Chapter 3

Olivia seemed surprised by my quick acquiescence. She looked up at me briefly, that strange feeling washing over her again.

But the man in her arms softly called her name, drawing her attention back. She helped him to a nearby seat and comforted him carefully.

I paid my respects to Professor Wilson solemnly, bowing three times before approaching the pale-faced woman nearby.

"Mrs. Wilson, my condolences," I said.

Mrs. Wilson looked up at my words and nodded in acknowledgment. She took my hand and said, "You must be Olivia's boyfriend. Thank you for coming to see the professor. I heard you were about to get married. Olivia is a loyal girl; she volunteered to observe a six-month mourning period for her mentor. I'm sorry for the trouble this has caused you."

I listened quietly without commenting, nor did I mention the outrageous thing Olivia and her son were planning to do. Mrs. Wilson seemed to sense my inner turmoil and sighed deeply.

"Olivia is like our own child. The professor was her mentor from undergrad through her Ph.D. She's a sentimental person, which is why she made this decision. Please don't blame her."

Now that I had changed brides, I naturally wouldn't blame Olivia. "I understand," I said.

Seeing my understanding demeanor, Mrs. Wilson spoke again, unable to hold back certain things, "Please don't mind Adam either. Although he's always clinging to Olivia, I can tell she doesn't have those feelings for him. She... she really likes you."

Hearing this, my body tensed slightly.

Likes me? I hadn't noticed.

Seeing my disbelieving expression, Mrs. Wilson couldn't help but elaborate, "I'm not lying to you, son. The professor and I always thought she was too focused on her medical research to have anyone she liked. But then you appeared. Although she didn't show it much, she often mentioned you to us casually. She'd say things like how she bumped into you somewhere yesterday, or how you made her something delicious, or what silly thing you did to pursue her that day... Although it sounded like she was complaining, we knew she was just in love without realizing it herself."

As Mrs. Wilson recounted instance after instance of Olivia's unspoken care that she had never shown me, I felt only irony.

Perhaps in the past, hearing these words would have made me happy. But now, I truly felt nothing but sarcasm.

If Olivia really loved me, why couldn't I feel it at all? Why was it always me chasing after her, while she never once stopped to wait for me? If she loved me, how could she agree to have a child with another man? The moment she agreed to have a child with Adam, everything became irreparable.

Between us, it was already completely over!

Throughout the entire memorial service, Olivia stayed by Adam's side. It wasn't until the service ended and rain started falling outside, with guests gradually leaving, that she finally appeared in front of me in her car, tossing out two emotionless words,

"Get in."

I was about to step forward when the window slowly lowered, and I realized Adam was already sitting in her passenger seat, with Mrs. Wilson in the back.

Before I could say anything, Adam's choked voice came out, "Olivia, I want to visit Dad's grave, just the three of us—you, me, and Mom. Is that okay?"

At these words, Mrs. Wilson was the first to frown, "Adam, don't be like this."

But those six words seemed to hit a sore spot for Adam, who immediately burst into loud sobs, "It's Dad's funeral today. Can't he just take a cab?"

Mrs. Wilson was about to persuade him further, but Olivia had already made her decision.

"I'll come back for you later," she turned to me, her voice brooking no argument. Then she started the car and drove away.

Left alone, I had anticipated the outcome from the moment Adam spoke. Now, standing there, I showed no sign of hurt at being left behind. I just waited silently for several hours.

But she never came.

As the rain grew heavier, I knew she wouldn't be coming.

The funeral home was in a remote location with no taxis nearby. I had no umbrella, so I had to walk in the rain. The downpour intensified, blurring my vision. After two hours of walking in the rain, I finally reached a place where I could hail a cab and return home.