Chapter 2
Just as I stepped out of the jewelry store, my phone buzzed. Landon s so–called distant cousin, Brittany Walker, had just posted a new update. In the photo, Landon was on one knee, holding the custom diamond ring I’d just seen, surrounded by flowers. Across from him stood Brittany, smiling brightly and clutching a bouquet of roses. The caption read: [Romantic until death!]
I couldn’t help myself–I hit “like” before turning off my screen. But just then, a message from Brittany popped up:
[Olive, Landon and I are just joking. Please don‘ t take it seriously.]
I paused, a bit stunned. But for the first time, her words felt hollow, and I found I didn’t care as much as I once might have. After a moment, I typed a reply:
[Got it, have fun!]
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As I walked past an ATM, I noticed a young girl nearby, huddled against the wall. clutching her phone, tears streaming down her face.
“Buddy, he transferred all my money. My mom’s still in the hospital… what am I supposed to do?” I overheard the girl s distressed voice as I walked past, but I kept my steps steady, not wanting to intrude on her pain.
A gust of wind carried her voice again, trembling and bitter. “Buddy, I hate this world so much…”
With a sigh, I turned around and stepped toward her, offering a small smile. “Hey there, how about a trade? I’ll give you something I have here, and in exchange, you let me buy you something sweet.”
The girl looked up at me, blinking in surprise before pulling a few pieces of White Rabbit candy from her pocket.
“Miss, are you low on blood sugar? Here, take these–no need to trade.”
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I wasn‘ t hypoglycemic. I just remembered someone once told me that sweets can help the heart heal, even just a little.
I accepted the candy, unwrapped one, and popped it into my mouth, savoring the small burst of sweetness.
The sweetness of the candy spread on my tongue, and for a moment, it felt like my mood lifted. Quickly, I unwrapped another piece and held it out toward the girl. She hesitated, but then took it from my fingers and popped it into her mouth.
With a gentle push, I tucked my handbag into her arms, keeping the remaining candy in my palm and waving it lightly. “It’s only fair to share. If you don‘ t want these, I’ll just toss them in the trash.”
I offered her a reassuring smile. “This world isn’t as terrible as it seems, you
know.”
With that, I turned and walked away,
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feeling a lightness in my heart. I couldn’t
tell if it was the taste of the White Rabbit candy or the joy of helping someone else that buoyed my spirits.
The walk home took two hours, but as soon as I opened the door, I found Landon lounging on the sofa in his nightgown, focused on his phone. The moment he glanced up and saw me, the smile slipped from his face.
“Why are you back so late?” he asked, his tone sharp.
I paused, weighing my words before answering. “I didn’t expect it to take so long.”
His brow furrowed. “You walked back?”
I nodded slightly, but he sneered, “You should have taken a taxi. I can’t believe you would walk all this way when you‘ re sick.”
I didn’t argue back. After all, there was no real hardship in my actions. I had
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dedicated six years to him, and if he wanted to scold me, I accepted it.
As I walked home today, I was quietly saying goodbye to the past. I was letting go of that rainy night when love first. blossomed, bidding farewell to the young man who had carried me through long streets while battling a high fever.
During dinner, I noticed Landon glancing at me repeatedly. I pretended not to notice, taking small sips from my bowl of rice. It wasn’t until I set my bowl and chopsticks down, feeling eighty percent full, that I heard him say, “I noticed you liked that post on Instagram today.”
I froze, momentarily startled. I vaguely recalled that my actions might lead him to think I was moving on. Quickly, I pulled out my phone. “Sorry, I’ll remove it
now.”
He stood up abruptly, pressing my phone. down. “That’s not what I meant.”
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Surprised, I looked up and met his gaze, which was filled with confusion.
“I mean, I’m glad you‘ re getting along with her,” he clarified.
Understanding washed over me, and I felt a strange mix of relief and something else I couldn’t quite place.
In the past, I had cared too deeply for Landon, which made me hostile toward Brittany. I not only ignored her posts on Instagram, but whenever I stumbled across something related to them, I would seize the opportunity to scold both of them. Landon grew weary of our constant arguments, often calling me a shrew.
I offered a noncommittal smile, then excused myself to the bathroom. After a soothing bath, I subconsciously made my way back to the master bedroom. However, just as my hand grasped the doorknob, I heard a man’s gentle voice from inside.
“Fool, if you promise not to touch her, I
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won‘ 1. Trust me.”
“Be good. I’ll accompany you tomorrow. Go to sleep.”
My heart sank as I released the doorknob. and turned away, heading instead to the study.
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