Chapter 24
Richard gently patted Wanda‘ s shoulder. He was mirroring the way she had once
comforted him.
“The past isn’t a scar… it’s the mark of time‘ s passage,” he said softly. “I love you for who you are. As long as it’s you, everything is perfect.”
Wanda’s felt tight and her voice stuck in her throat. Unable to respond, she buried her face in her hands and began to sob softly.
“Ricard, I don’t deserve your love. I’m a terrible woman,” she choked out in tears. “To get back at Eric, I even went as far as faking my own death.”
5% 15:17
1/7
Chapter 24
Her tears came faster and more
uncontrollably.
She wasn’t the kind, flawless person Richard remembered. She was just an ordinary
human being.
Richard reached out and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with his thumb. He said, “No, you’re worthy of my love. You take the initiative to feed stray cats on the street and you give spare change to the homeless.
Then he said sincerely, “In my eyes, you‘ ve never changed. For me, you’re still that warm, fearless little girl I remember.”
He recalled that he was being bullied and alienated by others in kindergarten just
5% 15:17
Chapter 24
because he was overweight. Wanda had been
the only one brave enough to stand up for
him.
She grabbed his hand and confronted the group of bullies. Even though their leader was half a head taller than her, she hadn’t hesitated to fight back.
When the parents were called in afterward, she told him to stay quiet and took the blame for everything herself.
Even now, when she said she was a terrible person, Richard refused to believe it. How bad could a person be when she was a child, she did not have the heart to step on an ant. Even when she grew up to be a bad person, how bad could she be?
5% 15:17
Chapter 24
After Richard succeeded in soothing Wanda
to sleep, he quietly left the room.
To his surprise, her so–called ex–husband was still lingering outside, while smoking a
cigarette.
Eric sneered when he saw Richard. He tossed
his cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his shoe.
Then he challenged Richard, “You‘ re chasing after her, aren’t you? Or are you already with her?”
He asked, “Do you even know what kind of relationship she and I have?”
Richard arched his brow and looked condescendingly at the vain man before him with disdain. He sneered, “I know exactly
5% 15:17
Chapter 24
who you are. You’re Wanda’s ex–husband. The man she discarded.”
Eric’s breath hitched, but couldn’t suppress
the rising fury in his heart. He then curses, “F*ck! You know she’s my wife and you’re still hooking up with her, do you have any shame?”
He raised his fists and lunged at Richard, ready to punch him.
Richard sneered and kicked him to the
ground. Then he calmly rolled up his sleeves, crouched down and grabbed Eric by the collar. “I was too polite back then,” he said with a cold smile. “That I let you steal the
show.”
“As for now, if you have the ability, you can
5% 15:17
Chapter 24
go and fight for her! So stop trying to bully me.”
The warmth and gentleness he showed Wanda had vanished and replaced by a sharp, dangerous glint in his eyes.
France was indeed the capital of romance, but underneath the splendor was all kinds of decadence and rottenness.
Without his silent protection, Wanda‘ s milk tea shop would have been an easy target for the local mafia‘ s extortion and vandalism.
No matter how powerful Eric might have been in Star City, in here, in Richard’s territory, he would have to bow his head.
The next morning, when Wanda stepped out of her apartment, she found Eric standing at
5% 15:17
Chapter 24
her door. He was holding a bouquet of
champagne roses.
He said, “Wanda, I’m sorry. I’m wrong. For the past three hundred and seventy–five days without you, I’ve regretted every single thing I ever did.”
He continued, “I’m sorry for my infidelity during our marriage. However, more than anything, I want you to give me another chance to make things right.”
Eric bit his lip. He fought back the tears from falling from his eyes. His voice trembled and hoarse as he spoke, “I really … miss you.”
5% 15:17
