8
Ethan persisted, visiting the orphanage daily,
donating money.
Mr. Jiang tried to get me to reconcile with
Ethan.
But I don’t take second–hand goods, let alone
third–hand.
Mr. Jiang was unhappy, but he couldn’t blame
me and gave up.
The children loved Ethan because he brought
them milk tea.
Some even hated me for being ungrateful.
I’d seen their cruelty, it wasn’t surprising.
Sometimes, brief happiness makes life harder
later. That applied to me and the children.
Ethan couldn’t care for them forever.
Hearing the children’s noise, I knew Ethan
was back.
He brought flowers and a ring, proposing.
“Say yes, say yes!”
Under Ethan’s expectant gaze and the
children’s cheers, I smiled, “Mr. Jiang, next
time, I’ll call the police for harassment.”
Ethan’s face paled. He put the ring back.
The children, unhappy with me, yelled at me,
expecting praise from Ethan, but he angrily
told them to leave.
They ran away. Only Ethan and I remained.
<
“I’m sorry for bothering you. But Lily, I don’t
want to give up.”
“You love me, right?”
He looked at me expectantly.
“I did,” I didn’t lie. I loved him, even losing my
dignity.
I was someone who wouldn’t beg for mercy
even with a broken bone.
Ethan smiled bitterly, “You know that’s not
what I want to hear.”
“I can’t give you that answer. I don’t love you
anymore. I can’t pretend. Weren’t you the
same?”
For years, he didn’t even pretend to love me.
“Lily, I won’t give up.”
Ethan was stubborn.
To avoid trouble for the orphanage, I moved
out.
He followed, waiting outside my door. He
followed me everywhere
He showered me with surprises.
I was fed up and wanted to make things
clear.
“Ethan, it’s over. Don’t bother me anymore. I
helped you, donated blood, but you and your
father gave me money. We’re even.”
Ethan stood there, hurt. “But I hurt you, I can
never make up for it.”
Remembering the hot oil, I shivered, softly
saying, “It’s okay, it’s settled in my mind.”
“Don’t bother me anymore.”
