Chapter 1
It was the seventh year of my relationship with Jonathan Reed.
Suddenly, another girl entered his life.
I didn't cry or throw a fit. I just quietly let him deal with it.
Jonathan hesitated for three days, but in the end, he sent her away.
The day our families met, the news broke that an office building was on fire.
"She's inside. She can't get hurt..." Jonathan blurted out, panic in his voice.
Jonathan's eyes were wild and bloodshot as he bolted out the door.
I yelled after him with everything I had, "Jonathan, if you walk out that door now, we're over!"
He paused for a moment, but in the end, he didn't look back.
This time, I wouldn't get back with him as well.
*****
I first became aware of that girl about a year ago.
At first, it was just rumors floating around.
They said that Mr. Reed from the investment department had personally taken on an undergrad intern.
Their department usually only accepted people with a master's degree.
Besides, Jonathan never bothered with interns. He always thought they were too much of a hassle.
I didn't think much of it because I knew Jonathan well enough.
Given his character and integrity, there was no way he'd ever betray what we had.
But soon enough, I started noticing he was spending way longer in the bathroom, always bringing his phone along.
That night, the shower was running in the bathroom, and the computer on the desk cast a faint glow.
I never snooped on him, but something compelled me to walk over to his computer.
His chat with that girl was open on the screen, updating live right before my eyes.
The girl had sent a photo of a cake she'd baked herself, thanking Jonathan for guiding her through her paper.
Even with his packed schedule, Jonathan still managed to leave long, thoughtful notes on her paper, and there were a lot.
They ended up chatting about the newest movies and food spots around work.
The girl was bubbly and outgoing, and Jonathan replied to every single message.
At the end, he sent her a voice message. "It's going to rain tomorrow, so don't forget your umbrella. Don't be so scatterbrained."
His gentle, smiling voice broke me down completely, leaving me feeling utterly defenseless.
By the time Jonathan stepped out of the bathroom, I was already back in bed, acting like nothing had happened.
With my back turned to him, I held back my tears and just waited for the night to finally end.
The next day, the sky was heavy with clouds, and it felt like rain could fall at any moment.
Before heading out, Jonathan secretly slipped an extra umbrella into his bag.
I noticed it right away.
Yeah, I was upset and disappointed, but honestly, he hadn't actually crossed the line. It wasn't a real affair.
I couldn't bring myself to throw away seven years of love. So I acted like nothing was wrong and put it all on the table, telling him he had to make a choice.
Three days later, he told me he'd let that girl go.
He even signed a written pledge, promising he'd never reach out to her again.
Jonathan said, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have caught feelings for someone else. Please, don't give her a hard time."
The ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts. He'd been chain-smoking, clearly a mess inside.
That little episode ended abruptly.
I never saw that girl again, and I never saw a smile on Jonathan's face after that.
It seemed like life returned to normal, but deep down, everything had changed.
Maybe it was the resentment we both carried, or maybe it was just the seven-year itch.
So, in my naïve heart, I wondered if taking the next step, getting married, would actually change things for us.
Jonathan quietly agreed.
But he was just going along with it, barely paying attention to any of the wedding planning.
I carefully picked out gifts for the family meeting and booked the dinner a month ahead.
But right in front of both our parents, he coldly left me there.
In that moment, I finally understood.
Some things just were meant to be. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn't force yourself to swallow something that was not right.
At eight o'clock that night, Jonathan came home.
He brought the girl he'd been worried about, Wanda Monroe, along with him.
She looked okay. She only had a palm-sized bandage stuck to her arm.
At that time, the news already said the fire was under control, most people got out safely, and only a handful had minor injuries. No one was in real danger.
Jonathan was really nervous. Guess he was just worried sick because he cared.
Wanda looked nervous and meek, hiding behind Jonathan and avoiding my gaze.
Jonathan said, "Wanda's really shaken up, and she doesn't have anyone here. She'll be staying with us for a few days."
I was in the middle of packing my things.
Our little dog, Biscuit, seemed to sense I was about to leave and kept nudging me, trying to comfort me.
Wanda shrank away, stepping back nervously.
"Mr. Reed, I... I'm allergic to dog hair," she stammered.
Biscuit spotted Jonathan and wagged its tail, trotting over to greet him.
But Jonathan stepped in front, blocking Biscuit from getting any closer. Biscuit was so anxious that its paws were scrambling all over the place.
Jonathan kept Wanda close, guiding the trembling girl and settling her in the guest room.
When he came back out, he was firm, not giving me any chance to argue. "Send the dog to your parents' for now," he said.
Seriously? Wanda showed up and suddenly he couldn't even tolerate our dog? We'd raised it for three years.
I looked Jonathan straight in the eye, keeping my voice steady. "No way. Wanda's the one who needs to leave," I said.