I went back to pack my bags early when Jeffrey was asleep.
Jeffrey woke up at the sound of my voice and was a little confused.
"What are you packing?"
I focused on packing and didn't even look at him.
"There's a flower planting expert coming to give a lecture. I'm going to the city for a lecture."
Jeffrey narrowed his eyes and then playfully shook off my already folded clothes. He laid his head on my knee. "How about I invite him home? I can't stand being without you."
A wave of revulsion washed over me when I saw that face.
I didn't know how I could stand the affectation before.
Pushing his head away, I continued packing.
Jeffrey took my hand, but at that moment, he realized that the bracelet that had long been strangled into my flesh was not in my wide sleeve. His smile instantly froze.
"Where's the bracelet? Where did it go? Obviously, you can't take it off."
He knew that it was a bracelet that didn't really fit me.
"Yesterday, when I worked in the garden, it got all muddy. At night I brought it to the store to wash it."
I didn't know if it was because I brought up the rose thing, Jeffrey's expression froze.
He revealed a smile and lowered his head to kiss me. "I knew you wouldn't lose it. Since it's all dirty, I'll buy you a new one tomorrow."
Yes, it was all dirty.
He gave me that bracelet when I planted my first rose.
I picked the blooming flowers and ran to him. "Jeffrey, one step closer to us getting married."
Jeffrey froze for a few seconds after seeing the roses, then pulled out a plain bracelet from his front breast pocket and put it on my hand.
That day was the happiest day of my life.
The bracelet that didn't really fit was strangled in my flesh and blood.
Because of a worthless bracelet, I felt that he was the one in my life.
When I thought about it now, it was pathetic.
Packing my suitcase, I sat down at the dining table to eat yesterday's leftover cake when suddenly a push news appeared on my home page.
Joanna posted the proposal photos on her social media.
In the finely retouched photo, countless rose petals were shot up into the sky, and Jeffrey in the center of the photo was kneeling on one knee holding the ring box.
The next picture was that Jeffrey put his arm around Joanna, and the huge diamond was displayed in front of the camera.
I gave her a like and exited the page. But when I clicked again, I couldn't see it.
Joanna sent me countless messages. Surprisingly, the first thing she said was that she was sorry.
Joanna: [Audrey, I'm sorry. It was needed for a short drama. It was all a joke.]
Joanna: [I thought you couldn't see it. And we thought it wasn't a big deal, so we didn't tell you. Audrey, please forgive me.]
Joanna carefully deliberated each sentence. So everything would make sense. The cake that I ate with my fork was suddenly eaten by Jeffrey in one bite.
"What kind of bracelet do you like? How about a rose one?"
Every word of these sentences was like a needle in my flesh. Although it couldn't kill me, I was in great pain.
I dropped my fork and said aloud, trying to calm myself down.
"Yeah."
At night, Jeffrey wanted to take me to a party at a wine manor.
In these years together, I rarely had time to go out. He was happy for me not to see outsiders.
The party was gorgeous. Jeffrey seemed to be in a good mood.
Until Joanna, who was in muddy shoes, pushed open the door. On the way to the house, she hit the large grape vines.
The grape vines were the raw material for the next season's wine-making, and Kash Pearson, the manor owner, changed his face.
"Who are you? How did you break in?"
Joanna rubbed her broken foot with red eyes. She looked at Jeffrey, choking and unable to speak.
Jeffrey frowned and helped Joanna up. His tone wasn't good. "Sorry for that. Please forgive her, Kash."
The words made Kash even angrier, his eyes staring dead at Joanna behind Jeffrey, sneering.
"Sorry? Fine. Let her set up all these grape vines, and I'll forgive her."
Joanna tugged at Jeffrey's coat corner, still not daring to look.
Jeffrey shielded her even tighter, then looked at me who was holding the rose drink.
"Audrey, you come and help these grape vines up."
I was a bit surprised and repeated his words, "I'll hold these up?"
I saw the corners of Jeffrey's eyes instantly droop, an expression that the fault was all mine.
"Joanna's hands have never done tough work. She doesn't know how.
"You have always planted flowers. You must know how to do it."
The surroundings became dead silent, even the insects' chirping disappeared.
The visitors looked at each other, their eyes full of doubt.
One of Jeffrey's friends walked out.
"It's true, Audrey. Joanna's hands are precious. You are always a tough girl who can do tough work."
"Not only are you capable of working, you're quite capable of other things as well."
These rich young guys all let out scoffs. The knuckles of my clenched fists turned pale.
Jeffrey's expression became even more somber, and he was about to scold them for their rude words when Joanna fell to the ground.
The people around instantly went into chaos. Jeffrey picked up Joanna and got into the car to leave.
I was left at the party, facing more and more nasty words.
In the end, it was Kash who stepped forward and drove these people out.
He joined me in picking up the grape vines, and seeing that my fingers were scratched, he even brought me gloves.
"You don't have to do these."
Yeah, I didn't have to do these for Jeffrey.
"I don't want the grape vines to die."
I pitied these vines, which seemed worthless to outsiders. I pitied myself too, who seemed worthless to outsiders.
At midnight, Kash sent me home.
I stood in the yard for a long time.
There were many flowers planted here, almost all of which Jeffrey liked.
I picked these flowers in turn and packed them.
The tulip was planted after Jeffrey saw the wonderful colors it had.
The Daisy, representing purity and love, was brought back by Jeffrey after watching a ballet performance.
The Sunflower, with its vitality, was given by Jeffrey when he went to the amusement park.
All the flowers were Jeffrey's favorites.
Of all the flowers, there were no roses, which he chanted about as his favorite day and night.
It was only at that moment that I realized that he loved roses but was unwilling to give them a place in his home.
Jeffrey's exclusive ringing sounded, and the phone screen lit up.
"I just got out of the hospital. Now I'm going to pick you up at the manor.
"The rose bracelet is ready. You can bring it on later.
"I was a bit mean just now, sorry."
A call came in. It was Dad.
"Audrey, I arrived early.
"The car is at the door. You can come out now."
"OK."
The corners of my mouth rose as I dragged my suitcase away.
The last thing I did before I left was to bury all the rose petals.
I suddenly understood. Flowers could be sad too, weren't they?
The moment the car drove away, I sent a message to Jeffrey.
Audrey: [Jeffrey, I realize that I don't seem to love you that much.]
The next second, I threw my cell phone card.