She threw everything out from the luggage and looked at me. Her eyes were filled with fury.

“Ben, I know you’re jealous and angry.

“But I’ve told you many times that you’re the only one I love.

“I’m just putting up an act with him. I never really had feelings for him.”

Lily tried to stay calm and softened her tone.

If it had been in the past, I would have believed her.

I would hold on to her promise and an uncertain future.

Instead, I only felt weary.

My mother was very ill, and she only wanted to see me find my happiness with my own family before she passed.

Even though she was lying in her hospital ward with machines sustaining her life, she was still patiently waiting for me until her eyes lost focus and she lost her ability to speak.

She still could not see me getting married.

Her breaths grew more shallow with the days passed.

I could only try to put her mind at ease before she left.

I voluntarily went on a blind date and got engaged with a woman whom I had only met once.

I had materialized the future Lily had promised me.

The only difference was that she was no longer in it.

She thought that I had given in when I did not speak.

She turned around and walked toward the kitchen.

“We haven’t had a meal together in a while. I’ll make dinner tonight!

“Let’s have a good meal!”

I did not say a word as I silently watched her cook.

I had never cooked before, and my mother was once worried about it.

She was worried that I would not be able to get a wife, and I would not be able to take good care of myself.

However, Lily was different.

She voluntarily cooked and did all the house chores.

Even though she was extremely tired after work, she would still do all the house chores.

She never once blamed me for my pickiness in food.

Instead, she read up all the recipes and learned how to cook different cuisines.

However, everything changed when she met David.

She no longer cared about me. She only thought about him.

My food allergies became a burden.

Even though I clearly stated that I was allergic to seafood and refused to eat it, she would still flip the table over David’s dissatisfaction.

“Get out if you’re not willing to eat!

“David finally found his appetite. Why are you making things so difficult for him?”

Since then, she rarely came home.

She would spend most of her time at David’s place to take care of him instead.

As for me, I learned how to cook, and I learned how to spend my time alone.

Slowly, I no longer needed her.

She had just finished making dinner when David suddenly slammed the door open.

He strode toward me angrily and slapped me.

“Ben! How shameless are you?

“You said you wished us the best, but you’re scheming to get Lily home!

“I’m going to kill you!”

He raised his hand again to slap me.

I stopped him before he could hurt me, and I returned the slap.

“Not everyone is like you. I don’t like trash.”

David’s scream echoed in the house.

Lily immediately rushed forward. She looked very concerned.

She still held her hot spatula.

“Ben, are you crazy?”

She impulsively threw her spatula at me.

Like many times in the past, she was trying to avenge David.

When the hot spatula hit my skin, it immediately scorched my skin.

I felt an indescribable pain from the burnt area. I almost could not breathe.

Lily was stunned.

“Ben…”

She walked toward me dumbfoundedly and extended her hands.

I slapped them away.

“I’m sorry. I… I didn’t do it on purpose…”

Lily’s voice was trembling, and she sounded fearful.

She could not look at that wound.

Every time she looked at it, she grimaced.

I couldn't stand the pain, and she knew that.

Even if it was a small cut, my head would spin.

Instead, I quietly took out the first-aid kit.

Then, I treated my wound with much difficulty.

David seemed smug. He thought he had won again.

I did not know how we went from close friends who could talk about anything to enemies who hurt each other.

In the past, he was the one who wished for my happiness the most.

He would feel angry on my behalf whenever I fought with Lily.

Whenever I was anxious and uncertain, he would stay up the whole night to talk to me.

However, he ended up snatching my happiness from me and telling me that I did not deserve it.

A lot of times, I really wanted to ask him why.

However, the words stopped on the tip of my tongue, and I gave up.

David dragged her away as they left.

However, she was looking at me the whole time.

It was their two-hundredth day anniversary. It was my birthday too.

I was already used to Lily forgetting about anything relating to me.

The living room was a huge mess. The dishes she made had already cooled. A layer of oil was on top of them.

I slumped onto the floor and recalled the eight-year relationship.

I had once been extremely happy, and I was extremely hurt afterwards.

Our fights had outnumbered the smiles we shared.

At night, Lily returned again.

She climbed into the bed gently and hugged me from behind.

“Ben, I’m sorry.

“I was wrong today. Please forgive me.”

I did not speak. Instead, I shut my eyes tightly.

I only opened my eyes when I heard her breathing slowing down.

Then, I let out a long sigh.

Lily woke me up in the morning.

She propped herself next to the bed and rubbed her nose against mine.

It was as if we were deeply in love again.

“I didn’t manage to spend your birthday with you yesterday. Let’s celebrate today.”

As she spoke, she pulled me up and squeezed my toothpaste for me.

As I shaved, she stood next to me and looked at me quietly.

“What a handsome man.”

Even though she was praising me, I felt a bitter feeling.

It had been a long time since she looked at me intently.

These moments were meant for me.

She drove me to the beach.

It was the first time we went out on a date ever since she met David.

The sun was scorching, and she tiptoed and shielded me from the sun.

We walked in silence. When we passed by a heart drawn in the sand, she stopped.

She held my hand, just like how she did when I proposed to her.

“Ben, wait for me.

“After this, we’ll get married, and I’ll make it up to you.”

She looked sincere and loving.

However, her eyes were no longer pure. I could not tell what she was truly thinking.

I could not tell if she really meant it.

My hair was ruffling from the sea breeze. It covered my teary eyes.

I felt a lump in my throat as I wanted to sob.

“What about me?

“What am I to you?”

A familiar voice yelled.

Nobody knew how David had located us. His fists were tightly clenched.

Lily suddenly let go of me and pushed me aside.

The tenderness in her eyes immediately disappeared.

“Hear me out…”

Before she could speak, David threw a handful of sand into my eyes.

“Are you blind?

“Don’t you know she has proposed to me, and we’re about to get married?

“Ben, why are you so shameless?”

My eyes hurt and started to tear up.

However, he was not satisfied. He grabbed my collar and tried to punch me.

At that critical moment, Lily stopped him. However, she said, “Ben, it’s over between us. Don’t come and harass me anymore.”

She pushed all responsibilities toward me and then hugged David.

It was as if it was all my fault.

It was as if I was separating them.

I suddenly laughed.

I was laughing at my eight-year relationship, and how it was so unimportant compared to his illness.

I slowly walked back alone.

Lily had left me there as she wanted to bring David on a drive to calm down.

“You know he gets angry when he sees you.

“It’s not far from home. It’s not a long walk. Be good.”

I walked for eight hours.

It took me the whole night to dawn.

When I reached home, my legs were jelly. I collapsed on the floor.

Lily was still not home. She was with David.

However, I did not have time to be sad. I forced myself to stand up. I took my luggage and went to the airport.

I had already transferred my mother to a different hospital.

She would be able to see me get married and happy.

I would no longer be a part of Lily’s future.

Before I took off, I sent her the last text message and an electronic invitation.

[I never truly knew you after eight years. If you’re interested, you’re welcome to my wedding.]