Chapter 99
“I ain’t going over there this year, why don’t you take Bonnie instead?” I casually tossed the opportunity over to Bonnie, with my hands tucked into my coat pockets I believed she could use this chance.
Neil’s forehead creased creating a small mountain peak, and his eyes held a complex mixture of emotions. It was not quite outright displeasure, but a kind of restrained dissatisfaction.
“We’re not getting a divorce. I’ll take care of Bonnie’s situation”
Honestly, upon hearing this, I felt like I was hallucinating. It sounded like he was choosing me over Bonnie. Wasn’t that just nuts? He was just going to ditch his dream girl like that?
“Neil, quit pulling my leg. Don’t give me empty promises. No, they can’t even be considered promises “I calmly rejected him.
I turned to go inside, but Neil grabbed my arm.
“Let me try” He pleaded for the first time.
He’d never humbled himself like this, not even when he wanted a divorce in my previous life. I felt my heart skip a beat.
Could Neil really be in love with me? But there was no way he loved me more than Bonnie. If he had to give someone up, it would be me.
I figured Neil was probably under pressure from his family and wasn’t ready to take on the world for Bonnie yet, so he wanted to keep using me to appease his family. That was the only plausible explanation I could think of..
“Don’t bother, go home. My dad hasn’t come back yet. If he sees you here when he does, it would be awkward” I maintained my rationality.
Speaking of the devil, my dad was just out dealing with some emergency. My mom was busy cooking and didn’t know Neil was here. Upon seeing Neil, my dad’s face darkened as if he had seen some ill omen. “What are you doing here?” He asked sternly.
Neil
a new father–in-law soon, so go call
took my dad’s arm. ‘Dad, Mom needs help in the kitchen. You go,
matters between Neil and me, so
seen it. My family has a very bad impression of you, Neil. Even if we don’t divorce right now, there won’t be a happy ending. I’ve convinced my parents not to interfere in our affairs. You should go and explain things to your
me heavily “I don’t plan on getting a divorce.
much longer do you plan on wasting my time?‘ I blurted out “How can you be so cruel? Even if I agreed to marry you to please your grandfather and ease the pressure from your parents, you agreed to it too. You saw
contained a sudden surge of emotion. “Irene, do you really not know
looked at him uncomprehendingly.
scoffed. “Bullshit freedom”
#
He was just as nonchalant after marriage, showing no restraint despite being a married man. Freedom
my phone rang. It was Faith. Despite the tension between Neil and me,
call “Irene, are you coming over for the New Year’s Eve
I probably won’t make it this year.” I hesitated before
tell you. Maybe you’ll understand what Neil has been up
also looking at me. After loving him for ten years, I became intimately familiar with his life, personality, and preferences. What else could there be that I didn’t know? My curiosity was piqued
been so cold to me all these
I told Ne, “Let’s
the front passenger seat but then deciding to sit in the back instead The front seat was Bonnie’s by right, and I had no desire to
but he didn’t comment and just drove off towards Springvale.
I texted my parents, explaining the situation. Thankfully, they understood and
snow, and occasional traffic jams, our journey took longer than usual. What would normally be a four–hour drive took
Mom “I greeted Ryan and Faith as warmly as ever
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