy moving recently? Remember?" Lucas said as he set the boxes down inside.
Willow remembered now. Before this, she had called Lucas to discuss her paintings. He seemed to have mentioned something about moving soon.
So... he moved in right next to her?
The movers efficiently deposited Lucas's belongings and left quickly. Lucas finally had a chance to catch his breath.
"Did I forget to tell you? I moved in right next door to you." Lucas scratched his head, looking apologetic.
Actually, he had been afraid to tell her, afraid that Willow would refuse.
But ever since learning that Willow was officially divorced, Lucas had decided to formally pursue Willow!
Willow nodded, giving an awkward smile. Could one really forget that?
"Let me get settled first, and I'll come find you later." Lucas retreated into his place like he was escaping.
Closing the door, Lucas exhaled. Fortunately, Willow's reaction hadn't been outright rejection.
Willow, on the other hand, clearly hadn't processed what was happening.
Back in her own home, she stupidly set down the fruit, still trying to understand what was going on.
That evening, Lucas knocked on Willow's door.
"I've finished unpacking. Would you like to have dinner with me?" Lucas asked.
Willow nodded. It just so happened she hadn't eaten yet, and she wanted to properly ask Lucas what this was all about.
So Lucas opened the door across the hall and invited Willow in.
Goodness, it really was close.
What did they say—proximity gives you the best advantage?
Lucas's apartment had a similar layout to Willow's. He didn't have many belongings, so he'd finished organizing quickly. On the table were already laid out four dishes and soup.
"So many dishes—did you cook all this yourself?" Willow looked at Lucas in his apron, feeling a sense of incongruity. She almost wanted to laugh.
Lucas nodded somewhat sheepishly.
"Let's eat while we talk." Lucas graciously pulled out a chair for Willow.
"This place is a bit small for you, isn't it?" Willow surveyed the apartment. She recalled that after all, Lucas was the Harrington family's young master, and as a psychologist, his consulting fees weren't low.
"It's not bad. When I was studying abroad before, I lived in about the same size place. My father doesn't like us being too extravagant." Lucas explained.
Willow nodded.
"Try my cooking." Lucas said with anticipation.
Willow took a bite of sweet and sour pork. The taste was really quite good.
"It's delicious." Willow nodded in affirmation.
For a moment, the two ate in silence, neither knowing what to say.
Lucas was waiting for Willow to ask questions.
But Willow didn't know how to ask.
So the dinner passed in quiet—them just eating without speaking.
So much so that... after dinner, it became even more awkward...
The two just stared at each other.
Finally, Lucas couldn't take it anymore.
"Willow, don't you have anything you want to ask me?" Lucas spoke first.
"Yes." Willow nodded.
"Where did you learn to cook? It's delicious." After thinking for a long time, that's what Willow managed to say.
Fine, Willow admitted to herself—she was just a coward who was willing to escape from problems.
Lucas almost laughed in exasperation.
"Willow, I moved here for you." Lucas said seriously.
"But..." Willow looked troubled.
"I know I said I would give you time, that we should start as friends first. And I did act on that. But now you're divorced from Adrian, you're single. I have the right to pursue you." Lucas met Willow's eyes.
Willow nodded—Lucas wasn't wrong about that.
But did he have to hit her with such a bombshell right away? She wasn't prepared, it was all too sudden.
"Willow, I want to take care of you, and the child in your belly. I've thought about it—if your belly gets bigger and you live alone, it'll be too dangerous. So I wanted to move next door to you. That way it would be more convenient to take care of you, and to pursue you." Lucas analyzed very seriously.
"But... I'm still not prepared." Willow said with her head down.
"Willow, the baby will grow up. It will need a father. And I hope you can give me a chance. Don't rush to refuse me, okay?" Lucas said earnestly, holding Willow's hand.
The child needs a father... Lucas's words made Willow hesitate. She knew he wasn't wrong.
"I'm not expecting you to agree immediately, but at least let me properly pursue you. My liking you is serious. You're single and I'm unmarried—I don't see the problem." Lucas pressed his advantage.
Willow didn't know what to say. Everything had come too suddenly. She could only nod, her face flushed.
"Besides, it's very close to my clinic. It's convenient for work too." Lucas added, trying not to make Willow feel too burdened.
Lucas was always so considerate, Willow knew that.
Back in her own home, Willow tossed and turned in bed.
She had been carefully thinking about what Lucas said.
The child needs a father...
If Adrian knew, would he be a good father? He certainly would—he was such a responsible person.
Wait, why did she think of Adrian again?
Willow shook her head, gently stroking her belly.
"Baby, I'll take good care of you. Mommy can do it alone." Willow took out her phone and played the baby's heartbeat recording she had made at the hospital earlier.
The strong, steady heartbeat sounds comforted Willow and helped her fall asleep.
That night, Adrian once again drove in a daze to the building where Willow lived. Habitually looking up at Willow's dark living room window, Adrian sighed, lit a cigarette, and opened the window to breathe some fresh air.
He really was pathetic, Adrian mocked himself.
Just as Adrian was about to put out his cigarette and leave, he suddenly saw Lucas, who had come downstairs to take out the trash.
Who was that? Lucas? Why would he be here?
So late at night, he appeared to be in pajamas, taking out trash...
All sorts of information told him—was Lucas living in Willow's building?
Adrian went into a daze for a moment. His thoughts at that moment completely froze, as if sealed by a massive block of ice, unable to have any further thought or action.
It wasn't until the cigarette burned down to his fingers, scalding Adrian, that he snapped back to reality.
He gripped the steering wheel tightly, restraining the urge to rush forward and confront Lucas.
He was afraid of getting a confirmatory answer from Lucas.
Adrian felt the world had suddenly gone silent. He had a moment of tinnitus.
So... was Willow already accepting a new relationship...? So fast, it caught him off guard.
Adrian fled home.
Lying in bed staring at the ceiling, what was Willow doing now?
Was she lying in Lucas's embrace? Would he kiss her ear, stroke her face? Adrian put his arm over his eyes, unwilling to think further. But his mind was unusually clear—he was torturing himself...
- Writer
