Then, with the company’s layoffs, Charles, who had been struggling even before, was let go in the end. He lost both his career and love, making him even more devastated.
More concerned about their son than their daughter and after facing such issues with two potential daughters–in–law, Charles‘ parents handed Selene back to her adoptive parents. No more was there the talk of “guilt” that had been there before.
Meanwhile, one person continued to appear on my social media feed. She was truly naïve, seeing how she used the same name and profile photo everywhere.
1/2
Chapter 6
+25 BONUS
After being stalked for so long, it was hard not to feel angry. However, when I clicked on her profile and saw that it was full of mundane things like cooking, chores, and the struggles of raising kids, I suddenly felt at peace.
When people around me talked about this, they only sighed, saying, “It’s a good thing you didn’t marry Charles. You’ve escaped misery.”
To that, I simply smiled. After all that had happened, my parents stopped pressuring me about marriage. They were only focused on making sure I was happy. Even when they tried to introduce me to potential matches, they would carefully consider them before mentioning them to me.
Three years later, I heard Charles got married. The bride was someone he had known for only three months, and the wedding had been a quick and impulsive decision. He even invited me to attend, but I did not. Showing up at an ex’s wedding seemed so tacky.
According to our former classmates, his wedding was poorly organized and hastily done. A female relative even brought two children and made a scene, demanding to stay in their matrimonial house.
The bride was a good–natured woman and did not make a fuss. She simply smiled and let it
- go.
That day, I received a notification about a raise at work. To celebrate, I went abroad for a trip. While sitting on the plane and looking at the sky, I came to believe in something. At just 30, my best years were just beginning. I was grateful to the heavens for giving me the courage to be brave and to not love.
