“I’ll explain this once. First, I didn’t plagiarize;
‘Thorny Rose‘ was my idea. Second, I’m
married, I have a husband and a daughter.
Third, and most importantly, I’m not blaming
you, I’m not angry, I just don’t want to be near
vou. My husband would be jealous!”
Г
Seeing my seriousness, Garrett stumbled
back, disbelieving. “You said you’d only marry
- me. You’re lying, aren’t you?”
I gritted my teeth and looked at him.
Garrett’s eyes turned red. “Chloe, I’ve been
waiting for you. Why did you betray our
promise? Are you really willing to hurt me like
this?”
At this, I lost my temper.
“Are you accusing me? Betrayal? Dare you
swear on your power and status that you
didn’t have any other feelings for Sarah?”
Garrett’s eyes flickered, he wouldn’t look at
- me.
I sneered and turned to leave.
He stood there, lost in thought, then rushed
to catch up, explaining anxiously. “There’s
nothing between Sarah and me, Chloe,
believe me!”
He wouldn’t let me go. Many people had
come out to watch the commotion.
Maybe Garrett felt embarrassed. He hugged
me suddenly.
“Chloe, let’s not fight, okay?”
I strongly resisted his touch, my whole body
goosebumps. I slapped him.
“Garrett, this is sexual harassment! I don’t
care what you and Sarah had, but if you
touch me again, I’ll.sue you!”
Garrett covered his face, looking at me with a
complex, hurt expression.
The onlookers gasped.
“Wasn’t Chloe a lovesick puppy? It doesn’t
seem like that at all.”
“Exactly, it looks like Garrett is being
unreasonable.”
I looked at him coldly. “Did you hear that?
People’s eyes are sharp. Stop bothering me,
you jerk!”
I glared at him again before leaving.
L
Garrett didn’t understand. He continued to
follow, trying to explain himself.
But at my icy stare, he couldn’t speak.
I stopped, frowning, about to ask him what he
wanted, when I heard a sweet childish voice.
“Mommy!”
I turned, surprised. Yoyo, like a cheerful little
butterfly, rushed into my arms. “Mommy,
Yoyo missed you so much!”
I hugged her, kissing her pale cheek.
“Baby, Mommy missed you too.”
Garrett’s mouth dropped open. “Chloe,
she’s…”
Before I could answer, a handsome figure got
out of a car and walked towards me.
“Honey, I’m here to pick you up.”
Garrett was completely dumbfounded, staring
as Jackson put his arm around my waist.
I smiled at him. “Yoyo said she ate a red
apple today. She hates apples. How did you
く
get her to eat it?”
“You guess.”
He pulled me close, kissing my nose.
The alumni around us started buzzing again
because of his arrival, startling the still
stunned Garrett.
He trembled, asking, “Chloe… who are they?
You’re lying, right…”
Seeing his pained expression, I rolled my
eyes.
“Who do you think you are? I wouldn’t go
through all this trouble to lie to you?”
“Huh? Who’s Yoyo?” Yoyo asked innocently.
I turned to my daughter, smiling. “Yoyo is
Mommy’s treasure.”
“What about Daddy? Is he a treasure too?”
“Yes, Daddy is Mommy’s treasure too.”
Jackson’s eyes lit up, kissing my cheek.
“Honey, you’re my treasure too.”
I blushed, pushing him gently. “Stop it, so
く
many people are watching.”
He leaned into my ear, whispering. “Then we’ll
do it at home.”
My face burned. I hugged Yoyo and rushed
towards our car, speaking hesitantly.
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
Three years married to Jackson, his sweet
words still made my heart race.
Jackson laughed happily, following us
towards the car.
Garrett watched in despair.
Seeing me leave, he anxiously chased after
- us. “Chloe, don’t go!”
I stopped and looked back. His eyes were
filled with immense sorrow.
Seven years ago, seeing Garrett like this, I
would have rushed to hug him, telling him I
loved him.
But it was seven years later. I had no feelings
for him, his sorrow didn’t move me.
<
Instead, his persistence was annoying.
I buckled Yoyo into her car seat.
I bent down and kissed her forehead. “Be
good, baby. Okay?”
Yoyo blinked her innocent eyes at Garrett
behind me, nodding obediently.
I returned to stand next to Jackson, holding
his hand.
“Mr. Garrett, what else do you have to say?
Let’s get it all out in front of my husband.”
Garrett’s eyes were filled with great sadness.
He swallowed hard, unable to speak.
Jackson played with my hand, smiling slyly.
“Is Mr. Garrett speechless because I’m here?
Well, I won’t leave my wife alone with you.”
Garrett gritted his teeth, jealousy burning in
his eyes.
“What are you so proud of! Chloe and I were
together for four years, we were soulmates!
You’ve only been around for a few years, you
L
can’t compare to our bond!
Chloe is just temporarily fooled by you. Once
she realizes, she’ll return to me!”
Jackson looked at him with an amused smile,
saying nothing.
My heart sank, knowing that although he
didn’t show it, he was already getting jealous.
The vinegar jar had been knocked over.
To have a peaceful night’s sleep, I quickly
retorted.
“Garrett, stop talking nonsense in front of my
husband! My years with you were the biggest
mistake of my life!
My husband is irreplaceable. I advise you to
shut up and leave, don’t embarrass yourself
any further!”
Garrett stood there, the light in his eyes
fading, his voice soft.
“Chloe, in your heart, am I your shame?”
Looking into his hollow eyes, I calmly
Г
answered. “Yes.”
Garrett couldn’t control his sadness anymore,
stumbling and falling.
I didn’t stop there. “Mr. Garrett, I’ve made my
feelings clear. You mean nothing to me, not
then, not now!
If you have any shame, please stay away from
my life from now on!”
Without hesitation, I took Jackson’s hand and
got into the car.
The moment the car door closed, he hugged
me tightly, his fluffy hair rubbing against my
neck.
“Honey, you’re so cool, I love you so much.”
I smiled, rubbing his hair. “I love you and Yoyo
too.”
Jackson’s foundation is in the country. He fell
in love with me while studying abroad, so he
moved his business here.
Now his parents are getting old, and he’s an
L
only son.
I didn’t want them to miss their son all year
round, so I decided to stay.
Jackson fully supports my career.
He knows I’m free–spirited, I don’t like a
nine–to–five job, and I don’t want to rely on
him for resources.
So, he helped me with my business plan.
I was deeply touched and spent my days,
apart from taking Yoyo to school, exploring
my new business.
For a long time, my life was peaceful and
fulfilling.
Until my university class monitor organized a
reunion, insisting I attend.
Remembering how Garrett had caused me to
be isolated, and how only the class monitor
had cared for me, I decided to go.
I drove to the address he sent, but on the
way, I got a flat tire.
<
I had a toolbox in my trunk, so I stopped the
car.
But as soon as I got out, I saw Garrett
standing there, covered in gasoline, thanking
someone.
Seeing me, his eyes flashed with surprise, but
he hesitated to approach me.
I grunted, putting down my toolbox and
getting ready to leave.
He caught up, blocking my car, anxiously.
“Chloe, wait. Let me change your tire and
take you to the reunion; I’m not comfortable
leaving you alone.”
I sneered, knowing he’d be there.
“No need.”
But he didn’t move, staring at me.
I sighed, gesturing for him to change the tire.
I wasn’t leaving.
Garrett smiled, a smile like a child who’d
received candy.
