Chapter 3
From talking with Claire, I found out her family kept setting her up on blind dates.
She figured being with me was better than rolling the dice with some random guy.
But for now, she wanted to keep our marriage under wraps.
My biggest regret in life? Falling for someone I could never be with.
Claire was the one I could never reach. With a chance to be with her, I couldn't turn her down.
But I wasn't about to humble myself and settle for a marriage that felt like a handout.
So I laid out my terms. "I'm not going to hide our marriage."
I looked her straight in the eye firmly. "I'm fine with keeping our relationship a secret for now.
"When you're ready to go public with us, that's when we'll get married.
"Otherwise, forget it."
Claire hesitated for a while, her brows furrowed and looking conflicted.
Finally, she nodded, her voice a little pleading. "Alright, I agree. We'll keep things quiet for now. When the time is right, I'll let everyone know about us."
And so, we started a secret relationship that lasted three years.
No one knew.
No one wished us well.
It was like a secret that could never see the light of day.
*****
I pulled myself back from my thoughts, the warmth in my eyes fading until only calm remained.
I glanced over at Sophia, who sat beside me silently pouring a cup of water.
"I'm heading back to my hometown," I said.
Sophia looked at me, handed me the cup, and said softly, "Claire asked me to pass something on to you."
I looked up, my expression calm, signaling her to go on.
"She said that when she comes back this time, she's ready to marry you out in the open, no more secrets," Sophia said.
All I felt was bitter irony, and I couldn't help laughing out loud.
I shook my head. "I'm not going to marry her."
Sophia frowned, looking confused. "Why? She's finally willing to go public with you. Isn't this what you've been waiting for?"
I said it half-jokingly, but my tone was dead serious. "I'm not going to be the sucker who takes over her mess, and I'm not going to accept a marriage she's handing out like a favor."
Sophia was taken aback for a second, then gave me a gentle smile.
Her smile was simple and sincere, tinged with a hint of heartache.
"You're right. She let you down," she said.
She didn't ask anything else.
She quietly helped me pack my things, folding and wrapping each piece of clothing and daily necessity one by one.
"Let me help you. Your leg's not in great shape, so don't push yourself," she said.
She helped me get all my bags onto the moving truck.
She even came with me to the train station, sticking close to me the whole way, afraid I might trip or fall.
My leg was still a mess, so I couldn't really get around on my own.
She was there for me every step of the way, helping me walk, carrying my bags, fetching water for me, and making sure I took my meds.
She looked after me better than Claire ever did.
On the train, she even tucked a blanket around me, worried I might catch a chill.
As we spent time together, a gentle, ambiguous vibe started to bloom between us.
Watching her fuss over me so carefully, I couldn't help but feel a little weird inside.
Even Claire had never treated me this well.
Could Sophia have feelings for me?
Or was she so obsessed with my cooking that she was ready to offer herself up to keep getting it?
*****
Meanwhile, overseas, Claire was tagging along with Ryan, visiting all the local hotspots.
But her mind was somewhere else, and she never cracked a smile.
She kept checking her phone, swiping the screen again and again, refreshing Sophia's messages.
She was still blocked by Ethan.
Sophia never picked up her calls, and her texts went completely unanswered.
Panic crept over her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
Ryan noticed and gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders, his voice soft. "Hey Claire, you seem distracted. Is something bothering you?"
Claire forced a smile and brushed his hand off. "It's nothing. I'm simply a bit tired."
Ryan smiled, his voice a little too gentle. "I couldn't have gotten through this divorce without you by my side.
"Honestly, I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't been there."
He moved closer and reached for her waist once again, trying to stir up an ambiguous vibe.
But Claire instinctively moved away from him.
Time after time, she kept pushing him away, her gaze tinged with reluctance.
For some reason, Ethan's face kept flashing through her mind.
She couldn't help but recall how caring Ethan was, especially when she was sick and he looked after her attentively.
Her heart twisted with guilt and a touch of panic.
"Ryan, let's head back home soon," she said softly, her tone unwavering.
*****
Sophia and I headed back to my hometown together.
We'd barely reached the front door when my parents hurried over to greet us.
When they saw my leg in a cast, they instantly got worried and rushed over.
"Ethan, what happened to you?" my mom asked, her voice full of concern.
"Does it hurt? Come inside and rest. Don't stand out here in the cold," my dad added.
I opened my mouth, about to tell them it was me being clumsy and taking a spill.
But before I could get a word out, their eyes landed on Sophia.
Their faces instantly lit up, grins spreading from ear to ear.
"Who's this?" my mom asked, practically bouncing with excitement.
She took Sophia's hand, looking her over with a pleased smile. "So, are you Ethan's girlfriend? You're absolutely lovely."
Claire and I had been keeping our relationship a secret for three years.
My parents only knew she existed, but they'd never met her, not even a single photo.
I was about to explain that Sophia and I were merely friends.
Sophia beat me to it, her voice soft and natural, with a hint of shyness. "Yeah, I'm Ethan's girlfriend. My name is Sophia Lane."
I whipped my head around to look at her, eyes wide in disbelief.
My lips moved, wanting to say something, but no words came out.