Chapter 4
After I took Ned to the hospital and got his wound treated, I came back home.
I was surprised to see Antonio on the couch. He had a wedding dress in his arms, seemingly waiting for me.
At the sight of me, he stood up, his expression softening. Holding the wedding dress, he walked over and said gently, “I’m sorry. I was so impulsive today.
“I chose this wedding dress for you.
“Let’s take a set of family photos together with Kendall. Then we’ll hang the photos in this place in the living room.
He pointed to the center of the living room wall.
The look on his face was so earnest as if I’d really be the hostess.
Then he continued, “Blanche and I are in the same orchestra. We interact lot because it helps us work better together. There’s nothing going on between us.”
Yet, at first glance, I could tell the wedding dress in his arms was the one Blanche wore earlier today.
She didn’t want it, and he gave it to me.
1:|:མཐུན་འོད།
In his eyes, I was just a pathetic bumpkin who could be pleased with second–hand, cheap goods.
I had never seen any good stuff and couldn’t tell whether the gifts he gave
0.00%
me were precious or not. I wasn’t important and wasn’t worthy of his atten
But I didn’t expose him. I asked, “When are we gonna take the photos?”
Seeing I stared at the wedding dress while stroking it, Antonio thought he had successfully coaxed me.
He said, “Tomorrow.”
Tomorrow was the last day before I got on that plane.
Smiling, I nodded. The photos would be the final memento of my time with Antonio and Kendall.
From then on, I’d never see them again.
When I took the photos with Kendall and Antonio, for the first time in a long time, I felt warm.
Kendall had always despised me. Yet, when she saw me with the
complete makeup, she snored, “You’re nothing compared to Blanche, but you’re kinda pretty.”
Antonio patted her head gently and picked her up to take photos with me.
If it were in my previous life, I would have been thrilled after hearing Kendall’s comment.
Yet now, I felt nothing.
Ever since the moment I decided to make a clean break with Kendall and Antonio, neither of them could affect me anymore.
And of course, they didn’t get to affect my mood at all.
The photographer guided us to pose and was about to take the shot.
Suddenly, Antonio’s phone rang.
It was the exclusive ringtone he set for Blanche.
He immediately suspended the shooting and answered the phone.
In the next second, Blanche’s panicked voice came through. “Antonio, help! I’m being harassed. There are three of them, and I’m so scared… Please come here. I need you!”
Antonio’s expression changed at once. “Don’t be afraid, Blanche. I’ll be right there!”
Then he rushed out without even glancing at me.
Recognizing Blanche’s voice, Kendall said anxiously, “I’ll go protect Blanche, too!”
They soon disappeared from my sight.
Looking at me, who was left behind, the photographer asked awkwardly, “Ms. Parrish, do you want to wait for them to come back?”
I smiled self–mockingly and returned the dress. I didn’t like it
anyway.
Now that all the supporting characters in my life had left, I decided to go for a solo photoshoot. This was what the main character deserved.
I chose a style of professional attire commonly worn by businesswomen and asked the photographer to take a set of portrait photos for me.
Also, I took the chance to take a new ID photo, getting ready to embrace the new chapter of my life after going abroad to study.
After the photoshoot, I saw Blanche’s latest post on Instagram.
It was a live photo. Kendall was snuggling in her arms calling her “Mom“
sweetly, while Antonio was standing beside her.
The so–called “harassment” was just a joke.
Blanche was playing Truth or Dare. She chose Dare and was asked to call the closest person to “rescue” her.
After getting her call, Antonio left without hesitation.
What a coincidence. It happened to be my last day in Antonio’s world.
T
