On the day when my grandmother Lucy Arderne's health took a significant downturn, I happened to cross paths with Jared Selman at the hospital. Jared mentioned he was occupied with caring for an "important client," who, ironically, turned out to be Wendy Janson, who looked more like his first love.
After I got rid of their obstruction, the only words echoing in my mind from my grandmother's ward were the doctor's compassionate "Please accept my condolences."
That night, I was alone in the ward when I received a call from Jared. Rather than his concern, what came through the phone was his lifelong commitment to Wendy.
***
The night when my grandmother Lucy Arderne's cancer took a dire turn was tempestuous, with raging winds howling through the night, devouring every trace of tranquility. Desperate, I pleaded with Jared Selman to escort me to the hospital, but he refused me, using the excuse of meeting an important client.
Left with no other option, I embarked on the treacherous journey up the mountain's winding road, each step weighted by my inability to drive and a profound sense of solitude. The relentless wind roared in my ears, threatening to engulf the entire city of Atlanta in its fury. Sheets of rain, heavy as pebbles, relentlessly pelted my face, adding to my mounting anxiety. Amidst the deluge, I persevered, eventually hailing a taxi to carry me to my grandmother's side.
When I arrived at the hospital, what caught my eye was Jared supporting Wendy Janson.
"Vera, you're here too. Whenever it rains, Wendy's legs hurt, so I brought her to see a doctor," said Jared; I didn't know if there was a hint of panic in Jared's eyes.
Jared, who usually speaks very little, only talked more about Wendy.
I was concerned about my grandma and had no interest in their entanglement.
But at that very moment, Wendy spoke softly, "Vera, don't be angry; I'm just a little scared, and Jared has always been so dependable. It's just that... "
I was genuinely exhausted by her tone as she said that, so I replied, "That's fair. Next time, I'll make sure to put up a banner showcasing such responsible actions."
"Vera, how can you talk to Wendy like that? Wendy is a patient and has some compassion," Jared felt quite sorry for the person in his arms.
Suddenly, a thunderous clap rented the air, shattering the silence of the dark night sky.
Feeling uneasy, I rushed towards the elevator without looking back, leaving the two people who appreciated each other behind.
Jared glared at me as I stormed off, shouting, "Vera, you've crossed the line. You owe Wendy an apology for your behavior."
"Apologize to her, but who will apologize to me?" I thought.
Typically, I would argue with him, but I was pressed for time. The lingering discomfort drove me to make haste in my departure.
"Jared, the thunder is so loud. I'm so scared," a soft voice came from behind.
Upon seeing my grandma, I overheard the doctor's words, "Please accept my deepest condolences."
My mind reeled. Had I arrived just a bit sooner, perhaps I could've bid my grandma a final farewell or cherished one last moment with her, or maybe...
My only relative had left me forever, but I wasn't with her in her last moments.
That night, I sat in front of my grandma's bed before she had gone and received a call from Jared. A sweet voice came from the other end of the phone, "Jared, can you come and accompany me on rainy days from now on? I'm really scared."
"Okay," A deep and familiar male voice came through.
I relived every fleeting moment with Jared; those tender promises and gentle embraces, now transformed into piercing daggers, tearing through my heart. "I don't understand why you can be so heartless, abandoning all of our past for her. And when I needed help and companionship the most, you went to be with someone else. Perhaps, this is what you meant by saying she is more like your first love than me."
I couldn't help but send a message to Jared: [Is she the important client that you refused to meet with me for?]
I spent the entire night by my grandmother's bedside, where she had passed away, greedily trying to cling to the last remnants of her breath.
The next afternoon, I finally received a reply from Jared: [Vera, you have always been strong and capable, but Wendy is different. She needs me.]
I met Jared at the graduation banquet in my senior year. He was invited as an outstanding senior and entrepreneur.
He said I reminded him of someone he knew before, and since then, we have had contact and connections.
We had been together for four years, and I invested my every emotion and essence into our union, offering him everything within me.
I admire his calm and determined way of doing things, and I was infatuated with his mysterious appearance on ordinary days...
Jared was an outstanding student praised by professors, a business genius who shocked the industry, and a pride in the eyes of everyone.
The more I realized how much he embodied this particular trait, the more I felt compelled to work diligently and avoid causing him any inconvenience. Regardless of whether he would return home or not, I would prepare dinner for him as soon as I got off work. If he disliked the decorations in our home, I would promptly replace them the following day. Even when I was suffering from a high fever, I would still assist him in delivering documents.
Yet, he took these small gestures for granted, as if they were my natural obligation.
With this assurance, he had the confidence and boldness to attend to the person who reminded him more of his first love.
"Maybe I will never be the protagonist in this game, just a substitute." I thought.
I realized my position and deleted all of Jared's contact information.
That day, I handed the specially made urn to the staff at the funeral home.
The staff was surprised by the pattern on the urn, the cloud pattern my grandma loved most during her lifetime, and she designed them herself. I left them there, hoping that they could accompany my grandma forever.
When I was waiting, an unhappy voice came, "Jared, will you take care of Flora's funeral arrangements?"
I looked in the direction of the voice and, indeed, saw the figures of Jared and Wendy.
Wendy stood on one leg, leaning slightly against Jared beside her.
At this moment, Jared also noticed me, "Vera, what are you doing here?"
Meeting at the funeral home was really unexpected. No one would believe it. Jared must think that I somehow found out about his schedule and came here to protest.
I did not want to be involved with them, so I turned my head away.
"Vera, please don't misunderstand. There's absolutely nothing going on between Jared and me," Wendy insisted, refusing to let the misunderstanding subside. "Last night, it was thundering and pouring rain, and I was terrified. My leg was also hurting. Jared came to keep me company. Today, he insisted that I go to the hospital for a check-up before he could feel at ease."
Wendy and Jared met in a car accident, and it was also because of that car accident that Wendy ended up in the hospital with a leg injury.
"I have nothing to do with Jared anymore. You don't need to explain anything to me," I didn't want to be entangled with them anymore.
"Vera, don't be unreasonable. You know about Wendy's leg injury, and today we came to inquire about Wendy's cat's cremation. Do you have to be jealous of her?" Jared spoke up and stood in front of Wendy.
Wendy chimed in with a hint of tears in her voice, "Vera, the stray cat I just picked up, won't live long. We are preparing for its funeral in advance."
Jared had been scratched by a cat and developed a trauma towards cats, but he could endure the physical discomfort and accompany Wendy to stay with the cat.
Looking at the two people who were protecting each other, I felt annoyed. I covered my forehead and temporarily made the scene quiet.
Jared was dissatisfied with my reaction, "Vera, we are about to get engaged. You should consider the overall situation."
His pattern of behavior used to be giving a harsh rebuke followed by a sweet gesture as a form of consolation. In the past, I would have eagerly accepted that sweet gesture. I might even have seized the moment to offer him an escape route, apologized, and vowed to be more obedient in the future. But now, looking back, the more hope I had invested in him, the more profound my despair feels. That sweet gesture, which once seemed sincere, now strikes me as nothing but a comedic afterthought.
However, Wendy appeared to disdain the sweet gesture. Her gaze shifted elsewhere. "Wow, what a stunning urn. Jared, let's choose this one for Flora. I'm sure she would love it."
"Excuse me, ma'am, this urn is specifically crafted for the deceased's family," the staff explained politely.
"Jared, look at this design, it's exquisite. I want to use this one for Flora. Let's just speak to the person it's intended for. I'm sure we can make it work," Wendy said, taking the urn out of the staff's hand rather abruptly.
"Ma'am, please don't do that. It's disrespectful to the deceased and may cause distress to their family. Kindly return it to me," the staff said, sounding increasingly concerned.
I felt uneasy for no reason, and when I glanced over, I saw this scene. Wendy was holding the specially made urn containing my grandma's ashes that the staff had just taken out.
I suddenly sat up and rushed over to snatch my grandma's ashes back.
Jared blocked Wendy in front of him.
I ignored his obstruction and tried to get past him to snatch the urn.
Jared placed his hands over Wendy's, and she felt the unexpected touch on the back of her hands, causing her to release her grip involuntarily.
The sound of shattering porcelain was sharp and jarring, echoing through the silent hall. A sudden gust of wind blew through the open door, dispersing my grandma's ashes.
Tears streamed down my face as I stumbled over and collected the scattered ashes bit by bit.
"Vera, don't go too far with your acting. You followed me here, and now you've brought a stranger to act with you," Jared was not happy with the situation.
The staff couldn't bear to see it and helped me out, bringing me a new urn. I remained silent throughout the process.
Jared looked at me like this, perhaps feeling a little guilty. He let go of Wendy and walked slowly to my side, gently stroking my back and softly saying above, "Vera, it's my fault. The weather has been cloudy and rainy these days, and I've been with Wendy the whole time, neglecting to accompany you properly. I'll make it up to you next time. We've been together for so long that a few days won't make a difference. Be good, let's go home."
Jared tried to help me up with a gentle force, but I ignored him and remained sitting there.
Jared, who had always had no patience for others, darkened her face and said in a low voice, "Vera, stop while you're ahead. Taking care of Wendy is my responsibility; you don't need to make trouble."
Wendy's car accident was caused by Jared's drunkenness when he missed his first love that night. They both believed that it was only right for him to take care of Wendy personally.
I found it ridiculous that my life and Wendy's were just substitutes, yet we both wanted to hold on to the person in front of us. What was the difference between me and Wendy in this regard? It was just that I had realized it.
I sneered.
Jared had enough of my unresponsive attitude and said, "Vera, don't go too far. You should think about your grandma."
He knew that my grandma was my weak spot. Faced with the high cost of treatment, I could only beg him.
"Grandma? Jared, so you still remember my grandma," I sneered.
Jared failed to register the abrupt shift in my demeanor as usual. Instead, he glared at me and warned, "Vera, you must understand that your current attitude can potentially hinder the progress of your grandmother's treatment."
"Look, how ridiculous. Even now, he's still threatening me with my grandma. This is how my once-promising partner turned out." I thought.
Gripping the urn containing my grandmother's ashes tightly, I struggled to my feet, briefly instructing the staff to proceed with the funeral as planned before exiting.
Jared's anger seemed to dissipate into thin air, leaving him frustrated and unable to find an outlet. He dialed his assistant's number and instructed, "Slow down the treatment for Vera's grandmother."
On the way back, memories of Grandma and despair for Jared intertwined in my mind.
"'Vera, I hope you find an ordinary man to marry and lead a simple, happy life that is truly yours.' Now, I comprehend the depth of Grandma's words." I thought to myself.
Throughout my years with Jared, I had repeatedly overheard his friends taunt him, "Jared, you still haven't grown tired of her? That girl from a humble background is so easy to manage."
"Don't worry, with her family background, she can't become Mrs. Selman. Jared can have any kind of woman he wants."
"Cindy Rosseter, the heiress of the prestigious Rosseter family, has been eagerly anticipating Jared's proposal; a union between the Selman and Rosseter families would undoubtedly forge a formidable alliance."
"The Janson family is equally formidable; they've made quite a name for themselves in recent years. I've heard whispers of powerful backers supporting them. If not for Wendy's leg injury..."
I was so naive, thinking that the story of the prince and Cinderella could come true in reality.
I, as a person involved in this situation, was completely lost.
On the day of my grandma's memorial service, I arrived there early, but her portrait had not been displayed yet.
But unexpectedly, the fate of enemies was truly everywhere. Jared and Wendy both appeared there, and they were arguing with the staff about something.
"Jared, please tell them that no matter how much it costs, we want to use this venue right now," Wendy said tearfully.
Jared's attitude towards me was not very good when he saw me, and he said, "Vera, why are you following me again?"
I just realized that Jared has a serious problem of narcissism or excessive self-confidence.
I didn't say anything. The staff saw me and quickly explained the situation, "Ms. Arderne, they also want to use this venue now. This... "
Wendy burst into tears before the staff finished speaking and said, "Jared, I just want Flora to rest in peace quickly. Vera, did you book this venue? Can you give it to me?"
This day was my grandma's birthday before she passed away. I didn't want her to suffer such indignation.
I refused Wendy expressionlessly, saying, "Book it in advance yourself."
Jared was furious again, "Vera, I have tolerated you many times. What is your attitude towards Wendy? Apologize to her immediately!"
I might say some reasonable words on normal days, but now I felt outrageous. "Take care of yourselves, and Jared, we have no relationship anymore. You are not qualified to educate me."
Wendy brushed away her shimmering tears, a victorious smile fleeting across her lips. She sniffled and tugged at Jared's sleeve, saying, "Jared, it's my mistake. I won't plan a funeral for Flora. I'm leaving now. Please, don't argue with Vera. Vera, I will leave with Jared now."
Wendy exclaimed as she passed by me, and the urn in her hands shattered on the ground.
"Flora, I'm sorry. It was an accident caused by Vera. It's all my fault for not protecting you," Wendy wailed. I would not have expected such a small figure to contain such great energy, yet this energy was so malicious.
Jared grabbed my wrist tightly and glared at me angrily, "Vera, why did you push her? You knew her leg was not good. Do you hate her so much? If you act like this, how can I marry you?!"
"Jared, seriously, now is not the time for sugarcoating things. Your attempts at sweetness are overbearing, and I can't handle it. Whoever wants it can have it." At this moment, I probably appeared indifferent.
To my surprise, Jared said, "Vera, you are heartless."
I feared the term 'heartless' was used on the wrong person.
Without waiting for my answer, Wendy cried out, "Jared, quickly ask someone to clear this grass. I can't collect Flora's ashes."
Ignoring the staff's obstruction, Jared quickly found someone to level the lawn. "My Selman family will bear all your losses."
"Ms. Arderne, I'm really sorry, our venue..." the staff explained with difficulty, "We have another small auditorium that hasn't been used for a long time and needs to be cleaned up. If you don't mind, you can book the auditorium there."
"No, thank you," I answered.
I thought my grandma had had enough farce in her life. It was better for her to rest in peace, embraced by the earth
I thought so too.
With this in mind, I left that absurd place.
Jared, who had been comforting Wendy, received a call from his assistant, "Didn't I tell you not to call me these days? Solve it yourself."
The assistant's voice echoed through the phone line, "Mr. Selman, I'm sorry to inform you that Ms. Arderne's grandmother has passed away. The funeral is taking place today at the funeral home you previously visited."