Eulalia was still quite surprised. She hadn't expected Grey, who hadn't said a word, to be thinking of buying a house for marriage. Judging by his red face, he must have had someone in mind already.
Cubs...
It seemed like his mate was pregnant?
In that case, he had to buy a house quickly.
He had kept it well hidden. He hadn't shown a hint of it around her, while she, a single woman, was always ranting.
It was like how she thought Grey was poor, and now he was buying a house. Turns out, the only fool was herself.
But she hadn't asked him.
Whether he had some money or a mate, Grey wasn't obligated to tell her anything.
But didn't she remember that this guy had some extra thoughts toward her a couple of days ago?
How did he suddenly have a mate?
Or... was he joking about his words to her?
Alright, it didn't matter.
They each had their own lives.
Eulalia pursed her lips, looking at the pictures on her phone. In the end, she picked a three-bedroom apartment with good lighting and a large balcony.
"I think this one is good. You're a werewolf, so when you have little cubs, they can run around on the balcony."
Grey nodded seriously. Looking at the large balcony in the photo, he subtly curled the corner of his lips, as if he could already picture round little cubs running around there.
Sensing the scent of another human male in the air, his joyous mood faded a little.
He sulked for a while, but then he remembered Draven's words, and his spirits lifted. He decided to focus on the present: buy the house first, then learn to drive!
Eulalia, having finally shed her single status, was eager to nurture the relationship with sincerity. Yet, as time passed, an unsettling sense grew within her, as though something was amiss, though she couldn't quite place what it was.
It wasn't until a week later, during a meal, when Alexander left his phone on the table to get her a drink. Eulalia glanced at the screen by chance and saw a familiar social app.
Eulalia didn't immediately recall what the app was. She had some vague recollection of it but couldn't place it at the moment. Just as she was trying to think further, Alexander returned.
She temporarily suppressed her doubts.
Later that night, Eulalia was playing with her phone while applying a face mask. She came across some posts from an influencers about a homosexual dating app, and when she saw the familiar app, she was stunned.
The app on Alexander's phone was a dating platform for homosexual. She had seen it before, thus it left an impression on her.
Alexander, a common man, what would he want with this app?
Eulalia blinked in confusion, stunned. It was something she had only seen online, and now it seemed to be happening to her.
Alexander... could he... love men?
She didn't have any prejudice against that group. After all, live and let live—everyone was just looking for happiness, and it had nothing to do with her. But this... this...
Eulalia blinked blankly, feeling uneasy in her heart. She had just gotten out of her single life. No... could it be?
She came up with several reasons to justify Alexander, but she couldn't convince herself.
That night, Eulalia didn't sleep until nearly dawn.
The next day, she and Alexander had planned to go for steak in the evening. Eulalia didn't get up until noon, and this time, she didn't pay much attention to her outfit.
She wanted to check Alexander's phone. Maybe she had misread things? At the same time, her gaze carried a sense of scrutiny as she looked at him.
And once doubt creeps in, even the most flawless performance will reveal a crack.
After finishing the steak, Alexander escorted her downstairs. She got out of the car, bid him farewell, and walked toward the shadows. As she turned around, she noticed that Alexander hadn't immediately driven off.
It seemed he was taking a call, walking slowly, moving farther from the car, heading toward the lake nearby.
Eulalia pressed her lips together, then turned and followed him.
"Honey!" Under the streetlight, Alexander's voice carried a weight. "There are a few things being said in our circle: we call three months a golden marriage, but we've been together for six years, haven't we? Don't you know whether I love you?"
From behind the wall, Eulalia's eyes widened in shock.
"...You could go find a woman to marry, and then we'd both be off the hook, everything would be easier, and it would be better for both of us! Can't we just be a couple in secret? No one will suspect us, trust me."
The more Eulalia listened, the colder her heart became, and gradually, a fire ignited within her.
Her face was expressionless as she took off her high heels and slowly walked over.
Alexander's call had obviously been hung up. He lowered his head, frustrated, staring at his phone, ready to call again, but he had already been blocked.
Eulalia had already walked up to his side, and only then did he notice her, startled. "...Who?"
"I'm the vengeful ghost here to claim your life!" Eulalia cursed, grabbing one of her high heels and began wildly smashing it into Alexander's body like a small hammer.
"Dare to trick me? Damn it, you think I'm an easy woman? Go to hell! Go to hell!"
The high heels were hard and sharp, and the pain from them hitting his body was unimaginable. Alexander couldn't defend himself and took several hits.
"You were born without shame!"
Alexander kept guarding his arms. "Eulalia, you... calm down, let me explain..."
"Shut up!"
Alexander staggered back under the blows, but he dared not make a scene or escalate things. There were a few people strolling by the lake. Eulalia pointed at him and began shouting, "This is a marriage scammer! Everyone, take a good look!"
"Yeah, take pictures! Get it on camera!"
Alexander was terrified. He had a job—if this got out, he was finished. He covered his face and ran off, his body aching from the blows. That damn woman hit him mercilessly.
"Get lost! You disaster! Evil bastard!"
As she watched Alexander flee, one of his shoes falling off as he ran, Eulalia breathed heavily, laughing aloud. But soon, her laughter faded.
What a mess. And she had to encounter it.
After the anger of hitting him passed, her body and mind both felt drained.
The night breeze blew as she stood barefoot on the ground, holding her high heels in hand, looking like an oddity, like a silly clown.
Eulalia lowered her gaze to her feet, thinking about this absurd situation, biting her lip, her mood sinking to the lowest point.
She walked back slowly, and at the entrance of the building, on either side, there were barbecues, supermarkets, and such. Eulalia turned her direction, walked over to a roadside stall, sat down at a table, ordered some barbecue, and asked for a few bottles of beer.
Now, returning home, the place would be empty and dark.
Grey had already left long ago. He was going to buy a house and live with his mate.
She had thought her life was finally on track, but it turned out to be nothing at all.
What was the point of losing weight? She hadn't had barbecue in a long time to keep in shape, and this was what she encountered—such a scumbag.
She might as well have some barbecue to comfort herself and enjoy it.
The barbecue came a little later, but the beer was served first.
Eulalia sat alone at the table. As she looked at the open beer in front of her, she suddenly reached out, grabbed it, and poured several cups in one go, drinking them down in quick succession.
As she drank, she felt increasingly pathetic, more heartbroken, her eyes reddening.
How much longer... would she be alone?
She suddenly missed Grey. Even though that guy didn't like to talk, and never said anything particularly interesting, he would quietly stay and listen to her. At least he was there.
She used to think that without her in his life, he wouldn't fare well.
In reality, she had overestimated her importance—he was still living his life splendidly without her.
It seemed like it was she who needed Grey more.
No, she was wrong—this world would go on just fine without her.
Eulalia felt dizzy and warm, but her heart felt even heavier with sadness.
—
—When the phone rang—
Grey was at home alone, silently staring at the photo of a woman smiling brightly.
When he saw Eulalia's call, he paused for a moment before answering, placing the phone to his ear without speaking.
On the other end of the phone, the noise was a bit chaotic, and a woman's voice came through: "Hello, are you this girl's brother? She's drunk. Come pick her up. Oh my, what's a young lady doing drinking..."
Grey's face shifted.
By the time he arrived, he found Eulalia slumped over the table, barefoot, muttering incoherently, reeking of alcohol.
Grey furrowed his brows slightly, then walked over silently.
Seeing Eulalia with her eyes closed, clearly out of sorts, he squatted down, took her shoes, lifted her foot, brushed off the dirt, and gently put them back on.
His expression remained neutral as he silently wiped the dirt off her feet, his movements quiet, though his ears were tinged red.
Once her shoes were on, he lifted her onto his back and left.
Eulalia, hazy and confused, felt herself being carried, her feet swaying as she muttered, "Who's this? I don't even know you. Where are you taking me?"
"Let me down, I warn you!" She grabbed a handful of his hair. "Let me down now! You bad thing!"
How come there are so many bad people lately? she thought.
Grey patiently explained, "I'm not a bad thing. I'm just taking you home."
But the drunken woman didn't listen to him at all, wriggling around on his back.
Grey carried her for a while, then muttered, "Stop causing trouble, just behave."
Then, his head was slapped, making a sharp 'smack' sound.
Grey was stunned by the slap.
The woman behind him retorted confidently, "It's your fault for not letting me down."
Grey pressed his lips together, took a deep breath, and said nothing, continuing to walk forward.
Carrying the drunk woman, holding her bag, he had to endure her swaying movements and the occasional slap on his head.
Grey walked forward in silence, slowly speaking, "The house is bought."
"...And I've started learning to drive."
"I ate pork today..."
"...What kind of bed do you like?"
"When did you break up with him?"
"...Why are you drinking?"
Perhaps the last question was clearer, and Eulalia understood. She angrily replied, "Am I not allowed to drink? That idiot dared to lie to me! He likes men! And marry me just for a baby! I'm drinking to drown my sorrows!"
Afterward, she collapsed on Grey's back, crying out, "Boo-Woo! I'm single again! Why am I so unlucky!"
Grey stopped in his tracks, stunned for a moment, then gently said, "I see, that's really pitiful."
"They're really bad."
At the same time, he subtly curled his lips, thinking to himself that Draven was indeed impressive.
