The name Raymond Fletcher was very familiar to my ears. I paused for a moment to try to remember the name again. I then remembered that he was the man who stole my fiancée and Esmeralda's sweetheart. It turned out that Esmeralda never forgot about him. She even pretended to be affectionate for him and me to marry. It was me who underestimated her love for Raymond Fletcher.

The phone clanked out of the woman's pants pocket. I bent down to pick it up just as a message popped up on the screen.

[Esmeralda, thank you for helping me block the wine tonight, but I’m sorry. I can't take the necklace you gave me. It's too expensive.]

The next second, I saw Raymond's circle of friends named ‘Love is priceless’. The accompanying picture was a necklace that shone like nothing else. It was the only one in the world that was auctioned off by the mysterious tycoon in the news at a cost of one hundred million dollars. I knew Raymond had sent it to me specifically to see.

This week Esmeralda was so busy that she didn't have time to eat. She was sent to the emergency room with a sudden stomach disease.

But as soon as she opened her eyes, she flew to England.

I was furious and heartbroken that she didn't even want to lose her life for the sake of her work. Later I realized that she was going to an auction.

Even though she was in pain and couldn't stand up straight, she was going to auction for the world's most precious necklace. Esmeralda dedicated it to her sweetheart.

I entered the lock screen password for some reason. After entering the last number, the lock was successfully unlocked. It was Raymond’s birthday. Esmeralda never let me look at her cell phone. She wanted us to leave personal space for each other.

Just after unlocking it, Raymond's bright and handsome smiling face came into my eyes. No wonder Esmeralda's eyes were inexplicably gentle whenever she unlocked her phone. I then opened her photo album in the phone gallery.

I then realized all the names were the same. It was about Raymond Fletcher. I saw Raymond’s pictures when he was ten years old, eleven years old and twenty-five years old.

Each album recorded Raymond's smiling face at different times. None of the thousands of photos belonged to me, not even herself. It was only Raymond Fletcher. Just like her heart, there was only Raymond from the beginning to the end.

When I opened the memo, it was Esmeralda's diary.

[2018, Raymond cut his leg by a branch today. It's all my fault, I shouldn't have planted a tree in the yard.]

[2024, Raymond got married today, as long as he's happy anything I do is worth it. I love to make her happy].

[2024, I got married. The moment I saw Raymond on the stage. I wished that the person standing beside me was him.]

The car pulled right into the yard. Looking up at the bare yard, my hands and feet were cold. There were originally two peach trees in the courtyard. Esmeralda transplanted them from the old house of the Givenlee family's old mansion. They were planted by my father when I was ten years old. Whenever I saw them, I felt that my father had never left. He was still with me until now. But suddenly one day, the two trees that were originally full of peaches rooted inexplicably.

Esmeralda hugged and coaxed me for three days and three nights. Now I realized that it was also her who destroyed the only thought my father left me. The message from her assistant popped up.

[Mrs. Esmeralda, according to your order, your will is ready. All the property is left to Mr. Raymond Fletcher. It will take effect as long as you sign it.]

I seemed to see in the misty tears. The woman who held me in her arms at the funeral that year and made me a promise was a traitor.

Esmeralda said to me, “Euharrell, I will give you a home. Everything I have belongs to you.”

I put Esmeralda on the bed slowly. I didn't take off her shoes like I did in the past. I turned around and went directly to the guest room. When I closed my eyes, my mind was full of the way she loved me all these years. The early morning sunlight sprinkled on me. When I opened my eyes, I met Esmeralda's gentle eyes.

She leaned over herself. Esmeralda gently drops a kiss on my forehead.

“Euharrell, were you angry last night? I'm sorry. I drank a little too much at the social gathering last night. I promise you I won't do it next time.”

I looked at her eyes. Her look was just like before. I gently hummed and pushed her away. I went into the bathroom to wash out the remaining warmth on my forehead. The table was filled with breakfast. If it was before I would have been very happy. But after reading Esmeralda's memo, I could no longer be happy.

All the dishes on the table were Raymond's favourite food. The sound of a key opening the door came from the foyer. Then I saw Raymond was wearing a clean suit. Naturally, he walked in and sat down at the table.

Raymond smiled at me and explained deliberately, “Euharrell, I’m sorry, if I am disturbing you. I had a shoot with Esmeralda this morning. That's why she asked me to come for breakfast.”

I didn't say anything but just looked at the keychain in his hand, which was the same as mine. Esmeralda keenly sensed my emotions.

She then came closer to me to explain in a low voice, “Raymond Fletcher is our best friend, Honey. It's normal for him to have the key to our house.”

Before she could finish her words, her voice changed abruptly. Esmeralda anxiously stood up and snatched the soy milk from Raymond's hands across her side.

Esmeralda said, “Raymond, you can't drink soy milk. After so many years, how come you still can't remember it yourself?”

Raymond pursed his lips and smiled. His tone filled with laughter.

“Yes, it's fortunate to have you around all these years.”

They looked deep into each other's eyes as if they were a pair of lovers for many years. I wasn't interested in watching their intense love anymore. I was about to go out when Raymond called out to me.

“Hold on, Euharrell. I remember you studied photography. Can you help me with today's shoot? I don't trust the new photographer.”

I haven't touched a camera since my father died. As soon as I pick up the camera, I think of my father, who taught me photography since I was a child.

My mind was filled with his reluctant and fragile appearance when he left. It made me no longer have the courage to press the shutter.

Esmeralda Rosendale knew about that. So she locked all my cameras in a cabinet and told me that I shouldn't force myself. She also would accompany me to walk out slowly until I was willing to pick up a camera again. But at that moment, she didn't wait for me to say anything and directly pushed me into the back seat of the car.

“Euharrell, you know Raymond gets carsick. So, I'll ask you to sit in the back, please.”

But she forgot that the one with worse motion sickness was me. I hadn't eaten two bites of breakfast. My stomach turned over on the way.

When we arrived at the location, Esmeralda carefully organized Raymond's suit. She held his arm to enter the shooting room. On the other side, I leaned against the side of the car and gasped for fresh air.

“Euharrell, the photo shoot is about to start. Don't be willful and take good photos. This photo shoot is very important to both Raymond and us.”

Esmeralda suddenly and vigorously dragged me in with great force. I didn't stand still and almost fell on the ground. I picked up the camera again after five years. I actually felt unfamiliar and fearful. My hands couldn't help but tremble slightly. I tried to restrain the sadness surging in my heart and pressed the shutter again and again.

During the intermission, only Raymond and I were left in the shooting room. He flipped through the photos with a mocking smile at the corner of his mouth.

“Euharrell Givenlee, you are really as useless as your father. You can't do anything right. It's true that like father, like son.”

My fingernails embedded hard into my palms. My body trembled slightly. I felt that my anger was about to spurt out.

“Snap!”

A burning pain suddenly came from my face. Raymond shook off his hand condescendingly. He then looked down at me with contempt.

“Euharrell, you should know that you're really shameless. I really didn't expect that after you were withdrawn from the marriage, you immediately climbed up to Esmeralda. What part of you is worthy of her? Let me tell you, whether it's your ex-fiancée or Esmeralda Rosendale, it's all mine.”

“You don't deserve it at all, Euharrell.”

My head tilted to one side after being hit. Before I could react, Raymond suddenly lifted my hand and threw it on his own face. He then collapsed smoothly onto the table behind him. He covered his face with tears in his eyes. I saw that he looked extremely aggrieved. He was a completely different person from the last second.

“Euharrell, I do not think your photos are bad, I just want you to take two photos of me from a different angle, if you don't want to forget it.”

Esmeralda, who just opened the door, landed on the water cup in her hand. She rushed over and pushed me away. She squatted down to anxiously check on Raymond's condition first than me.

Raymond said, “Esmeralda, calm down. I'm fine. Please, you mustn't blame Euharrell. He didn't do it on purpose. It was me, who didn't stand firmly.”

Esmeralda replied, “Raymond, you're just too kind. You don't need to defend him. I saw it with my own eyes!”

Esmeralda carefully picked up Raymond. Her movements were as light as treating a porcelain doll. She cradled Raymond in her arms and looked at me with an angry expression on her face. It was the first time in five years, she spoke to me so angrily.

“Euharrell Givenlee, apologize to Raymond now! It's because I've spoiled you too much over the past five years that I've spoiled you into a vicious man. You know how important a face is to Raymond Fletcher!”

Esmeralda looked at me angrily. But she didn't seem to see the redness on my face. I looked up at her with a calm gaze.

“The person who should apologize is Raymond Fletcher, not me, Esmeralda. He mentioned my father first. Esmeralda, don't you have anything to apologize for regarding my father back then?”

The surprise in Esmeralda's eyes flickered. She looked panicked after hearing my words.

“Back then, if it wasn't for me, your dad would have only left earlier, Euharrell. I promised to your dad that I would take care of you for the rest of your life, but only if you wouldn't hurt Raymond Fletcher.”

The corner of my mouth pulled out a self-deprecating smile. I shouldn't have expected anything more from her. My eyes suddenly went black. I then lost consciousness and fell backwards.

When I opened my eyes again, the smell of sterilized water filled my nostrils. The nurse was changing my medicine for me. Seeing me awake, I rushed to call the doctor, who signed with a heavy face.

“According to the examination, the diagnosis is a rare form of cancer. But Mr. Euharrell, you are so young, if you receive good treatment and relax, there is a chance to beat it.”

My head hurt vaguely. I didn't realize that my life suddenly seemed to be coming to an end. Perhaps it was God's punishment for my poor knowledge of people. The cell phone buzzed. It was Esmeralda, who sent a message.

Esmeralda: [The doctor said you'll be fine as long as you rest more. Whenever you apologize to Raymond Fletcher, I'll pick you up and take you home.]

I smiled feebly. Then I chose to turn off my phone.

“The doctor has arranged an examination. Please come with me, Mr. Euharrell.”

I followed the nurse to the stairwell. But I was feeling strange when Raymond's familiar voice sounded behind me.

Raymond suddenly said, “I didn't expect Esmeralda to stay with you all night last night. I really underestimated you. Euharrell, do you know why you haven't had any children in these five years? And why did you get cancer?”

I turned to see Raymond's smugly upturned eyes. I knew his tone was careless.

“Because I told Esmeralda that I don't want her to have a child with you. The vitamins she hand feeds you every day are actually birth control pills. And the pill was given to her by me. It's said to be a newly developed drug from abroad. It is normal to have cancer as a side effect.”

Raymond tilted his head to look at my expression. He attempted to see the pain and despair on my face.

But I just spoke faintly, “I know it.”

After saying that, I brushed past him. Just as I was about to open the door, a force came from behind me. I was pushed down the stairs unexpectedly. A sharp pain shot through my entire body. My head hit the floor heavily. It made the back of my head warm.

I slowly closed my eyes in pain and despair. Luckily, I had already put the divorce agreement on the bed after coming out of the operating room. I walked out of the hospital and got into a cab headed to the airport. The second before boarding the plane, Esmeralda's message appeared on the cell phone screen.

Esmeralda: [Euharrell, I didn't expect you to be dead set on not changing your ways. How dare you go and find trouble with Raymond? Please, be good and listen to me, you should apologize to Raymond now. Don't force me.]

I pulled out my cell phone card and threw it into the airport trash can. Then I got on the plane. On the other side, Esmeralda, who was accompanying Raymond to watch the sunset on the hilltop. A few minutes later, her cell phone rang suddenly.

“Mrs. Esmeralda, Mr. Euharrell disappeared. There is a document that was left on the hospital bed. Please, come over and take a look by yourself.”