He’d been wearing a trench coat and was tall and handsome. It was hard for one to not be attracted to him.
I knew he was helping me out, so I went along with it and ran to the restroom. He was still around when I came out, with the latte I’d ordered in his hand. I was grateful for his help and wanted to transfer the amount to him, and he took out his phone.
Then we got each other’s contact information.
Interpersonal relationships between adults could be quite direct sometimes. I’d later offered to transfer the money to him, but he’d rejected me. Instead, he’d asked me to treat him to a meal.
At the time, I’d thought that he was taking advantage of me because a meal would cost much more than a cup of coffee. Still, I’d agreed to it because I owed him. It was only right for me to express my gratitude.
I chose a restaurant a week later, not expecting it to belong to the Rothe family. Naturally, I didn’t pay for the meal. My relationship with Arthur turned amorous after that.
He’d never mentioned Shawna to me, and I thought it was love at first sight for us both. As we spent more time together, the natural next step was marriage. We tied the knot half a year later.
Things had changed after our marriage. Shawna had returned, and I’d started noticing the odd atmosphere between her and Arthur. She’d also started provoking me more and more.
My soul was becoming increasingly transparent. I watched as Arthur quit his job and did nothing but drink at home. Empty bottles littered the floor, and the stench made me want to flee. However, what I wanted more was to see how life would be for him with me gone.
When Arthur was lucid–which wasn’t often–he would wash the dishes and cook my favorite foods. Then, he would set the table with two sets of cutlery. I would sit across from him quietly.
It was laughable, really. He’d never cooked for me even once throughout our five- year marriage. Yet there he was, wanting to make it up to me when I no longer needed it.
2/3
Chapter 6
+25 BONUS
His love was too little, too late.
Arthur stared at the empty space across from him and started talking to himself.” You know what? I saw Shawna in you the first time we met. She hurt me badly, but I couldn’t forget about her. It was only after spending more time with you that I realized you were you, and Shawna was Shawna.
“I started getting confused. I couldn’t tell whether it was you or her that I liked. It was only after the truth was revealed that I realized how wrong I was–Shawna was my obsession, but you were my future. Can you come back, Leona? I’m begging you.”
He started crying, but I wasn’t moved in the slightest. It was disgusting that he’d only shown interest in me because I reminded him of someone else. If I’d known about that from the start, I would never have gotten together with him, even if the price was that I’d be alone forever.
It was too bad the heavens never gave me the opportunity to find out.
In the end, I left the dining table. I didn’t want to listen to any more of Arthur’s so- called remorse, nor did I want to know how he’d fallen for me and what his true thoughts were.
He disgusted me.
