I burst into the bar through the heavy rain, and the atmosphere inside was lively.
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Luke Hebert was pinching the chin of his childhood sweetheart, Lila Berg, and kissing her with a smile.
Lila was crying, her cheeks were tear-streaked.
She looked as though she had been wronged.
Luke's eyes were deep. "Are you going to run away again?"
She shook her head, sobbing. "I won't run anymore, I just beg you not to bully me anymore."
"Good girl, drink the alcohol, and I won't bully you."
I forgot to push the door and stood there, stunned.
A dull ache spread through my heart.
It felt like tiny needles were being buried in my heart.
I had been with Luke for three years, and he always complained about my stutter, refusing to introduce me to his inner circle.
His childhood sweetheart, Lila Berg, had left him when he was down and out.
She had just returned, and Luke had already introduced her to his friends.
Lila drank a glass of strong liquor and was clearly drunk.
She helplessly wrapped her arms around Luke's neck.
She looked as if she were at everyone's mercy.
The possessiveness in Luke's eyes grew stronger.
Before things got worse, I chose to enter.
"Luke, your medicine…"
I stood at the door, drenched.
My voice trembled as I spoke.
Whenever it rained, Luke's knuckles would ache.
This was a lingering effect from when he saved me.
I had come to bring him his medicine.
A hint of displeasure showed in Luke's eyes.
"The rain is still coming down, why did you come?"
"I was worried about your pain—"
Luke signaled for a waiter to take the medicine. "It's too chaotic here, go back."
"Oh, You really cares about his wife…"
Lila curled up in Luke's arms.
Her gaze was hazy as she looked at me.
Luke's jacket covered her body.
Luke was worried she would be cold, so he had the waiter turn up the air conditioning.
A group of friends sweated but dared not complain.
That's what it meant to care.
Suddenly, Lila grabbed Luke and said incoherently, "Can she sing?"
"You want to hear her sing?"
Luke's expression relaxed, pleased that Lila was making the first move.
He knew that with my stutter, singing would only embarrass me.
I stepped back. "I-I'm leaving."
Lila giggled suddenly, imitating me. "I-I'm leaving."
Luke's eyes lit up, and a faint smile appeared in them.
He grabbed Lila's wrist. "Let her go, why are you leaving?"
My face burned hot.
I turned and pushed the door open.
In the last moment, I heard Luke's friend ask, "How did you fight with the stutterer?"
Lila mumbled drunkenly,
"One sentence takes three minutes, she's so stupid."
"…Last time she couldn't speak, she was almost in tears."
Luke chuckled, and his indulgence was almost overflowing.
"Ungrateful little thing. You can't remember the good I've done for you, but you know how to compete for attention."
"Bro, when are you breaking up with the stutterer? With the way you look, you're probably taking Lila to a hotel tonight, right?"
Luke leaned against the sofa, saying coldly, "Once I'm tired of the stutterer, I'll break up with her."
After saying this, he looked at Lila, a hint of complexity flashing in his eyes.
"As long as I can win Lila back, it's all worth it."
But he didn't know that my stutter had improved significantly.
I had come this time to tell him the good news.
Now, it seemed there was no need.
