City of Longing

When Cora Shepard's husband's first love, Kimberly Hayes, came back, her first move was to make Cora sign a wager. The terms were simple. If George Lambert abandoned Cora nine times for her, Cora would give up her place as Mrs. Lambert. Cora agreed. Chapter 1 The ninth time it happened, George Lambert abandoned Cora Shepard on the highway just because his first love called. "Cora, something urgent came up. I need to go. You can get out here and take a cab home, right?" Without waiting for her answer, he shoved an umbrella into her hands. He did not care that it was pouring outside or that she was on her period. His mind was already racing ahead to see Kimberly Hayes. "Call me when you get home." The moment Cora saw him enter Kimberly's address into the navigation, her heart clenched painfully. The sports car roared away. The rain hit her sideways, soaking her dress in seconds. A biting night wind cut across her face. Cora trembled uncontrollably in the cold. She walked alone through the downpour. Her heels rubbed her feet raw, leaving them bloody. Five hours later, she finally reached Clearwater Bay villa. Her dress was stained crimson with blood. Clutching her cramping abdomen, she collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. Rain blurred her vision. Through the haze, she saw Kimberly approach with an umbrella, smiling. "It hurts, doesn't it? Are you regretting that wager you signed with me now? Did you really think that after all these years, George would have even the slightest feelings for you? "But you forgot something. He loves me most. Whatever small affection he had for you means nothing compared to that." Cora stood shakily. Her pale face was expressionless. "Nine times. You won. As you wished, I'll divorce George." She stumbled forward, walking slowly toward the house. Memories of the past came flooding back with the rain. Cora and Kimberly had been college roommates. Cora first met George during Kimberly's freshman year birthday party. One look at his cool, refined bearing made her heart race. That day, Kimberly introduced her childhood friend George to everyone. Then, she publicly announced her new boyfriend, a campus troublemaker notorious for being a slacker. Cora still remembered the shock, hurt, and loss of composure on George's face. She knew in that instant that he loved Kimberly. However, Kimberly had always chased thrills. She liked rebellious bad boys who would skip class with her, race cars, and fool around in bathrooms. She had no interest in a proper, upright heir from a wealthy family like George. She found him too controlling. Eventually, to shake him off completely, Kimberly discovered Cora's feelings and began creating chance encounters and dinner gatherings. She tried every method to push George and Cora together. Cora witnessed George's entire journey from resistance to humiliation to numbness, and finally to acceptance. In their junior year, they became a couple, just as Kimberly wanted. Then two years later, George proposed. After three years of marriage, they treated each other with courtesy. Their days together were calm and warm. Cora thought they could grow old together like this. Until a month ago, when Kimberly returned from abroad and asked to meet her. She made Cora sign a wager. "Cora, I regret it. I want to take George back. You two have known each other for nine years, right? So, let's bet on it. If he abandons you nine times for me, you lose. You divorce him and give him back to me." On some strange impulse, Cora agreed. She wanted to know if Kimberly still held a place in his heart. Then she watched George rush to Kimberly's side without hesitation, over and over. The first time was their third wedding anniversary. She knew he was fascinated by astronomy and had picked the perfect spot for an outdoor picnic, planning to watch a meteor shower with him. Yet he turned back halfway because of a text from Kimberly, leaving Cora alone on the mountain to brave the wind all night. The second time, she needed surgery for appendicitis. He disappeared for an entire week right before the operation to rescue Kimberly from some thugs who were harassing her. Cora signed the surgical consent form herself. After the surgery, she endured the pain alone, going to checkups, changing dressings, and eating meals by herself. The third time was when her grandmother died. He left the funeral to have dinner with Kimberly. All of Cora's love for him was exhausted through being abandoned again and again. After all these years, not only did Kimberly still occupy his heart, but he had never forgotten her from the very beginning. This time, she lost completely. She would accept her loss. After returning home, she took a hot shower and changed into comfortable pajamas. She went to the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea. After drinking it sip by sip, Cora finally felt like herself again. She took out the divorce papers she had prepared the day of the wager, signed her name, and pushed them across to Kimberly. "Take these to him to sign." Kimberly raised an eyebrow, seeming somewhat surprised. "Why me?" "I don't want to waste time explaining to him why I want a divorce. Only if it comes from you will he sign it without even looking." Hearing that, Kimberly looked quite pleased as she accepted the papers. She offered some false comfort. "Don't be too upset. In a few days, I'll introduce you to a handsome guy." "Sure." Seeing her agree so readily, surprise flashed in Kimberly's eyes. "You said yes? You're over George already? Just like that?" Cora laughed softly, her tone bitter. "I've only ever loved one person with my whole heart in this life, and this is how it ended. I gave him nine chances, and he made me lose everything. If I still can't let go, I'd be pathetic. From now on, I'm only living for myself." Just as she finished speaking, the door opened. George, who had just returned, froze when he saw Kimberly. "Kimberly? Didn't I just drop you off at the hospital? How are you here?" Kimberly did not explain that her sprained ankle had been fake. She simply smiled, picked up the papers, and walked over to him. "I came to find you. Come on, help me sign this." George's gaze stayed fixed on her. Without even looking, he signed his name where her finger pointed. After putting down the pen, he thought to ask what it was. Kimberly had intended to tell him directly, but something made her change her mind. "It's a gift Cora and I prepared together, something really meaningful. You'll find out in a month. Don't worry, you'll definitely be surprised when you see it!" Chapter 2 As George heard that, his curiosity was piqued. He was about to take a closer look when Kimberly snatched the papers away and handed them to Cora. She stood up, preparing to leave. "Well, that's settled, then. I'm heading back. Good night." George's curiosity immediately faded. He said he would drive her home. Kimberly shook her head and glanced at Cora with an unreadable expression. "No need. Keep Cora company instead. There's not much time left anyway." Not much time left for what? George frowned, wanting to press further, but she had already opened the door. Instinctively, he grabbed his car keys and followed her out with a quick parting remark. "Cora, I'm just going to drive Kimberly home. I'll be right back." The door slammed shut. From the moment he entered until he left, George never once looked at Cora. She was used to it. Cora did not feel hurt. She put away the papers and returned to her room. After turning off the lights, she slowly drifted to sleep. Half an hour later, there was noise at the door. Soon after, the lights flickered on. Cora opened her eyes groggily to see George opening a drawer and placing several boxes of condoms inside. Then, he pulled her into his arms. His warm breath brushed against her ear. "Didn't you use to wait for me until midnight every night? How come you went to bed so early today? Hmm?" That was before. It would never happen again. Cora thought this silently and found a casual excuse. "I'm on my period. I'm not feeling well." Remembering how he had abandoned her on the highway, George felt an inexplicable twinge of guilt. "I'm sorry. I forgot." "Even if you'd remembered, would it have stopped you from leaving me there?" The question left George speechless. The room fell silent for a long moment before he finally spoke in a low voice. "I'm sorry, Cora. Kimberly sprained her ankle. She's been terrified of pain since childhood, so I was in a rush. I promise you, this kind of thing will absolutely not happen a second time." Yet that had already been the ninth time. A mocking smile flashed in Cora's eyes. "Right. It definitely won't happen again." After all, they would be divorced soon. … The next morning, when Cora woke up, she found a cup of her usual tea on the nightstand. George walked in carrying breakfast. "Cora, drink up and come eat breakfast." Before Kimberly returned to the country, Cora had woken to this scene every day. Back then, she thought this was love. That was why she made that wager with Kimberly. In the end, she lost utterly and completely. This time, instead of accepting as usual, Cora got up and pulled out clothes from the closet. "No thanks. I'm not hungry. I need to go out soon anyway. You can eat without me." After washing up, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door. George picked up his jacket and said he would drive her. Cora could not refuse and had to agree. As soon as she got in the car, she noticed the protective charm she had hung from the mirror was replaced by a doll keychain. The dashboard ornaments had also been replaced by a row of Hello Kitty figures. George noticed where she was looking and quickly offered an explanation. "Yesterday, I parked on the side of the road and forgot to close the window. All those ornaments got soaked in the rain. My assistant cleaned them out and replaced them with new ones." Was it really his assistant? Cora remembered that Kimberly loved these kinds of dolls. She had an entire room full of Hello Kitty plushies at home. She did not call him out on the lie. Instead, she asked, "What about my protective charm? I went all the way to a chapel in the mountains to get that blessed. Give it back." George's expression froze for an instant. "My assistant threw it out without thinking. I'll have her find it right away." Hearing him continue to lie, Cora only felt tired. "If it's been thrown out, then forget it. I don't want it anymore." He seemed surprised. "You really don't want it back?" Cora nodded slightly. "I don't want it." The protective charm, this marriage, him... She did not want any of it anymore. When they arrived at the club, Cora went straight to Room 908. The room was already full of people. Her college classmates greeted her one after another when they saw her. "Cora, why did you come alone? Didn't you bring your husband? Is George too busy with work?" Before she could answer, Kimberly, sitting in the center, spoke up as if casually. "He has a meeting this morning that won't end until eleven. Then he has to go negotiate a partnership this afternoon. He definitely doesn't have time." Seeing how well she knew George's schedule, everyone started joking around. "Childhood friends really do understand each other better. You know his schedule inside and out." Chapter 3 Kimberly raised her wine glass and swirled it, her smile faint. "Not really. George told me last night when he drove me home around midnight." "You two still keep in touch often? That childhood bond really is something special. Good thing Cora is so understanding. She knows your relationship with George inside and out and doesn't mind one bit. "If it were anyone else, knowing how George used to chase after Kimberly all the time back then, who knows how jealous they'd be!" "Cora is Mrs. Lambert now. She has a happy home and a good marriage. Plus, Kimberly was the one who set her up with George in the first place. Why would she be jealous? "Besides, if Kimberly had wanted to be with George, they would've gotten together ages ago. After all, everyone knows George only listens to Kimberly and is completely devoted to her!" Hearing this, Kimberly looked even more pleased with herself. "True. Come to think of it, it's pretty funny. Back then, when I told him to pursue Cora, he did. Even the proposal only happened because I pushed him into it. He finally thought he should give Cora some official status. "Anyone who knows would say he was dating Cora. Anyone who doesn't might think I forced him into it." Hearing that, Cora's heart lurched violently. She had originally thought George proposed because he had been moved by her devotion. It turned out that even their marriage only came to fruition because Kimberly orchestrated it. In an instant, she felt something blocking her chest. She could not breathe. They continued chattering about these things. Unable to stand it any longer, she got up and went to the restroom. After composing herself, she returned to find everyone had started playing a game. Kimberly had just lost and drawn a truth card. "Please name the most devoted pursuer in your life and give examples." The moment the card was read aloud, Cora's lashes trembled slightly. She looked away. Kimberly smiled as she reminisced, speaking leisurely. "That boy started pursuing me when he was seven. It's been almost 20 years now. When he was around ten, he gave me his family's heirloom, something that's only supposed to go to the family's daughter-in-law. He said he'd only ever love me in this lifetime. "Every time he found out I was dating someone, he'd drink himself into a stupor for days on end. He even developed stomach problems from it. "Oh, and these past few years while I was studying abroad, he flew over every week to bring me my favorite pastries and snacks, keeping me company no matter the cost." Listening to each detail, Cora felt her heart churning like stormy waves. She remembered when she married George. His mother told him to give her the family heirloom, but he said he had lost it. Every so often, he would come home completely drunk. When she asked, he always said it was due to work gatherings. She would even foolishly make him coffee to help him sober up. During every major holiday, he had to go on business trips. She would help him pack his suitcase and buy lots of pastries and snacks to put inside. While she poured her whole heart into this relationship, he was still chasing after his first love, unwilling to let go. She had known nothing about it. Her heart ached so badly she could barely breathe. Meanwhile, everyone in the room sighed after hearing the story and kept pressing for more details. "Kimberly, who is this person? Do we know him? He's so devoted to you. You must have been touched, right? If you really get together with him, you have to introduce us!" Kimberly glanced at Cora with an ambiguous smile and agreed cheerfully. "Sure. I'll bring him next month to introduce him to everyone." Just as she finished speaking, George pushed open the door with a smile. "Introduce what? Why wait until next month? Kimberly, are you done? Didn't we agree to go to the concert..." His voice cut off abruptly the moment his gaze landed on Cora. Surprise and panic flashed in his eyes. "Cora, what are you doing here?" Cora remembered how George had told her this morning when he dropped her off at the mall that he would be working overtime until dawn and she should not wait up for him. It turned out that by working overtime, he meant going to a concert with Kimberly. She smiled silently and met his gaze. "As you can see, attending a college reunion." He nodded several times quickly and immediately changed the subject. "Perfect timing, then. I'll drive you home." Cora picked up her phone and called a car. Her tone was calm. "No need. I'll just get a cab. You two go to the concert." Chapter 4 After speaking, Cora picked up her bag and headed downstairs. She had just reached the roadside when Kimberly caught up and grabbed her hand. "Are you angry? I'll give you the concert tickets, then. You only have one last month together anyway. Seize the chance to make some memories. Otherwise, when you're old and looking back, you might have regrets." Cora pulled her hand away and stepped back twice, her expression cold. "No need. After the divorce, I'll forget the past. There's nothing worth remembering between him and me." "That's harsh. Even though George only got together with you because I forced him to, you did take some of the burden off me. It's bad enough you can't have his love, but if you can't even have a few good marriage memories, wouldn't that make me too cruel?" Kimberly continued offering false comfort while pulling at her, refusing to let her leave. As they struggled, neither noticed the car rushing toward them. By the time the driver laid on the horn frantically and they both turned around, it was too late to dodge. In that critical moment, George rushed over, swept Kimberly into his arms, and carried her to safety. Cora was hit by the car and sent flying nearly 70 feet away. She crashed heavily to the ground. There was a loud thud. Bright red blood poured from her lips and nose, pooling on the pavement. Her limbs felt like they were being torn apart. The pain made her whole body convulse and spasm. It hurt. It hurt so much. Her consciousness gradually grew hazy. Before passing out, she saw George comforting Kimberly, who was in shock. She did not know how much time passed before the pain jolted her awake. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in the hospital. The first thing she saw was George's face, full of worry. "Cora, how do you feel? You've been unconscious for two days. Do you know how worried I was?" Cora looked at his anxious expression and remembered what she had seen before losing consciousness. She found it laughable. On the edge of life and death, the person he chose to save was not her. She had been lying in a pool of blood, and he had not even noticed she was seriously injured. She had never occupied a place in his heart. How could he possibly worry about her? She took a light breath and spoke in a hoarse voice. "I'm fine. Go take care of Kimberly." George froze, thinking she was upset that he had not saved her. He rushed to explain, "Kimberly's fine. You were hurt so badly. Of course, I'm staying to take care of you." Cora shook her head and simply said she was tired. She closed her eyes to rest. George did not disturb her further. He tucked in her blanket, fetched some water, and ordered a light lunch. After that, he took a phone call saying something had come up at the company and left. He told her he would come back tomorrow. When the nurse came to check on her and saw how thoroughly he had prepared everything, she kept telling Cora how lucky she was to have married such a good husband. Cora said nothing. She had just opened the plain lunchbox when her phone rang. When she unlocked it, she saw a message from Kimberly. [Sorry! That accident scared me so badly that I developed psychological trauma, so I sent George a message. He's having dinner with me right now. Afterward, he's taking me to the amusement park to help me relax, and later we're going to a movie too. Rest well in the hospital, okay?] The attached photo showed a famous health food restaurant in the city. The table was covered with light, nutritious dishes. Across from the camera, only George's hands were visible as he peeled a large bowl of shrimp for her, Kimberly's favorite. Cora looked quietly at these photos and replied with only two words: [Have fun.] Over the next week, George came to the hospital every day. He would sit for ten minutes, then leave. Kimberly also sent messages on schedule, reporting their activities. He would accompany her to the beach to watch the sunset, picking up shells to spell out their names in the sand. He would drive her to the countryside for a spin, buying flowers and balloons to cheer her up like she was a child. He would take her to flower fields to ride in a hot air balloon, snapping thousands of photos of her alone with his camera. Everything he did was not quite as intimate as lovers would be yet showed far more care than ordinary friends. It fell somewhere between friendship and romance. George had never done any of these things when he was dating Cora. The contrast was stark. Once again, Cora felt grateful she had agreed to that wager. After the doctor's final checkup, he handed over the prescription. "Everything's healed up nicely. Have your husband handle the discharge paperwork and pick up the medication." Cora took it, her tone completely neutral. "He's not my husband. We're divorced." The next second, the hospital ward door swung open. George walked in, looking shocked. "Divorced? What do you mean, divorced?" Chapter 5 Cora had not expected George to appear suddenly. She froze for a moment. "Nothing. I was just saying you've been gone these past few days and weren't at the hospital." Seeing her calm expression, George did not think much of it. "I've been busy working overtime on a new project lately, so I couldn't come take care of you." Watching him lie so effortlessly, Cora's eyes flickered slightly. "If you're that busy, you don't need to come. I can take care of myself." She meant every word, but George thought she was upset. "It's my fault. I've mostly finished the work. I'll spend more time with you from now on." As he spoke, he prepared to take her home. He even had his assistant send over many designer bags for her to choose from. Looking at these gorgeous, expensive luxury goods, Cora calmly refused them. When she said she did not like them, George quickly had his people prepare new ones. "I'll send you other gifts, then. What do you like? Jewelry? Clothes? Let's buy everything. There has to be something you like, right?" Cora felt not a ripple of emotion at anything he mentioned. For three years, he had sent piles of gifts on every anniversary and holiday. These items, with their similar logos and styles, filled the walk-in closet. At a glance, it looked like some luxury store's warehouse. She used to think this meant he cared, so even though she was not interested, she would happily accept them. Yet today, hearing that he did not even know what she liked, she finally understood. He was simply too lazy to put in any thought, so he chose these kinds of gifts. With prices like that, he could not go wrong. Hence, this time, Cora stated her position directly. "I don't need any of it. You don't need to send me these things anymore. Don't trouble yourself." This was the first time George had heard her say something like this. Panic suddenly rose in his heart. "You're my wife. Preparing gifts for you is only natural. How could it be trouble?" What if she was not his wife anymore? How laughable. He still had no idea he had already signed their divorce papers. … Over the next few days, George stayed home without going out. Cora slowly began packing up her things. She packed up unused cosmetics and clothes, the suits and electric razors she had bought him, their matching mugs, and photos of them together. Seeing her suddenly clear out so many things on a whim, George was astonished. He was about to ask when Kimberly's call came through. George instantly forgot about it. He answered the phone and left. Cora also saw the caller ID on the screen. She knew he was going to keep Kimberly company. After watching him leave, she threw all these items into the trash. She had just finished cleaning up when she received a call from George's assistant, Janet Lowe. "Ms. Shepard, please come to Nightfall Club right away. Mr. Lambert is in trouble!" Hearing the usually composed assistant suddenly become so anxious and panicked, Cora frowned. She grabbed her bag, hailed a cab, and looked up the club on her phone during the ride. It was a racing club. Had George not gone to see Kimberly? Why did he suddenly go to a club? When she arrived at the scene and saw the man facing George, Cora understood immediately. It was Tyler Finch, Kimberly's college boyfriend who loved drinking, smoking, fighting, and street racing. She had heard from others that after they broke up, Tyler would still harass Kimberly from time to time. From the looks of it, he had probably hit hard times again and come to pester his ex-girlfriend. And the reality was not far from what she imagined. Tyler threw a racing suit in front of George. "Kimberly doesn't like uptight rich boys like you at all. She likes adventure and thrills! Since you keep saying you'll protect her, race me. Whoever loses has to stay away from Kimberly forever!" Chapter 6 George picked up the racing suit with a cold expression. "It's a deal." Hearing that he was really going to race, the group of friends around them panicked and kept trying to talk him out of it. "George, he's been racing for years. You've never even been on a track. There's no way you can beat him! Don't gamble with your life like this, okay?" "Yeah, you're married now. There's no need to risk your life for Kimberly! If something happens to you, what about Cora?" Even so, George would not listen to a word. He even automatically ignored Cora's name when his friends mentioned it. Instead, he looked deeply at Kimberly, who was standing to the side. "I won't lose. I can give her the thrills she wants too." Hearing his resounding declaration, Cora's eyes flickered. She unconsciously clenched her hands. Several friends saw that Cora had arrived and rushed over, asking her to help persuade him. They pushed her toward the prep room. Looking at the door so close in front of her, Cora's emotions churned. She did not understand racing, but she knew George had no chance of winning. Racing against a professional driver so rashly, he might not even make it off the track alive. Although she had already decided to let go, she still could not bring herself to watch him go to his death. So after careful consideration, she raised her hand to push open the door. The next second, Kimberly walked out from inside. Seeing Cora, her eyes lit up with a meaningful smile. "Did you come to convince George to give up the race? I'd suggest you not waste your effort, because George won't possibly listen to you. "Do you know how much he loves me? Once, on a whim, I said I wanted to run away with him. He got on a plane with me without any hesitation. After we were caught and brought back, he'd rather endure family punishment than betray me. "In high school, so many people sent me love letters. He tore up every single one he saw, forcing them to transfer classes or drop out. He even got into a fight with a whole group of people for me and ended up hospitalized while covered in blood. "To him, you're just a fallback option, a second choice. How could he possibly give me up because of something you say?" Looking at Kimberly's undisguised gloating expression, Cora felt a sharp pain in her heart. "He loves you that much, but what about you? Since you've chosen to be with him, why aren't you stopping him when you know he'll definitely lose and might even die?" Kimberly looked as if she had heard something hilarious. She showed a mocking expression. "Why would I stop him? Don't you think it's fascinating to watch a man abandon his principles and throw himself into danger for you? Since I've decided to choose him, of course, I want him to prove that he loves me enough to give up his life for me. "This is the perfect test, isn't it? Of course, it's normal that you don't understand. After all, George would never risk his life like this for you." Each word hit Cora like a blow, making her chest tighten painfully. Many words surged to her throat. Her lips parted slightly, but she could not get a single word out. Watching her expression, Kimberly took her phone and dialed George's number. "Since you still won't give up, I'll prove it to you one more time. Call him and say you've been in a car accident and you're in the operating room. Let's see if he'll give up this race for you." The dial tone echoed through the hallway. Soon, the call connected. "Cora, I'm in a meeting. Whatever it is can wait until I get home." He did not even give Cora a chance to speak before hanging up. Looking at the screen going dark, Cora's hand dropped limply to her side. She lowered her head. A resigned smile curved her lips as she said softly, "You won again." Chapter 7 On the winding, twisting track, two race cars alternated positions, neither giving an inch. Cora stood in the viewing area, watching the constantly changing speeds on the screen. George's car maintained the highest speed, but he could not shake off Tyler, who kept varying his pace with practiced ease. Even a novice could see that Tyler was deliberately provoking him the entire way. George paid him no attention. He pushed himself to the limit, flooring the accelerator on the final lap. But even giving it everything he had, his car was still a considerable distance behind Tyler's. Then, on every curve, Tyler would swing to the outside lane, deliberately closing the gap between their cars. Seeing this utterly humiliating behavior, everyone thought George would surely lose and began sighing in disappointment. Cora picked up her bag, preparing to leave. A few seconds later, hysterical screaming erupted behind her. She turned at the sound to see George's black race car crash into Tyler's like a madman on the final curve. In an instant, the white sports car swerved violently to avoid the collision, forced to veer off the track. George seized the opportunity and shot across the finish line. The price he paid was losing control of his speed and slamming straight into the guardrail. The entire car flipped on its side. The front end shattered into pieces and burst into flames. Witnessing this scene firsthand, everyone in the viewing area gasped. No one had expected George to be crazy enough to win the race this way. Even Kimberly, who had seemed somewhat bored, screamed and ran onto the track. Seeing her appear, George, covered in blood, stumbled out of the car. Then, he brought her over to Tyler's car and raised his hand high, making the gesture reserved for winners. "You lost. For the rest of your life, you're never allowed to come near Kimberly again!" Cora had known him for nine years. He had always been cool, refined, steady as a rock. This was the first time she had seen George so spirited and fierce. It would also be the last. Amid the thunderous cheers, she turned silently and left. This time, she would have no lingering attachments. … It was the early morning hours, and George still had not returned. He only sent a message saying he would be on a business trip for a week. Soon after, Kimberly also sent a photo of George taking her and a group of friends to a victory celebration. [George said he's taking me abroad to celebrate his victory.] Cora only replied with one word: [Great.] Taking advantage of this time, she packed her luggage and made a detailed travel itinerary. After finishing her plans, she first booked a flight back to her hometown. The airline called to confirm the itinerary. She listened carefully and repeated it back. "Yes, I booked the ticket for a week from now..." "A ticket? Where are you going?" Hearing George's voice, Cora turned to find he had returned without her noticing. She avoided his confused gaze, hung up the phone, and answered honestly. "Back to my hometown to see my parents." George nodded without asking further. He pulled out an exquisitely wrapped gift. "Cora, you said before you didn't want jewelry or bags. I picked out a perfume for you this time. Do you like it?" Cora unwrapped it and sniffed it perfunctorily before setting it down. "I like it." Her flat response surprised him. He stepped forward and gently pulled her into his arms, sounding concerned. "What's been going on with you lately? I was away on business for so long, and you didn't send me a single message. Are you in a bad mood?" Cora had not expected him to notice such a small detail while he was with Kimberly. However, she remembered how she used to share everything with him, from seeing a flower to hearing some gossip. For three years, he had endured daily messages from someone he did not love. When that person suddenly stopped, any normal person would notice. Thinking of that, she did not find it strange anymore. Seeing her remain silent, George thought she was truly upset. He leaned down to kiss her, but she pushed him away, which was a stark contrast from her usual behavior. She turned toward the bathroom. "It's just my period." Looking at her retreating figure, George felt stunned. Her period started quite a while ago. Was it still not over? Chapter 8 The next evening, George said he had prepared a surprise and took Cora out. When they arrived at the restaurant, the server led them directly to a private room on the top floor. The moment the door opened and she saw the room filled with flowers and candles, Cora's eyes sharpened. George smiled and pulled out a chair for her. "Cora, do you like it?" She froze for a few seconds without speaking, then sat down silently. He picked up the menu and ordered a table full of dishes, all her favorites. When the food arrived, he even cracked crab legs and deveined shrimp for her. Throughout the evening, he kept finding topics to talk about and even brought up memories from when they were dating. "Remember when we first got together? You'd come with me to all my classes every day. My professor kept calling on you so often that he privately asked me why everyone else accompanies their girlfriends to class, but with you, it was reversed..." Faced with this sudden warmth from him, Cora felt uncomfortable. "What's gotten into you today?" "I just noticed you haven't seemed happy lately, so I wanted to cheer you up. There's another surprise coming soon." As he spoke, he checked his watch, then drew back the curtains. Cora turned to look and heard a series of loud booms. Over a thousand fireworks rose into the sky, bursting open in brilliant, dazzling displays. Watching the heart shapes blooming in the air, Cora was frozen in place. "You arranged all this?" Before George could answer, the door to the private room burst open. Kimberly barged in with a group of people. Someone was snapping several photos with a Polaroid camera. "Cora, are you satisfied with tonight's date? This was my carefully planned surprise. Isn't it romantic?" Hearing Kimberly's smug tone, Cora's face, filled with complicated emotions, went rigid. She turned to look at George and asked the question again, though her voice now trembled. "You arranged all this?" George did not notice the change in her tone. He shook his head slightly and smiled at Kimberly. "No, it was Kimberly's idea. Why?" Kimberly looked triumphant. "That's right. I heard George stood you up on your wedding anniversary, so I came up with this idea. The restaurant, flowers, candles, dishes, and fireworks were all my recommendations. I wanted to make sure you had an unforgettable evening. "Oh, and did you get that perfume? I spent forever picking it out. Do you like it?" It turned out all of this was Kimberly's arrangement. No wonder George was being so proactive. In an instant, Cora recalled all the things Kimberly had done in college to push them together. Kimberly had told George to buy flowers, take her to amusement parks, send her good night messages at the same time every day. He had followed through like a robot. Even his tone during the confession had been stiff. Hearing the group of people around them praise Kimberly's clever arrangements, a deep sense of powerlessness washed over Cora. Kimberly had arranged all this just to prove one thing to her. No matter how hard she tried to hold onto the past, the beginning, the end, and even the middle of her relationship with George had never been in her control. From start to finish, everything had been in Kimberly's hands. Cora could only accept it, and George was perfectly content with that. Chapter 9 Seeing Kimberly surrounded by a crowd of people, Cora could not stand it any longer. She got up and headed downstairs. Halfway down, Kimberly caught up and stopped her. "What's wrong? Not happy? Ending this relationship with such a romantic candlelit dinner will leave quite an impression on your life, won't it? Here, I'll give you these photos as mementos." Cora lowered her eyes and saw the Polaroid photos Kimberly held out to her. In the photos, heart-shaped fireworks bloomed behind George. His arm was around her shoulder, making them look intimate. Cora noticed immediately that his gaze was not on the camera, but toward where Kimberly had been standing. She did not take the photos. She simply looked quietly at the person before her, exhaustion in her voice. "'I've already signed the divorce papers. I'm letting you have him. What's the point of all this?" "The point? I thought you'd be moved. Well, if you don't like it, I won't play these games anymore. There won't be any more chances anyway." Kimberly turned around with a grin, about to leave, when the light fixture above suddenly came loose. In an instant, the crystal chandelier weighing dozens of pounds plummeted straight toward them. Cora instinctively raised her hands to shield her head, then saw George rush over. The fixture crashed heavily onto Cora's wrist, shoulder, neck, and back, knocking her to the ground. Tears from the pain rolled down her face in large drops. Agonized groans escaped her throat. Her whole body trembled as she tried to call for help. Then she saw Kimberly crying as she helped George up. He was also bloodied from the impact. "George, why are you so foolish? No matter what danger I'm in, why do you always appear first to protect me? Why do you insist on staying by my side? Why can't I ever drive you away? Why..." It was because he loved you. Cora answered for him in her mind. Her head grew heavier, and her vision blurred. Finally, she could hold on no longer and lost consciousness completely. … When she woke again, Cora saw Kimberly. She placed a birthday invitation on the table. "Six days from now will be the last day of your divorce waiting period with George. It's also his birthday. I'm planning to confess to him that day. He likes me so much. Giving him such a huge surprise will definitely make him very happy. "George hit his head and has a mild concussion. I'll take care of him these next few days. If you want to spend more time with him during these last few days, I can move you to the room next to his." Cora closed her eyes. Her voice was completely flat. "No need. The person he wants to see most right now is you. And I don't want to see him anymore." Kimberly nodded knowingly and left, closing the door behind her. … During those final days in the hospital, George called several times and sent several messages. Cora did not respond to any of them. On the day she left, she was discharged from the hospital and went to pick up the divorce certificate. After returning home, she placed the divorce certificate, along with the divorce agreement both of them had signed, into a gift box and tied it with a ribbon. She had just picked up her luggage to leave when she ran right into George coming home. Seeing her with a suitcase, he looked somewhat surprised. "Cora, today's my birthday. I was just about to take you to the party. Where are you going?" Cora lied smoothly, "I have to catch a flight back to my hometown. The ticket's for today." She turned and picked up the gift box from the table. "I prepared a birthday present for you. Happy birthday. I need to hurry, so I'm leaving now." Without waiting to see George's reaction, she walked out the door, hailed a cab, and headed straight for the airport. Watching her leave in such a rush, George felt a sudden unease. His instinct was to call her back, to ask her to change her flight, or at least stay for his birthday party. However, just as he took a step, Kimberly's call came through. "George, the birthday party's about to start. Why aren't you here yet? I've been planning this party for you for so long. I even prepared a big gift for you. I can't wait to show you my surprise..." After a moment of hesitation, he ultimately drove away. As for the gift box Cora had given him, he casually left it in the car without opening it. Pushing open the hotel doors, the banquet hall was crowded with people, glasses clinking, lively and festive. Seeing him appear, Kimberly smiled brightly and hurried over to him. "George, you're here?" George nodded, his expression gentle. "Yeah. Didn't you say you prepared a surprise for me?" Kimberly smiled at his words. "George, you're definitely going to love this surprise." With that, she quickly walked to the front of the room and picked up the microphone. Her voice echoed throughout the entire hall. "Thank you all for taking the time to attend George's birthday party. Today is a wonderful day. Not only is it his birthday, but I also have two pieces of good news to share. "The first piece of good news is congratulations to George on his divorce. He's leaving the past behind and embracing a brand new future. "The second piece of good news is that I will be formally confessing my feelings to George right here, right now. "George, you've liked me for so many years, but I've been selfishly taking advantage of your affection. Today, I've finally come to my senses. I want to be with you forever..."