Lauryn was lucky enough to survive, but she didn't die.
She only suffered a spinal fracture, which means she'll likely be bedridden for the rest of her life.
I went to see her, and she seemed to hate me even more, cursing at me wildly.
Her words were so vile I didn't want to repeat them, so I just took a glance and left.
Before I left, I couldn't resist showing her my Hermès bag, which was something she had wanted Elliot to buy for her, but he never remembered.
She was so angry her eyes nearly bulged out, but she couldn't move a muscle and could only watch as I left calmly.
I don't know if she'll recover, but even if she does, she'll face legal consequences.
Neil and I got married a year after my divorce from Elliot.
Elliot didn't come, but he gave a lot of money.
He couldn't help but call me with a tone that was both sarcastic and passive-aggressive:
"That diamond ring is too tacky. Even the smaller diamonds on the ring I bought for you weren't that tacky."
That's when I realized he must have secretly come to see me, but didn't meet with me.
We hadn't spoken for a long time, and we didn't know what to say.
After a while, he said softly:
"Nicole, if he treats you badly, come back to me."
I curled the corner of my mouth.
"You're dreaming."
He retorted, "I was joking, and you believed me. I'm telling you, divorcing me will be the biggest regret of your life. You won't find a better man than me."
I laughed and shook my head.
Before hanging up, Elliot said softly:
"Nicole, I'm sorry for everything that happened in the past.
I wish you happiness."
I closed my eyes.
"Elliot, you deserve happiness too, and I mean it this time."
From a distance, Neil called out loudly:
"Honey, come count the cash gifts! We'll deposit them in your account later!"
Elliot heard him and hung up silently.
I rubbed my face.
"I'm coming!"
Some people aren't unloved; it's just destined that their relationship is deep but short-lived, a case of having fate but no destiny.
Being together only causes pain for both.
It's better to let go and give each other a chance at a new life, rather than suffer together until old age.
Same goes for Elliot.
I hope this time, we can both find happiness.
(Elliot's perspective)
The first time I met the boy named Neil was the day he dropped Nicole off at our doorstep.
Nicole was standing in front of him, smiling happily.
I was momentarily stunned.
How long had it been since I'd seen Nicole smile at me like that?
She used to love to smile, but I couldn't remember when she stopped smiling around me.
It was probably when she discovered I had been with another woman for the first time.
I can't recall exactly.
She seemed very happy.
For some reason, I felt uncomfortable.
I knew that Nicole sometimes sought out men outside, and I knew she did it to make me jealous, so I didn't care.
But this time, it seemed different.
When I got home, I deliberately undressed in the living room, revealing the scratch marks Lauryn had left on my back.
In the past, those scratch marks used to drive Nicole crazy.
She would cry and curse at me, smashing everything within reach, and then cry silently to herself.
I used to be annoyed by her behavior.
Once a man has power, desire follows him like a shadow.
Women would vie to cling to me, and I couldn't resist them.
I'm not a saint.
Why can everyone else tolerate it, but not her?
At first, when I saw her cry, I felt a bit sorry for her, thinking that she had suffered so much by being with me.
But later, I became numb.
The more she cried, the more annoyed I became.
But today, she acted as if she hadn't seen anything, holding her phone, with a smile that never left her face.
I purposely waved in front of her, but she frowned and went back into the room with her phone.
Something's not right.
But I still reassured myself.
It must be one of her tricks, playing hard to get.
Nicole love me so much.
She can't live without me.
……
Not until Nicole brought up divorce did I feel like something had slipped out of my control.
Unlike before, this time Nicole had clearly divided the assets.
It was clear that she had prepared for this for a long time.
I asked her if she was serious about the boy.
She smiled shyly.
"Yes."
At that moment, I felt something explode inside me.
In an instant, all notions of playing separately and not interfering with each other were thrown aside.
I grabbed her, and she knew me too well, she must have seen the panic in my eyes right away.
I gritted my teeth and threatened her:
"Think of divorce? Dream on!"
How could Nicole possibly divorce me?!
How could we possibly divorce?!
How could she possibly want to leave me?
The thought of her loving someone else made my heart ache terribly, as if someone had stabbed me unexpectedly. I opened my mouth wide, but I couldn't breathe.
Oddly enough, what I thought at that moment was:
Heartache is such a feeling.
