A Vengeful Ex-Wife

"Please tell me you aren't fooling me!" Sandra said. She hadn't known that Cooper was capable of uttering such sweet words.

"No, I am not fooling anyone. I really want to be with you!" he said, giving stress to every single word.

The restaurant manager and the others chanted, "Marry him! Marry him!

Marry him!"

Sandra's eyes were moist with tears. She hadn't expected Cooper to propose out of the blue.

"As you said, once I ate the steak you cooked, I would become yours. The truth is, I have always been yours. I am only waiting for your yes." As he eagerly awaited for her response, Cooper was clutched by an uneasy feeling.

Tears began to roll down her cheeks. The bouquet of flowers became wet with her tears. Sandra looked around at everyone who was watching her expectantly. "Okay," she said, nodding her head. The crowd broke into an applause. Cooper put the diamond ring on her finger, stood up and kissed her.

After coming back from the restaurant, Sandra took her phone and captured a photo of her hand, showing the glinting diamond ring. She then sent it to her mother.

The instant her mother saw it, she was overcome by fear. She called her and said, "Don't hurry into things, Sandra! I won't compel you to go on blind dates. But please don't jump into marriage so casually!" She couldn't believe her daughter was willing to marry someone so soon. What astonished her the most was the fact she had chosen someone from Z Country.

Listening to her mother's apprehensive words, Sandra burst into laughter. "Mom, I am not hurrying into marriage with a stranger."

Cooper, who had overheard their conversation, smiled and took the phone from her. "Auntie, it's me, Cooper."

Sandra's mother was startled. She had never anticipated this and it came as a surprise.

"Auntie, I'll stay here for a few days and accompany Sandra to H City. Once I get back to H City, I'll pay you and her father a visit."

Sandra's mother opened her mouth but then hesitated. In the end, she told herself she had to say it for the sake of her daughter's happiness. "Mr. Xi, my daughter is a good girl with a kind heart. She has always liked you. She never thought of another man. Xi family is so rich, and I'm afraid Sandra may not be good enough for you. I don't think you two are suitable for each other."

As Cooper heard her mother's concerns, he explained, "Auntie, you're thinking too much. If two people love each other, nothing else matters."

"It takes more than love for a marriage to work. Perhaps love is enough for a relationship. You two may be suitable for that. But as far as marriage is concerned, I am not sure this is a right match. Mr. Xi, I advise you to think it over." Sandra's mother was still worried. After all, Sandra had been in love with Cooper for several years, but he had never reciprocated her love before.

Now when Sandra decided to give up, he had taken the trouble to go abroad after her. What on earth did he want from her?

"Well, let's talk about it when we get back," he said. He knew it would be difficult to convince her through the phone. They could sit and discuss this matter in person.

"Okay." She also knew it would be improper to have this conversation over the phone. "You can enjoy yourselves. I won't disturb you anymore."

"Bye, Auntie!"

After hanging up the phone, Cooper chose to keep his conversation with Sandra's mother a secret. He simply told her that her mother asked them to have a good time. He also added that she wished to speak to him in person once they were back in H City.

In the evening, Sandra received a message from her mother.

Her mother didn't say anything explicitly. However, Sandra was a smart girl. She understood what her mother's words implied.

She looked at Cooper, who was busy with another phone call. Then, she texted her mother saying, "Mom, you are thinking too much. He has booked a room next to Dad's. He will be leaving in a few minutes." "That's good." Relief washed over her mother.

Cooper's parents hadn't yet met her family. The diamond ring on Sandra's finger meant nothing since their families weren't involved. A single girl had to maintain her chastity and self-respect.

Even if Cooper wanted to sleep with her, he wouldn't have the nerve to sleep with her here. After all, her father stayed in the room opposite to hers.

Her mother had no reason to worry. As Sandra had said, after giving her a good night kiss, Cooper went back to his room.

Maria's life returned and became peaceful, at least for half a month. The tumult in her heart died down and she was calm.

Coy was still naughty in the nunnery. He often expressed his desire to become a monkey. All he wanted to do was hang on the tree. This irritated Maria.

One day, Coy rushed into the room and said to Maria, "Mom, I found something interesting in the shop next to the nunnery. It's a pair of gold lions. If you want it, you have to pay one million and eighty thousand dollars."

One million and eighty thousand dollars!

Maria was alarmed. She was familiar with the shop. The nunnery had more and more pilgrims arriving in the past two years. As a result, they began to run some shops, hoping they would cover the expenses o the nunnery. Listening to her son's words, Maria began to look around for something. She finally found a stick from behind the door. She was determined to beat the naughty boy up.

Coy understood what his mother was up to. Screaming and howling, he ran out of the room.

Maria chased after him. She made her mind to teach him a lesson this time.

Coy hid behind a big tree and looked at his mother. One could tell he was very nervous.

Maria hit against the tree with the stick and asked fiercely, "Do you still want it?" Coy shook his head.

As this spectacle unraveled, a man walked through the threshold and caught sight of it. "Maria, is this how you treat my son?"

Maria's face changed slightly. She didn't turn around, but her anger increased. She continued to chase after Coy.

Coy saw who it was. He ran towards James to seek protection.

He hid behind his father and looked at Maria with a triumphant expression.

Maria was about to explode. She gave them both an indignant look.

Angry at being intruded, she said, "Get out of my way, James. I have to teach him a lesson today!"

But James wouldn't budge. Remaining in the same place, he demanded, "What happened?"

Maria thought she didn't owe him an explanation.

Coy looked at James sorrowfully. "Daddy, I wanted a pair of lions. And when I told Mom about it, she tried to hit me."

"That's all?" James glanced at Maria who was fuming with rage. He hadn't seen her for a long time. But he realized she had gotten more and more irritable. Maria rolled her eyes at him and said, "What do you know? It's a pair of gold lions. Why would a two-year-old want that? Doesn't he deserve my beating?" The worst part was the pair of gold lions cost one million and eighty thousand dollars. It shouldn't have attracted a child's fancy!

To her utter surprise, James seemed calm. "This just goes to show my son is already capable of telling good from bad. He has very good taste."

Maria was shocked at his reasoning. For an instant, she had forgotten how rich this man was.

James picked up Coy and held him in his arms. "I'll buy it for you."

"Great! I love you, Daddy." He hugged his father tightly and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.

Maria took a deep breath and watched them with an indifferent expression. "Go ahead and buy it! But remember to take him with you. I can't afford to raise your son anymore."

James stopped in his tracks, looked at Coy and said, "Your mom is angry. What should we do?"

Coy didn't know what to do. He looked contemplative for a second and said, "You can persuade her."

Her son's blatant way of speaking stunned Maria. She couldn't be persuaded!

Then she went back to her room, the stick still in her hand.

With his son in his arms, James continued to walk outside. "How about the two of us persuade her together?" "Yes! Sounds great."

In less than half an hour, the father and son came back to the backyard, holding a box.

Maria was nowhere to be found, but the room was tightly locked. Coy's suitcase was placed at the door.

Puzzled, the father and son looked at each other. Coy's mouth twisted into a pout. "Mom has really abandoned me," he said sadly.

"No, she hasn't," James assured. He took out his phone and dialed Gary's number. "Come to the nunnery."

LARK COLE

Author