Chapter 3

"Winnie, why are you crying?" My mother's voice was anxious.

"Did that brat Adrian bully you? Tell me and your father will set him straight!"

Adrian's father also immediately took my side like he always did whenever Adrian and I had a conflict.

I raised my hand to roughly wipe away my tears and forced out a smile.

"No, I'm just so happy. They're tears of joy."

The four parents all laughed.

"I remember when you two graduated high school and Adrian proposed to you---you cried like that too."

"The cherry blossom rain falling everywhere that day was so romantic. This kid takes after me---he knows how to make his wife happy."

"When you come home for New Year's, we'll throw a proper celebration!"

"Alright, alright, we won't interrupt you newlyweds anymore. Go pick out your gifts."

Adrian smiled as he ended the call.

I couldn't hold back anymore. I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face, demanding through my tears.

"You did it in my car too?"

He casually worked his jaw and nodded.

"Yeah, last night."

"But it wasn't the same girl from the lab that day."

"Winnie, they're not the first, and they won't be the last."

Every word that left his mouth battered my nerves.

It hurt so much---like my internal organs were about to explode.

"Get out! Get out of my car!"

I kicked him out of the car like a madwoman.

The car door hung open, and the wind and snow quickly poured inside.

Adrian ignored the snowflakes on his shoulders and leaned back in to adjust my scarf.

His tone was as caring as it had always been.

"Winnie, don't catch cold."

"I'll go. Take some time alone to calm down and think it over."

His fingers gently traced my face, now numb from crying.

"Actually, I'm hoping you can accept who I am now and still marry me."

"After all these years together, how could I bear to be apart from you?"