Rejecting Me for Another

Even though this is my eighth time proposing to Beverly Galvan, she still coldly turns me down again.

She says that she isn't ready yet and that she needs more time. Since that's the case, I tell myself I will wait as long as it takes.

That's when I see it—her and my brother's marriage certificate, posted for everyone to see on her social media.

When I question her about it, she merely says in a calm voice, "Timothy's unwell. He can't get too upset, so you'd better not start anything!"

They are wearing wedding rings in that photo, and there is a barely visible bump on her belly.

In that moment, the storm within me dissipates. Hitting the like button on the post, I type out a comment.

"I wish you both a lifetime of joy. May the two of you grow old together!"

A year later, a desperate-looking Beverly shows up in front of me, begging that we get back together.

Unfortunately for her, her best friend, who was clearly pregnant, steps in with a smile and pushes her aside.

"Give it a rest, will you? My husband already has a wife. We can have kids of our own. There's no need for him to be someone's fallback guy."

Beverly called immediately after I commented,

Without so much as a hello, she started yelling at me over the phone.

"Raymond Osborn, have you already forgotten what I said? I just said not to make a scene, and you made such a comment on the post? Since you have such capabilities, resolve the company's issues!"

The way she spoke was like she was a boss lecturing a subordinate, detached and unfeeling.

I had always thought Beverly and I were in love.

At the very least, I thought she had feelings for me, enough to agree to be my girlfriend.

We were together for eight years. I'd been by her side since the day she graduated from university.

She went from nothing to becoming the chairman of a company.

We had gone through so many hardships together.

When she first started the business and was strapped for cash, I borrowed from every bank and loan company just to keep things afloat for her.

After that, as I was unable to repay the debts, my phone was bombarded with calls. Debt collectors came knocking at our tiny apartment.

They even texted all my family and friends, resulting in everyone knowing I was in debt.

Even through all of that, I didn't flinch, because that night, when Beverly found out what I had done, her eyes filled with tears from heartache.

Holding me tightly, she sobbed in my ear.

She had said, "Raymond, I'll never wrong you for the rest of my life!"

Thinking back now, it turned out that "the rest of her life" was a mere eight years.

I gripped my phone tightly, my fingertips pale from the force.

"What's wrong with my comment? My girlfriend just registered her marriage with my younger brother—surely, I had to offer my well wishes. If I didn't, wouldn't I seem like a rude boyfriend and a bad brother?"

The other end went silent.

Soon after, Timothy Osborn's murmur could be heard, along with Beverly's comforting words.

I found myself smiling bitterly, feeling as if I could even taste the bitterness in my mouth. For a second, I had thought that she felt bad about treating me this way and was too ashamed to speak to me.

However, it turned out that she was just busy consoling her newlywed husband.

"Raymond, how can you say that?" came Timothy's comment. "I only asked Beverly for such a favor as my hands are tied. Don't you worry.

"Once I have made a full recovery, Beverly and I will divorce right away so that you two can be together!"

Before I could even say anything, Beverly's furious voice rang out again.

"Timothy is still a patient—he can't get too agitated! Raymond, you need to stop! I can't believe how heartless you are! How could you even be jealous of your own brother?

"Honestly, just drown in your jealousy! If Timothy's condition worsens because of you, I'll never forgive you for the rest of my life!"

The words I was about to say got stuck in my throat.

As I listened to her barrage of verbal attacks, I was full of bitterness.

By the end, when my heart felt like it had been torn to shreds, I rasped out a question. "Beverly, have you ever really considered me your boyfriend?"

The other end of the line went quiet.

I weakly nodded to myself. Without waiting for her to speak, I uttered, "I understand."

That pause was as good an answer as I could have hoped for.