Chapter 03

C. Jacobs 526 words

Alfred pulled me out the room and said, “Laraine, what do you mean? Marleen just wants to wear it for a moment, she’s not taking it from you.” He added, “At a time like this, why are you still quibbling over these things?”

I shook off his hand. Well, she just wanted to wear it for a moment, not take it from me. Just like she wanted to hold an absurd wedding with Alfred, she just wanted a ceremony, not to marry him.

So, I can’t argue with someone who is dying; I need to tolerate it, right?

I took a deep breath and said, “Alfred, I thought about it yesterday. We’re not suitable for each other. Let’s break up.”

I can’t compete with a dead person. Even after Marleen dies, she will always be a barrier between Alfred and me. We will never be happy.

Rather than constantly being wary of a “dead person” in my daily life, it’s better to break up now.

“What did you say?” Alfred asked in disbelief.

“I said, let’s break up. Whatever you and Marleen do will have nothing to do with me.”

Alfred stared at me coldly. After a long moment, he said in a low voice, “Laraine, Marleen suffers from leukemia and doesn’t have much time left, and you’re still being petty and jealous, breaking up with me at this point? Do you think this is appropriate?”

I laughed sarcastically and said, “Alfred, precisely because she doesn’t have much time left, I’m choosing to break up.”

Without warning, Alfred suddenly raised his hand and pushed me down to the ground. Pointing his finger at me, he shouted, “Laraine, I really misjudged you. I never thought you could be this kind of person.”

His slap stunned me. My parents had never laid a finger on me, and he—what did he think he was, to dare slap me?

Furious, I immediately stood up and slapped him back, and shouting, “Take your woman and get out of here—right now!”

Alfred, who probably never imagined I’d hit him back, was livid, veins bulging on his fist. His previously handsome face looked pale.

In the room, Marleen called out in a feeble voice, “Alfred, don’t argue. I’m sorry, it’s my fault…”

Alfred glared at me fiercely, then quickly walked downstairs, pulling Marleen along. I stood on the corridor, gritting my teeth, and said, “Leave my things behind.”

Marleen, crying, walked to the dressing room and soon returned in her own clothes. However, she seemed to have forgotten my diamond ring was still on her hand.

“Leave the ring!” I said, touching the side of my face that still burned from Alfred’s slap. At that moment, my heart had completely turned cold.

The love I once had for him has now turned into complete disgust. A dying person should have some self-awareness. I truly didn’t understand what Marleen was trying to achieve with all this drama.

“Leave everything that belongs to me… the bracelet, the ring!” I demanded, my voice trembling with anger.