Chapter 4

Hearing me say this, Isabella Sullivan affectionately took my hand.

"Sophia's reached marriageable age. When there's time, I'll take you to parties to look around. Pick any excellent young man you like, so you won't be so narrow-minded, fixating on just one person."

Ethan Reed only glanced at me indifferently.

"No rush. Sophia deserves better. Take your time choosing."

After several rounds of drinks, I sat restlessly and quietly left the table.

The last pool of lotus flowers in the back garden had withered.

Autumn rain on faded lotuses looked especially desolate and beautiful.

In the past, every autumn, the dead leaves would all be pulled out.

Once when Ethan Reed came, he stopped this, smiling and saying to me:

"Why pull them all out so cleanly?"

I remembered every word he said.

From then on, the lotus flowers in my pool bloomed every year and faded in autumn.

I never let anyone remove them.

This time, my best friend asked me, "Sophia, should we keep these dead leaves?"

I shook my head.

"No need to keep them anymore."

After all, the person who listened to the rain and admired the lotuses with me was already gone.

As I stared lost in thought, Isabella Sullivan had quietly walked up behind me.

"Is Sophia using the scenery to express her feelings and ease her grievances?"

"But I must remind you---Ethan doesn't love you at all."

"In this world, only feelings cannot be forced."

I looked at her smugness and shook my head gently.

"I have no intention of competing with you. Ethan Reed and I have nothing to do with each other anymore."

Isabella Sullivan's smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Really? But only by making him detest you will you truly be free."

She suddenly leaned close to my ear and whispered:

"That day you broke my love token. Today I'll show you the price you have to pay."

Isabella Sullivan grabbed my wrist and used my strength to push hard.

The pool water in early autumn carried threads of cold air.

Isabella Sullivan fell in with a splash.

I stood there at a loss.

At that moment, Ethan Reed happened to come out from the front hall and saw this scene.

He jumped in without hesitation, desperately pulling Isabella Sullivan out.

He lifted his dripping face, furious.

"Sophia, haven't you made enough of a scene?"

"Even if I weren't marrying Isabella, I could never marry you. Stop having foolish fantasies!"

As clever as he was, how could he not distinguish Isabella Sullivan's clumsy trick?

But no matter how I tried to explain, he only believed what he wanted to believe.

My best friend's voice changed pitch in her anxiety:

"Isabella Sullivan was the one who went crazy and jumped in the water herself! Why are you blaming our Sophia?"

Ethan Reed only said coldly:

"You're her best friend. Of course you'd speak for her."

He ordered someone to call a doctor.

When he lowered his head and pressed his forehead tightly against Isabella Sullivan's, everything went quiet.

The thread I'd held onto for so long quietly snapped.

I thought when I saw all this with my own eyes, it wouldn't hurt anymore.

In reality, it wasn't up to me at all.

The pain was still sharp.

When everyone rushed anxiously to check on Isabella Sullivan, I gripped my best friend's hand.

"Sophia, how can they all not believe you?"

"It doesn't matter anymore. Did you pack up all my things?"

My best friend nodded vigorously.

I took all the things Ethan Reed had given me, sprinkled them with powder, and personally burned them in the back garden.

In the flickering firelight, I watched the flames devour the paper kites and paintings, smiling with relief.

Ethan Reed, I don't have to love you anymore.

By coincidence, Ethan Reed and Isabella Sullivan's wedding was also set for the third of next month.

The entire city was lively with celebration.

On their wedding day, I got into Ryan Ford's car that came to pick me up and quietly left the city.

I looked at the streets behind me, red silk everywhere, and rolled down the window.