Chapter 3

The call was disconnected from the other end.

The dragging pain in my lower abdomen slowly tortured my nerves.

I sat on the couch, not moving for a long time.

It wasn't until the manager softly asked if I needed a car that I snapped out of it, took off the wedding dress, and changed back into my regular clothes.

The Blackwell family's hillside estate was nearly an hour's drive from downtown.

The taxi drove along the mountain road, the windshield wipers swinging frantically.

By the time I reached the front gate, my shoes were completely soaked through.

The rusty iron gate stood ajar, welcoming its former owner.

I stepped through the mud puddles, walking step by step to the floor-to-ceiling windows of the main building.

Inside, the lights blazed brightly.

Through the rain-washed glass, I could clearly see the scene inside.

Dominic had removed his suit jacket and wore only a white shirt with sleeves rolled to his elbows.

He stood on a ladder, tools in hand, looking down and saying something to the person below.

Vivian wore a nightgown, looking up with a happy smile.

She held a ragdoll cat in her arms.

Dominic hated cats the most.

In five years of living together, he wouldn't even go into cat cafés, making excuses about allergies and waiting for me in the car.

But now, he descended from the ladder and not only didn't avoid it, but quite naturally reached out to pet the cat's head.

Vivian took the opportunity to grab his sleeve, acting coquettish.

The scene was too warm, so warm that me standing here as his fiancée seemed utterly ridiculous.

I stood in the rain, watching through the glass for a long time. Long enough for my fingers to freeze stiff, long enough for even the pain in my abdomen to become numb.

I circled around to the front entrance and pushed open the main door.

The laughter inside stopped abruptly.

Vivian flinched and immediately hid behind Dominic with the cat.

"Miss Harper... why are you here?" She looked at me timidly, her eyes instantly brimming with tears.

Dominic turned around, the warmth on his face instantly cooling the moment he saw me covered in mud.

"You followed me?" He frowned deeply, striding up to me.

I ignored his accusation, my gaze moving past his slightly wrinkled white shirt to the few cat hairs still remaining on his fingertips.

He said he was allergic to cat hair. In the past, if I so much as glanced at a stray cat, he would nervously remind me to wash my hands.

Now, he could let that ragdoll cat roll around in his arms without any problem.

It wasn't an allergy after all. It was just not enough love.

"Rain, do you have to make a scene in the pouring rain?" Seeing my silence, his tone grew harsher. "Vivian has severe depression. She's afraid to be alone."

Boom!

Thunder crashed outside the window, white light illuminating my wet, slightly trembling fingers.

The vintage wall clock struck eleven.

I looked at him draping his suit jacket over Vivian's shoulders and suddenly smiled faintly.

"So it's already eleven." I didn't cry, and even looked at him quite gently. "Dominic, the bridal shop closed at eight."

Dominic's previously angry eyes instantly froze, his hand draping the jacket stopping mid-air.

Behind Dominic, Vivian tugged at his sleeve, her voice choked: "Dominic, don't blame Miss Harper. It's my fault. This house is full of my parents' memories. I was too scared... I'll never dare trouble you again."

Dominic turned and gripped her wrist, patting it reassuringly.

He turned back to me, his eyes cold, as if looking at a stranger. "Your jealous behavior right now is completely unreasonable." He pointed toward the door. "Go home right now. Stop making a scene here."

I looked at his posture protecting Vivian.

"Fine."

No hysterical argument, no pointing at Vivian and cursing.

I turned and stepped over the threshold, opening my black umbrella again.

Behind me came the sound of the door slamming heavily.

The airflow kicked up muddy water, splashing onto my beige dress hem, leaving several dirty streaks.

The relationship I had carefully protected for five years was now completely soiled.