In Love, Never Say Never

In love, never say never chapter 626

I nodded and pointed towards the hugging couple. I teased, “You’ve never told me about your past relationships.”

I paused as Rebecca abruptly came to mind. He did say that he had never loved Rebecca.

As we made our way through the crowds, he stuck closer to me and replied, “I didn’t date when I was younger.”

Shocked by his reply, I stared at him in disbelief. “No! You’re pulling my leg, right?”

“Back then, I was swamped with classes and essays every day. Grandpa also arranged for me to take extra law classes, so I basically didn’t have time for anything else.”

His explanation seems pretty reasonable. Pouting, I continued to prod him for an answer. “Didn’t you have any crushes then?”

His eyes bored into mine as he replied, “I had a crush on you the moment I saw you at J University.”

Stunned, I began to blush furiously.

We continued walking at a leisurely pace. Suddenly he asked, “Don’t you have questions for me?”

“What questions?” Confused, I stared back at him.

“A few days ago, Flora told me that there was a lipstick mark on my shirt. Why aren’t you asking me about it?”

This caught me by surprise, though I quickly recovered myself and said, “There’s nothing to ask. I trust you!”

I could see that my answer had stunned him into silence. He appeared to be deep in thought, though I didn’t have the mental energy to try and guess what was on his mind. I just wanted to enjoy my walk with him before his imminent return to the office.

At the doors to the office, I waved goodbye to him and didn’t follow him in. I gestured for him to head on up without me.

He didn’t leave but stood there, staring at me. “You go first. I’ll go in after you leave.”

I didn’t argue with him but merely smiled at him. I felt a twinge of regret at our somewhat anti-climactic separation.

I’d only taken a few steps before I turned and ran towards him, giving him a tight hug. I said hoarsely, “Take care.”

He frowned, puzzled at my behavior. “What’s wrong? You don’t want to go home?”

I shook my head with my arms wrapped firmly around him. “I just want to hug you.”

I heard his chuckle before he replied, “Why don’t you stay here with me then? We can head home together later tonight.”

At this, I finally loosened my arms. I straightened out his tie with a small smile on my face. “It’s fine, I’m going back now.”

Lingering is a luxury I can no longer afford. This is goodbye, forever.

I initially thought of taking a plane, but eventually decided on a train ride.

The journey’s going to be tedious, but I’ll get to enjoy some nice views.

The train pulled away from the station. I took out my phone, knowing it would be a big mistake if I didn’t at least say goodbye.

I guess texts are handy now when I can’t bring myself to utter these words.

I began typing: Ashton, I’m sorry that I’m leaving without saying goodbye. I thought I’d recovered after returning from R Province. I thought I could stay by your side and have a happy life with you. But I should’ve known the world would be much more complicated than I imagined. I paused in the middle of typing, struck by a painful reminder. Cuts and bruises may heal over time, but they leave behind scars that will never allow us to forget the pain.

Steeling myself, I continued the message: I got myself checked at the hospital. The doctors confirmed that I can never become pregnant again. That stillborn baby cost me my dreams of bearing my own child. I can’t blame you, nor can I blame Cameron. You are the people I love, and the people I call my family. I can only call this suffering my own.

Marcus told me that the baby didn’t die of suffocation; it was actually deformed. What kind of a mother am I to give my baby such a painful fate? Maybe he was too eager to be my child and forgot to bring along some things with him in his rush. He fought so hard to meet me, yet I couldn’t save him in the end. Ashton, I hope you can forgive me for leaving like this yet again. And I hope that you can take care of Summer for me.

This is me tapping out. I used to think that revenge could help us find peace, but I’ve come to realize that the only thing we gain in return is suffering. I don’t want to take revenge or wish ill upon anyone, so I’m turning in the towel on my happy ending.

The train moved at a fast speed. Pristine views of the countryside flew past in a blur; the beauty was almost suffocating.

I spent a couple of slow days on the train. The journey brought me past the glittering lights of unfamiliar cities and the lush greenery of thick forests. Once in a while, we passed by a small town. Each sighting was, however, fleeting.

I thought about how my life had panned out over the past few years. Upon closer scrutiny, everything felt more like a dream.

I was but a bystander in this dream.

I reached Q City at dawn, and I got a night’s rest at a hotel near the train station.

I fell into a deep sleep. It was already noon when I woke up. The first thing on my agenda was to change my phone number.

I went to Speed Mobile and got a local number.

I decided to come to Q City in the end because someone once told me that it was the best place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

This is a much better place for me to lay down my roots than R Province.

I’d never sold Macy’s house in Q City. It was still registered under Summer’s name.

I changed the locks and tidied up the house before moving in. A wave of nostalgia came over me. It seemed like just yesterday when Macy and I came to Q City together.

Marcus said he buried the baby at Q City Cemetery. I wondered if it was because I once said in my sleep that I’d like to raise him in Q City.

That had been a long time ago, and I could no longer remember the situation clearly.

In love, never say never chapter 627

It was May and the temperature had begun to rise.

On our way to the cemetery, we saw many people offering flowers to the deceased.

Q City was relatively small, with a slow pace of life. Most citizens of the city were born and raised there.

Many still hold their local traditions close to heart.

Marcus named the child North and decided not to give the child a surname.

The photo of North had already faded, and his grave was covered with weed.

I kneeled to pluck the weeds and tidied the area around it.

After that, I leaned toward his grave and said with a weak smile, “I’m sorry to have only come now, my dear child.”

I had been avoiding him for so long in hopes of letting go, but it was impossible.

Next to us was a lady in her thirties sobbing quietly.

I glanced over at the tombstone and saw that it was a middle-aged lady. My first thought was that the grave probably belonged to the lady’s mother.

There was no point in consoling her, so I kept silent. I felt empty as I watched her crying her heart out in pain. I wonder why am I not tearing up like her?

Sometime later, the lady stopped crying. She was startled when she noticed me and spoke with her hoarse voice. “You…”

I gave a slight smile and replied, “I’m here to see my child.”

She gave the blurry photo on the tombstone a side glance. Even though it was a blurred photo, anyone could tell it was a baby.

She stared blankly for a moment and asked, “How old is he?”

gestation month old.” Maybe slightly

eyes still red and swollen.

silent and slowly lowered my

the lady

about an eight-year-old girl. That girl was born into a

her father away. Her mother was unable to withstand

and depended on that job for a living. She did not earn much and the girl’s presence was an added

and physical abuse. Eventually, the young girl chose to end her life

a little weird when she told me, a

not wish to

City, and my purpose there was to visit my

I took a long nap and dreamt of North

in tears and

ached as the painful

breakfast, I overheard the conversation between the steamed buns’ stall owner

lady killed herself at the cemetery last night.

rumors

“I wasn’t listening blindly! I saw it on my social media feed earlier. I’m certain it’ll be on the news

let out a deep sigh, probably assuming that she was

one packs the

of the young lady’s suicide when I returned to

as

me of the story that I heard. But…

role did she

I had no regrets. After all, I

I went there before, and the

to find their peace of mind, and also to find a sense

vehicle traffic, had been flattened by countless believers. Regardless, people still went to get closer

a red scarf, I followed the pilgrimage group and kneeled with them

for the misery and suffering to be gone through each step of

beside me who seemed to notice my awkward movements advised, “Young lady, do wear some knee guards or

never say

a pair of bright eyes and a

pain I feel,

Buddhism, for every kneel a mortal being makes with the deceased in mind, the greater the sense of

journey had caused my knees to feel

the deities, I looked up and clasped my hands together to pray. “I pray to god for the living to live in health and for the deceased

chants, I kneeled in the temple while staring at the statue of the deity. The deity had a kind face, with a pair

Let it go!

can only gain a sense

in this world that can’t be resolved. All the pain and

said that the road to reincarnation was similar to the rotation of a rosary, going through each misery with the heart of tenacity and warmth, following the path of light, and leaving

June in A

a bunch of documents to me. “These are the documents for the Marketing Department’s use tomorrow.

work, and glanced at him.

a good idea for

a sigh. “I’m

tomorrow afternoon. You can arrange them tomorrow morning. Scarlett, you have to

I am not anti-social, nor am I trying to avoid the gathering. It’s

here for almost a month. Have you chatted with any of your colleagues yet? If you really want a fresh start, you

doing and looked at him. “What is

new people. To make new friends

I responded and

agreed with his advice. “The gathering is at Oasis Hotel.

invitation card on my desk and said, “You’ll

understanding. “There’s even an invitation card?”

can directly head in for some fun!

was that the place

me the card, Savini was prepared

few days. I called out, “Savini, I need to take

his brows. “Are you heading to K

need

“Missing your kid?”

was too chatty, so I did not

can go together, then. I’m heading there too

“Alright, hurry now, you need

I glanced at the clock and saw that

I had to go even if I did not want to.

met two other female colleagues at the hotel entrance and chatted a

front desk staff informed us politely,

aback. Has the service in hotels always been

the ladies, who had been there before, explained, “This is a hot spring hotel, where

headed up to

entertainment plaza, and dining area

a normal gathering, where everyone would sit together

love, never say

expect the gathering to be held in such a unique way. The hotel had many guests. When we occasionally bump into some colleagues, we would

I found a seat in the main hall and

anyone sitting

was startled by the voice. I turned to take a look and what greeted my sight was a familiar face, but I could not recall

one meter eighty-five in height with a slender figure and

that I was staring at him blankly, he raised his brows and asked, “So

senses returned, and I shook my head.

a seat beside me while holding

help myself but took a few glances. It felt

and asked, “Do you

my head in embarrassment and replied, “No, thank

Logically speaking, people would usually drink either a glass of hard liquor or a cocktail in such an

it was probably normal since the place caters to people of all ages, from kids to adults. Even without such beverages, the place had a lively atmosphere with its neon lighting and upbeat

stood on stage and

so much emotion that I found myself

beside me stood up and left, only to return a

cup of juice beside me. I stared at him with a blank expression as

lightly and said, “You’re

He was the man that stood in front of Grandma’s tombstone. Once again, I fell into a

short pause, I asked,

his brows and

shook my

we don’t know each

by his casual response, so I thought for a moment and asked again, “No, I meant if we have actually

and knowing someone were two

know each other, it could

because we don’t know each other doesn’t mean that we have not seen

was impenetrable, even with my persistent

before, let’s get to know each

put my hand forward and introduced

shook my

Armond Murphy?