Chapter 2

10 After depositing the money, I wandered aimlessly down the street. Around the corner, I saw a familiar figure. It was Jayden. He was carrying many bags in his hands and silently watching Sherry, not far away. Sherry turned around and saw me not far away. 'Gabriella, what a coincidence." Jayden followed her and walked towards me. His eyes were a little flustered. 'Sherry just returned to the country..." "I know," I interrupted him before he could finish. 'You guys go ahead and shop. I have to go now. I've got a meeting with a friend." As I passed Jayden, he took my hand. 'Gabriella..." I raised the corners of my mouth and smiled at him. 'It's okay, I understand." From beginning to end, I kept a smile on my face. That night, Jayden came home early. He bought the same cake as before. 'Gabriella, I brought you your favorite..." 'Jayden, it's not me who likes cake." Because of work, I added Sherry's WeChat. Every time Jayden returned dessert, Sherry would post an identical photo of the cake in her circle of friends. 'Since I was little, this cake has always been the best. It's good that he hasn't forgotten and will still go out of his way to buy it for me, even though it's far away." 'It's Sherry." Jayden dropped the cake in his hands and it fell to the ground, deforming. 'I'm sorry since you don't like it, I won't buy it anymore. What do you like to eat?" It's been three years. He doesn't even know what I like to eat. I ignored him again. In the evening, he hugged me and sighed in my ear. 'Gabriella, I just treat Sherry like a sister." Does it matter? It doesn't matter anymore. He'll have nothing to do with me once I've saved enough to pay him back for the medical expenses. 11 My colleague suddenly fell ill, so I drove her to the hospital. 'You stay here and get an IV, I'll get your medicine." 'Gabriella, thank you." I went to the first-floor window and got the medicine prescribed by the doctor. I also went out and bought some food. On the way back, I saw a familiar figure at the end of the corridor. The man in the black suit had his back to me, nervously pacing back and forth. It was Jayden. Why was he in the hospital? I was about to go up to him when the doctor came out, so I followed quietly. Jayden was listening attentively to the doctor's instructions like a student. Then he turned around, and our eyes met. 'Gabriella? What are you doing here? Are you not feeling well?" I took a step back and avoided his outstretched hand. 'No. I'm here to visit a colleague." 'And you?" Jayden's hand remained stiff in the air. Before he could answer, Sherry appeared. 'Jayden, what did the doctor say?" 'Gabriella, nice to see you again." 'What a coincidence." I responded politely. Jayden seemed to have something he couldn't tell me. He hid the diagnosis behind his back. 'The doctor said it's just a minor problem. Just take care of yourself." After saying that, he turned to look at me. 'Do you want me to take you back?" 'No, it's better to spend more time with Sherry." I smiled at the two people in front of me, turned sharply, and without giving them another glance, I left on tiptoe. If I didn't leave, I was afraid I would burst out laughing. Just now, I heard what the doctor said: Sherry is very sick, very seriously ill, with terminal lung cancer. She doesn't have more than half a year to live. A dying person. I'll just pity her. On the weekend, Jayden went to the office to work overtime. The doorbell rang. 'Mr. Jayden sent me to pick up a document." I went to the study to hand the document to the assistant and gave him a lunch box on the way. An hour later. My lunch box appeared on Sherry's Instagram. 'Thank goodness he prepared the meal, otherwise I would have starved to death." 'Was it delicious?" 'Yes." 'I made it, thank you." A minute later, Sherry's phone rang. 'Gabriella, let's talk." 'Sure." We met at a café, and Sherry was already there. 'How can you leave him?" 'You should throw five million at me and tell me to leave Jayden," I said, taking a sip of coffee. 'I always knew you were the type to sell your body for money." 'Jayden and I are in a relationship, so there's no selling involved. How is it any better for you?" 'So you like... men that other people have slept with?" Sherry's face suddenly turned red, and she poured her coffee over me. 'Bitch." I wiped the water from my face. 'Waitress, a cup of coffee, hot." When the coffee arrived, I didn't say a word and poured it over Sherry's head. 'Jayden is used to indulging you. I'm not going to indulge you." Sherry yelled angrily. 'Gabriella, you just wait." 12 I had just arrived home when Jayden's phone rang. 'Are you here to scold me?" 'You wait for me at home." I did as he said and waited at home all night, but he never came back. When I got bored, I checked my Instagram. I saw a photo that Sherry had posted. Jayden's silhouette was in the hospital room window. 'After all these years, it's good he's still here." 'Congratulations to you both." After posting the comment, I submitted my resignation. My last month's salary was already credited to my account, which is just enough to pay Jayden back. I decided to move on to a new place. There was nothing left for me in this city. In the end, I didn't dial Jayden's number. I took the high-speed train to a small town in the south. In the evening, I received a call from Jayden. 'Gabriella, where are you?" 'At the bar." 'What are you doing in a bar at this hour? I'll come pick you up." 'There's a bank card on your table with the amount you paid for my medical bills." 'What do you mean?" 'I want to break up with you." There was silence on the other end of the line. I held the phone in my hand and gulped down the drink in my hand. The alcohol went down my throat and I choked. 'Gabriella, don't be ridiculous. I already told you, there's nothing between me and Sherry." 'Wasn't the reason you were with me in the first place that I looked a bit like her? Now that she's back, isn't that just what you want?" Jayden's tone grew a little harsher, as he said coldly, "I already told you, I only see her as a sister." 'Suit yourself. Goodbye." Are you really breaking up with me? 'Mm-hm." 'Fine, don't regret it. In the future, even if you beg me, I won't be with you." The sound of breaking dishes came from the other end of the phone, followed by the dial tone. I ordered another bottle of wine; before I knew it, it was late at night. I hailed a cab and went back to the hotel. The ride was bumpy, and I covered my mouth as I tried to vomit. I realized I was still in the car, and it was pitch black around me. 'Driver, did you take the wrong turn?" 'Driver?" The driver was wearing a cap, and I couldn't see his face. For no reason, I panicked, thinking I had gotten into a black car. I subconsciously dialed Jayden's phone number. 'Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy." I was not giving up, so I dialed again. 'Hello, who is this?" Sherry's voice came from the other end of the line. The driver sensed that I had woken up and slammed the steering wheel. I was thrown to the side, and my phone fell out of my hands. There was something wrong. I approached the driver and wrestled the steering wheel away from him. Suddenly, a large truck appeared in front of me. The taxi I was in crashed straight into it. My limbs were in pain, and blood was flowing unstoppably. I was so stupid, I should have called the police. I breathed heavily, trying to reach for the mobile phone next to me to call for help. Every movement increased the pain in my body. Blood was gushing out in streams. I knew I was going to die. The strength in my body gradually faded away. 'Jayden, I finally don't have to love you anymore." 13 Jayden in the room asked back, 'Who was that?" Sherry put the phone aside. 'An advertising call. I just hung up." Watching Jayden get dressed and leave, Sherry hurriedly stepped forward to stop him. 'Jayden, where are you going?" Jayden frowned at her. 'You rest well; I'm going back first. Gabriella is still waiting for me." He froze; just a few hours ago, Gabriella had broken up with him. Jayden returned home and switched on the lights. The warm yellow light illuminated the entire space. It was still the same as it was before I left. He never imagined that just one person missing would make the room feel so desolate. No one would prepare dinner for him anymore, no one would help him undress. And no one would wait up for him late at night. Thinking about this, Jayden felt a little remorseful. Sherry had cancer and didn't have much time left, so he focused all his attention on her and neglected the woman who loved him so much. By the time he realized it, it was already too late. He regretted it and didn't want to break up. For the first time in his life, he realized that he was wrong. So he took out his phone and dialed the number at the top of his memo. 'Hello, is this Gabriella's family?" A cold male voice came from the other end of the line. 'Who is this? Where is Gabriella? How come you're with her?" 'This is the hospital. The owner of the phone just had an accident and died." Jayden hung up without a second thought. 'Damn it. She made such a ridiculous excuse to break up with me." After saying that, he angrily slammed the phone on the ground and stomped to vent his anger. After a few steps, he turned back, bent down, and picked up the phone on the ground. He wiped the footprints on it with his sleeve. The screen was broken, but the phone was otherwise functional. 'When she's had a change of heart, she'll call me," he thought. That night, he slept uneasily, constantly reaching for his side. But next to him, it was always empty, without a trace of warmth. He also had a nightmare. In the dream, Gabriella was covered in blood, and she told him through her blood-stained tears, "Jayden, I don't love you anymore." He woke up in a cold sweat, his heart pounding. He couldn't calm down for a long time. He couldn't accept the fact that Gabriella didn't love him. How could she not love him? She had been by his side for three years, and no one knew better than he did how much Gabriella loved him. Gabriella was just angry and would return in a few days. Jayden comforted himself.