I had already thought about it. Sexual orientation was not a pit of fire, but bad character was.
Darrel and I had been in love for eight years.
I stood by him as he transformed from a penniless dreamer to the young president of a thriving, listed company.
He once promised to work tirelessly so he could make me the happiest girl in the world.
Eight years ago, after graduating with his master’s degree, he told me he would meet my parents once he secured a top-tier job.
Six years ago, when he was promoted to director, he said his success would soon give me the life I deserved.
Four years ago, when his company went public, he assured me he just needed a little more time to stabilize everything before we could have the grand wedding I had always dreamed of.
Year after year passed. Finally, when I was nearing the age of advanced pregnancy, he proposed. I cried tears of joy, thinking our long journey together had finally reached its happy ending.
But when he announced his engagement to my sister, Ashley, I realized the bitter truth.
I had spent my youth, my dreams and my love helping someone else build their life, only to be cast aside in the end.
In the end, my mother could not persuade me anymore and finally agreed to my decision to marry Seth. What was more, the Charlie Family did not pursue the matter at all.
As I was going to the company to resign, I met Darrel and Ashley at the door.
Ashley was the daughter of my father's deceased comrade-in-arms and was fostered in my home when she was six years old.
A year ago, Ashley returned to Canada to fulfill her engagement with Seth. As a result, she always followed me everywhere and there was often a third person on my dates with Darrel.
At first, Darrel complained, “It is so annoying.”
But some of their behaviors became more and more ambiguous, so I tactfully reminded Darrel to pay attention to the sense of boundaries.
Ashley's eyes suddenly turned red, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
“Sylvia, I'm sorry. I'm used to being abroad and I didn't pay attention to the situation for a while. Don't be angry.”
Darrel's face immediately darkened.
“Sylvia, when did you become so petty? You're jealous of your own sister? It's totally unreasonable?”
I watched him wipe away the tears from Ashley's face with heartache and was so stunned that I could not say a word.