"Charlie, I heard you're having issues with Alexander lately. What's going on?"
The two of them were eating pan-fried buns. Charlie looked down at Evie, hesitating.
"You've been holding that in for so long. You finally said it!" Evie looked up and smiled at Charlie.
"If I didn't care about you, I wouldn't bother!" Charlie retorted, refusing to admit it.
Truth was, Evie had already noticed Charlie wanted to talk to her the whole time. She just didn't know how to start.
Evie thought Charlie was going to tell her about Noah. But it turned out to be about her and Alexander.
"How did you find out?" Evie asked with a smile. "Did Alexander tell you?"
"Of course not!" Charlie rolled her eyes. The next second, she realized she almost slipped up. She changed the subject. "Anyway, don't worry about who told me. What's happening?"
"It's nothing. We just don't fit together," Evie said faintly, a little embarrassed.
She didn't want outsiders to know about this. She only told her sister Victoria, hoping Victoria would support her.
But she didn't expect her sister to be so opposed. Then it spread everywhere. Now everyone around her knew she and Alexander were getting a divorce.
"Are we best friends?" Charlie stared at Evie and asked.
"Yes!" Evie laughed and nodded.
"Since I'm your best friend, why are you keeping such a big secret from me? Do you not trust me? Do you see me as an outsider?" Charlie continued to accuse.
"It's not as serious as you think! It's just something between a husband and wife. Sometimes it's hard to explain," Evie shook her head and explained.
"Hard to explain? Just say it slowly! It's not a time bomb. You have time!" Charlie rolled her eyes.
Charlie always had a way with words. Simple, sharp, and right on point.
"I feel like Alexander and I have completely different thoughts and opinions on love and marriage. Even if we barely live together, we'll only have bigger problems later," Evie said.
"You say that, and I kind of understand."
"No, I'm just generalizing."
"Don't generalize. Start from when you first started having conflicts. What conflicts led to the divorce? I can understand them one by one.
I'm not married, so I'm not an expert. But sometimes, bystanders see things clearly.
Maybe I can give you some constructive advice," Charlie urged.
Evie couldn't help laughing. She looked at Charlie. Charlie's expression and posture made it seem like she'd be letting Evie down if she didn't speak.
"Charlie, let me make a hypothesis.
I'm just assuming. Just listen. Don't take it to heart."
"What's with the hesitation? Just say it. Are you afraid I'll misunderstand?" Charlie replied impatiently.
"If you end up with Noah in the future, but he always has other women in his heart—"
"Don't assume that. Noah always has you in his heart!" Charlie replied directly.
Evie was stunned. How did the conversation get here?
"I won't interrupt. Go on!" Charlie said with a smile.
"Could you never mind? Could you act like nothing happened and keep living with Noah?"
Charlie propped her chin up and thought.
"To be honest, it seems hard not to care."
Evie nodded.
"But if Noah really wanted to be with me, I could get over it.
Why?
Because I like Noah so much. I can tolerate all his flaws. Including that he has someone else in his heart.
Of course, only if he just thinks about it. He can't actually do something to betray me," Charlie said seriously.
"Maybe you'd feel that way when you first get married. But after years of marriage, when you become an old married couple, would you start to care?" Evie continued.
Charlie thought about what Evie said. After a while, she spoke.
"It would probably be a little hard. Why?
I think if we're an old married couple and we love each other to death.
Or maybe by then, I don't like him as much. So I'd start to mind."
"Exactly. People change. Even if you don't mind now, maybe you'll mind later.
And in a way, don't you think letting him go might make you happier?" Evie replied with a smile.
"I don't know. I'd have to get him first to find out," Charlie sighed.
After a moment, she suddenly realized something. She stared at Evie with wide eyes and asked, "Is there another woman in Alexander's heart?"
Then, without waiting for Evie's response, she continued talking to herself. "I almost forgot. Alexander once had a very deep first love! What was her name? Oh, right, Grace! I had dinner with her once! Can't Alexander forget her?"
Evie nodded.
"I can't stand sand in my eyes.
Alexander's past feelings would make you feel like a thorn in your heart.
It won't kill you, but you can't ignore it!"
Evie smiled faintly and didn't argue.
"So that's why you want to divorce Alexander?
To be honest, if that's the case, I feel a little sorry for Alexander.
Everyone has a past!
But it's over. Let it go.
If you hold on, won't it just make things harder for you?" Charlie looked at Evie seriously and asked.
"I'm not holding on. But Alexander can't let go," Evie shook her head and said.
"Alexander can't let go? Really?" Charlie was a little shocked.
"Maybe I'm too serious and strict about feelings.
All along, whenever it has anything to do with Grace, Alexander always seems to care too much," Evie sighed.
"Give me an example!" Charlie urged.
Evie had to tell Charlie what had happened before.
When Charlie heard it, she almost jumped up.
"You were pregnant, and Alexander asked you to donate blood?"
"He didn't know I was pregnant," Evie explained.
"He should have asked why you didn't want to!"
"Exactly. That's why I feel like whenever it has to do with Grace, Alexander can't care about anything else."
"That's too much. If it were me, I'd turn around and leave. I'd give him nothing!" Charlie replied angrily.
"It's not that serious. The situation was really urgent. It was a matter of life and death."
"You had two lives! Pfft, pfft, I'm talking nonsense.
I mean, there were so many people in the hospital. Why did it have to be you? It's not like it's rare blood type or something!" Charlie replied darkly.