After a long pause, Aria nodded stiffly.
“Yes.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Sterling. Please take it.”
Evan said nothing more. He leaned back in his seat.
“I’m sorry, Vice President. I can’t accept your feelings. You deserve someone better. I’ll go now.”
She opened the car door, ready to step out.
“What if I say I won’t let go?” Evan grabbed her arm.
“It’s not like you to cling to someone,” Aria turned to face him.
“I don’t see it as clinging. Everyone has the right to pursue true love.”
“But it stops being true love when it bothers the other person,” she replied.
Evan’s face fell.
“You should go back now,” Aria gently freed her arm and got out.
She walked to the porch. She pulled the keys from her bag. Her hand paused for a moment. She didn’t look back. She went straight inside.
Once inside, her shoulders slumped.
She bit her lip, holding back her emotions.
It took so much courage to reject someone she liked.
She didn’t dare to stay in the car. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to leave if she did.
Aria returned to her apartment. Savannah was already home. Seeing her look so lost, Savannah was startled.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Savannah, how did you survive your past breakups?”
“At first, I thought I wouldn’t make it. That I’d die. Then I lived like a zombie for a while. Eventually, I forgot. I realized it was nothing. Are you heartbroken?” Savannah’s eyes widened in shock.
“Is it a breakup if it ends before it even starts?” Aria looked up at her.
“Did your confession get rejected?” Savannah stared.
“Basically. I just turned down someone I like.” Aria felt like crying.
“If you like him, why reject him? Do you have a hole in your head?”
“Because there’s no future.” Aria slumped onto the sofa.
“How do you know there’s no future if you haven’t even started?”
“Do you think two people from different worlds always end up together?”
“Not now. But who knows about the future? The sea can turn into fields. Nothing is impossible. Tell me what happened.”
Aria looked at Savannah’s gossipy expression. She felt both angry and amused. But mostly, she felt worse.
“You’re too curious. I’m not telling. I’m going to take a shower.”
“Heartless,” Savannah muttered.
“I’m heartbroken and in a bad mood. What about my conscience?” Aria said calmly, taking her bag into the bedroom.
Savannah was so annoyed she almost blurted out that Aria deserved it.
But she held back.
A joke was a joke. She couldn’t say something like that.
So she just watched TV in the living room alone.
Aria went to the bedroom. She wasn’t in the mood to shower. She lay down on the bed.
She really wanted to cry.
A moment later, she suddenly jumped up. She rushed to the window and looked down.
The next second, she quickly pulled back.
The Vice President’s car was still there. He hadn’t left yet.
Aria hid and watched the car. She thought about how he looked sitting there. It made her feel even worse.
She turned around. Her phone buzzed with a message from him.
Best wishes.
Aria read the message. Her heart was a mess.
There was no happiness at all.
This message meant he had figured it out. He was ready to let go.
This was the result she wanted.
But knowing that made her feel terrible.
After this, there would be nothing between them.
After a while, Aria replied.
Thank you, Vice President. I wish you happiness too.
Evan looked at the message and smiled bitterly.
What if my happiness is you?
He didn’t send that. He lit another cigarette. Then he started the car, turned around, and drove away from the complex.
Aria’s life returned to its usual calm. She went to work on time every day. After work, she went straight home. She had no special activities. Occasionally, she went shopping or hiking with Maya.
But lately, Maya had fallen in love. She had no time for Aria.
So Aria was mostly on her own.
Two days ago, she had coffee with her mother at the airport. Her mother’s flight had a layover there. They had just over an hour.
Her mother looked younger and more energetic than the last time they met. She told Aria she was planning to remarry. Aria was surprised.
After the divorce, her mother had tried dating again. But it ended badly. The man was younger than her and had never been married. His parents strongly opposed the relationship.
Her mother let go. In the following years, she traveled and studied. Later, she started her own fashion design brand. She had no free time. She flew all over the world.
Aria didn’t see her mother often. Sometimes, when her mother’s flight had a layover, they would meet.
So hearing that her mother was remarrying was a shock.
She asked curiously which handsome man had finally won her mother’s heart.
Her mother said it was Li Yu. The man Aria always called Uncle Li.
Aria never expected that after all these years, her mother would end up with him.
Li Yu was the boyfriend her mother dated after the divorce. They broke up because his parents objected.
“Mom, how did you two get back together?” Aria asked in surprise.
“Maybe it’s fate. We met again at a trade fair. Later, we had a drink together. We talked and found out he hadn’t dated anyone all these years. He’s been single. So we got back together.”
“Mom, that’s wonderful! You and Uncle Li are meant to be.” Aria was so happy for her.
“Fate is a strange thing. Sometimes it seems hopeless. But years later, it turns around again.” Her mother sighed.
“It means you two are destined to be together. No one can separate you.”
“Aria, I’m glad you can accept this.” Her mother smiled.
“Why wouldn’t I? Mom, you’ve found happiness again. I’m thrilled! You should marry Uncle Li soon. I’ll be your bridesmaid and flower girl.”
“You’re talking nonsense again.” Her mother laughed.
She asked about Aria’s life. Aria said she was fine. Work was good.
Her mother tried to give her a card. Aria refused. She said she had a job now and could support herself.