10
Before?
Adam spoke so casually.
I was no longer the person who would do anything for love.
And he was no longer the person who made me promises.
I had seen how he favored Lily.
Time and again it confirmed my place in his heart.
Hearing this, I laughed coldly:
“Forget it. I can be happy without you just fine!”
With that, I made to leave.
But Adam held me tightly, refusing to let go.
“I was wrong, I was wrong…”
“Rachel, I was just confused for a moment.”
I struggled with all my might, “Let go of me!”
But the next second, I was suddenly pulled into another embrace.
I looked up in shock to find it was Eric.
Seeing Eric, Adam’s face instantly darkened, his whole body radiating anger.
“This is between me and my wife. An outsider like you has no right to interfere!”
Eric put on a nonchalant air, sneering:
“Rachel’s my employee, how can I not get involved?”
“Besides, don’t forget she’s planning to divorce you. Stop calling her your wife. Take your mistress and get lost!”
Hearing this, Adam instantly flew into a rage.
He pulled me aside, then grabbed Eric’s collar, his brow furrowed.
“If you dare say that again, don’t blame me for getting rough!”
Eric raised his chin, the smile still on his face.
He looked Adam straight in the eye and repeated what he had just said.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Adam’s fist came crashing down.
<
Eric was instantly knocked to the ground.
Seeing this, I hurried over to help him up, shielding him.
“Adam, have you gone crazy?!”
Looking at me, Adam clenched his fist, his eyes bloodshot:
“I’m the man you love. How dare you yell at me for his sake!”
Hearing this, I truly laughed:
“I’ll tell you one last time – I don’t love you anymore.”
I said each word clearly, staring at the stunned Adam before me.
After a while, I made to leave with Eric, but Adam’s hoarse roar came from behind:
“Rachel!”
“If I never see Lily again, and stop treating Eric as an enemy, can you forgive me?”
In the dim hallway, I didn’t look back.
“Adam, I don’t love you. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”
That said all that needed to be said. I pulled Éric away, disappearing at the end of the hallway.
Surprisingly, Adam didn’t appear again after that.
He voluntarily turned himself in to the police and publicly exposed the truth about years ago online, admitting I had taken the fall for him.
He specially recorded a video apologizing to me in front of everyone.
He also mentioned how Lily had framed me for stealing the ring.
In the 10–minute video, it was almost all “I’m sorry“.
The man on camera had lost the spirited look of years past.
The dark circles under his eyes and stubble on his chin all proved he wasn’t doing well.
But faced with his repeated apologies, my heart remained utterly unmoved.
After watching the video, I had my lawyer send him a notice, agreeing to go to the civil affairs bureau together to get the divorce certificate.
The two of us got our certificates as if conducting business, expressionless.
Until we parted ways at the entrance of the civil affairs bureau, Adam called out to stop me.
“Don’t worry about the assets. I’ll do my best to give you everything.”
The man raised his hand towards me, pondered for a moment, then quietly lowered it.
I sincerely hope you can be happy. Take good care of yourself without me.”
I curved my lips.
“You seem to have forgotten, I’ve always taken care of myself.”
Adam’s gaze froze, nodding with a wry smile.
I nodded slightly, turning to walk towards the tree–lined avenue.
While Adam stood rooted to the spot, gazing after me longingly.
Gradually, dark clouds gathered overhead and a drizzle began to fall.
I got in a taxi, glimpsing in the rearview mirror Adam letting the raindrops pelt him, looking utterly desolate.
He was about to face the years in prison that I had substituted for him.
But looking at the raindrops on the window, I smiled.
For me, after the rain comes sunshine – it was à brand new day.
