Willard's face flushed red as he tried to justify himself. "How can you compare yourself to her? Besides, when have I ever not cared about you? Do you really need me to tag along every time?"

Before he could finish, his phone rang again. It was Jolene.

Willard hurriedly answered and then Jolene's tearful voice came through the phone. "Willard, I think I caught a fever from the rain. I feel so dizzy."

"Wait for me at home, I'll be there right away!"

He hung up, not even bothering to look at me before heading for the door. When he reached the doorway, he turned back and threw out a final line. "You stay at home and think about what you did. Tomorrow, you'll come with me to order the flowers for the wedding banquet."

"And stop doing cheap things like spying on me. It really makes you look bad."

Willard had left, but his words kept buzzing in my ears. Look bad?

He was so right. Only now did I realize that my heart must've gone blind a long time ago.

On the way to the florist, the air in the car felt suffocating. So, I put on my headphones and turned my head toward the window.

Willard tapped his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel. "Actually, the houses down in the south of the city aren't bad either. Convenient location, good neighborhood."

He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that I was ignoring him, he cleared his throat and raised his voice. "I heard they're new buildings with a better environment. A lot of young people like to rent there. How about we go take a look?"

I responded with a snort while my eyes were still closed.

Willard's brows furrowed, his voice filled with frustration. "Cynthia, I'm talking to you!"

I slowly opened my eyes. "I'm listening. What then?"

He instantly looked like a deflated balloon. "Uh, nothing, I was just saying."

At that moment, the wind that blew in through the car window cleared my head a bit.

"Willard, about the house. Do you have something to tell me?"

I stared at his profile, giving him one last chance. Unfortunately, he avoided my gaze and replied flatly, "No, isn't it all up to you?"

I lowered my eyes, my heart sinking completely.

He was still pretending and unwilling to tell me even a single truth. Even at this point, if he were willing to tell the truth, I might still ... no, it's impossible now.

I clenched my fists. So, this was the ruthless trampling I had fought so desperately to earn.