The alarm clock rang softly, making Nancy gradually wake up, her head aching violently. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the old wedding photo of Dylan and herself hanging on the headboard. She was startled and sat up, jumped to the floor, and looked while stepping back. Nathan's face from years ago made her feel scared.
She had only taken a few steps back when she bumped into Dylan. She quickly turned around and when she saw him, she was so scared, she screamed and jumped back into bed, grabbed the blanket and covered herself completely, leaving only her eyes exposed.
The closer he got, the more she stuck to the wall. At this moment, she wished she could pass through the wall and run away.
“I was going to wake you up. Go wash your face and go downstairs to drink some hangover soup. I just finished cooking.”
Dylan sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Nancy. She still didn't move, her big round eyes still wide open, watching him as if she was on guard. After a long while, he let out a soft sigh, his voice dropping.
“The Indochina project is still the same as before. The goods are kept as approved. I won't make things difficult for you anymore. Tell the construction team to do a good job.”
After saying that, he stood up and turned towards the door. At this moment, Nancy took off the blanket and jumped out of bed. Just now, when they looked at each other, she realized that his face was very haggard. Her nose suddenly stung, she tried to suppress her emotions and asked.
“Why? What's the reason?”
Dylan's footsteps stopped. The moment he turned his head, Nancy also had time to lower her head to hide her tears. She didn't want him to see through her thoughts, didn't want him to realize that she still loved and cared for him, and was heartbroken because of him.
“I told you so many times, right? I love you, that's the only reason.”
Her heart ached. He was right, he had said this to her many times before, but she didn't know if what he said now was true or not. She raised her tear-stained face to look at him, her voice becoming hoarse.
“Then why did you have surgery to change your face? Why?”
“Because I didn't like it, I changed it, no reason at all.”
Dylan answered lightly and walked out. Behind the door, he heard Nancy crying. He was no better, tears streaming down his face.
He couldn't tell her the truth, he didn't want her to feel guilty when she found out that she was the reason why he came to the brink of life and death and became what he is now.
More than ten minutes later, Nancy left the room and walked down the stairs. Dylan was standing next to the dining table and blinked, signaling her to come and sit.
She silently did as he asked, quickly drank the bowl of hangover soup, and then stood up, hesitantly.
“About last night, thank you, I…”
“Let me take you home.”
“No need.”
“This is the last request.”
Nancy bowed her head, not answering. Her heart felt like someone was tying it up with a thread, making her ache. She had wished Dylan would say these words sooner, but now that she had heard them, she felt a sense of loss and emptiness.
As she walked to the car, walking behind him, she suddenly wanted to run forward, hug his back, and inhale the scent on his shirt, but she was able to restrain herself. She and he were two opposites, she was more rational while he was always controlled by his heart.
The way home today was so short, and they arrived in a flash. The moment she left his car, she felt so sad and regretful. She wanted to stand still and watch until the car disappeared, but her actions always went against her wishes. She quickly walked into the small alley, leaving him silently watching her back.
When Nancy was almost home, she saw the couple Wynn and Mina walking together. If they hadn't called out, she probably wouldn't have recognized them because they were both dressed as discreetly as terrorists.
“Miss Mina, and Mr. Wynn, where are you two going?”
“Oh, I have something to do nearby so I stopped by to give you the exhibition invitation. I've sent it to Ms. Jolie.” Mina spoke up.
“Does your company only have a few people? It's too small.”
Wynn just interrupted and was punched by Mina, he stared at his lover as if he wanted to ask if he said something wrong.
“One person does two or three jobs, saving manpower.” Nancy smiled and nodded.
“Okay, I have to go. Remember to attend the exhibition that day.” Mina's voice was urgent.
“Yes, thank you, you two go.”
She bowed to them and quickly walked into the house. She had drunk too much yesterday, so her mind was still in a daze. Luckily, Dylan had given her some hangover soup.
Seeing Nancy looking haggard, Jolie couldn't help but wonder. After giving the invitation card to Nancy, she kept secretly observing but did not dare to ask. Nancy opened it to see the date and time while speaking calmly, her voice as light as air.
“The matter at Global Group has been resolved. The Chairman said to do it as before and not change anything. Oh, and where is Mason?”
“He went to the construction site to check. Nancy, are you and him…” Jolie didn't know what to ask, just waved her hand to express.
Nancy knew clearly that her friend was thinking nonsense in her head, so she looked into her eyes and said each word clearly.
“There was no exchange at all.”
“Really? But last night when I called you, he picked up and said you were sleeping at his house.”
“Yes, just sleeping.”
Nancy winked mischievously and ran upstairs. Jolie stupidly watched her, while the accountant kept her face buried in the computer and typed as if she heard something but didn't understand anything.
Because Nancy was still tired, she climbed into bed to sleep a little more. She had just closed her eyes when the phone rang and on the other end of the line was Stephen's hoarse voice. She guessed he was very drunk.
“Stephen, are you drinking again?”
“Uh, I have to go out to eat with them after the meeting today.”
“The Indochina project has gone smoothly, don't worry about it. Dylan won't make things difficult for me anymore.”
“Nancy, what did you agree with him?”
“No. I don't know why he changed his mind, but I believe he won't go back on his word.”
As soon as Nancy finished speaking, Stephen burst out laughing bitterly, staggering to the door and leaning against it, looking at the city glittering with electric lights and bustling traffic outside.
It turns out that when people are sad, standing in the middle of a bustling and splendid scene will be much sadder than in a quiet place.
“Nancy, there's something I think I should tell you.”
In his drunken stupor, Stephen told Nancy all of Dylan's secrets. About what his name was at first, how he got into trouble, what kind of accident he had, how he underwent surgery, and then how he came back to take over and change the company's name. He also told her about Rosalind following Dylan around for two years but only receiving coldness and indifference from Dylan.
Nancy pressed her hand hard on her lips to stop the sobs from coming out. Her tears flowed down, her heart ached as if it was being cut into pieces.
Only now did she know that when she heartlessly turned her back on him that year, she had left him alone with wounds in his heart and body.
Thinking about what he had gone through, she felt extremely guilty. She even thought that she had suffered because of him, but it turned out that she had harmed him so miserably.
“Nancy, he was deeply hurt for a long time because of that girl's betrayal. I saw that he truly loved you, so I let go of you and blessed you and him. I want to know why you broke up with him. Nancy, are you still listening?”
Unable to tell Stephen that she was that bad girl, she hung up the phone and buried her head in her pillow, sobbing. She blamed her love for him for being too small, not as much as Rosalind's love, blamed herself for only worrying about herself and not understanding his suffering and fear, and blamed herself for being so stupid that she didn't realize his true feelings for her.