I was convinced it was my fault. I was the one who'd insisted on that trip. I was the one who should have died.
During that time, the only thing I was willing to take a few bites of was the osmanthus cake Barnaby made by hand.
After we moved in together, he'd had someone transplant this very osmanthus tree into the courtyard.
"Don't underestimate this tree. Its blossoms can be used to make you osmanthus cake. And in a couple days, I'll build you a swing right underneath it."
"When summer comes, my Caroline can sit on the swing, breathing in the flowers, eating her cake. How perfect is that?"
He built the swing himself. And on the trunk, beside the swing, he'd hung a small wooden plaque with a few words carved into it.
Barnaby & Caroline.
With a little heart in between.
Even now, I could still remember how I'd wrapped my arms around his waist and looked up at him, my eyes full of laughter.
"This is our love tree. As long as it's still standing, I'll still be here."
I was lost in the memory when a shrill, affected voice cut through.
"You never lost your memory, did you, Caroline?"
We were alone now, and Lena didn't bother hiding her smugness.
"I figured it out at the hospital. When you asked who Barnaby was, you almost cracked up. It was obviously a joke."
"But hey, since you wanted to play games, I figured I'd play along. Only fair, right?"
I said nothing. I just looked at her, cold.
Lena had joined the company six months ago. From that day on, Barnaby changed.
The overtime got longer. The business trips got more frequent.
It wasn't until yesterday, when I ended up hurt in the hospital, that I finally learned where all those late nights and trips had actually gone.
But none of that mattered anymore.
When I didn't respond, the triumph in Lena's eyes only deepened.
"If I were you, I'd never have the nerve to stick around here like some shameless leech. So what if you've been with him five years? All I have to do is crook my finger, and there won't be a single corner of his heart left for you."
"But I get it, I really do. After all, I heard that after your parents died, you went crazy. You're just a parentless little orphan now. Of course you'd cling to Barnaby for dear life."
"Oh, and that time in Southeast Asia? It wasn't just an auction, was it? I heard the men there are animals." She let out a low, mocking laugh. "Don't tell me you picked up some disease while you were at it."