Chapter 3

Although I hadn't slept a wink all night and my gait was unsteady, I still arrived fifteen minutes early, standing by the roadside in front of the City Hall, waiting.

Because Caleb was an extremely punctual person. Once, I was stuck in traffic and was two minutes late for a date. He impatiently abandoned me and went home alone. From then on, I always arrived early for dates with him.

Sure enough, just as 3 PM arrived, Caleb appeared in my sight, carrying a large bag of things. I looked closely and saw that it contained some mangoes.

He noticed my gaze, casually pulled one from the bag and handed it to me, "Want some?"

His tone was calm, even somewhat gentle. It was as if we weren't there for a divorce, but as a couple getting married. My heart suddenly ached.

I waved my hand and turned to walk towards the City Hall, "Thank you, but I'm allergic to mangoes."

He froze, as if he were seeing me for the first time.

When we reached the door, we realized it was a holiday and the City Hall was closed. I even faintly heard Caleb sigh with relief, even though his brows were furrowed. He must have been hallucinating from staying up all night.

I said weakly, "Maybe next time, I'll go back now."

He responded softly, "Okay, next time there definitely won't be any mistakes."

Then he turned to leave. I felt a tightness in my chest; his words made it seem as if I hadn't checked the time and wasn't prepared.

The already gloomy sky couldn't hold back any longer and within moments, large raindrops began to fall. We were frozen in place by this sudden turn of events.

Luckily, I always carry an umbrella. He knew that too and looked at me. In that instant our eyes met, memories flooded back. The image of that thinly dressed boy, soaked by the rain, turning to look at me, overlapped with my own now.

Overwhelmed by emotion, I blurted out, "Remember when we first met...?"

"I lent you my umbrella. I told Michele I'd take her out to play at four o'clock."

I snapped back to reality. I realized then that the shimmering light in his eyes back then had long since transformed into an emotionless calm. The cold wind, mixed with dampness, cut into my bones, causing my limbs to tremble.

I bit my lower lip, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace, "It's almost four o'clock now, why don't you take a taxi?"

The next second, his words completely shattered my spirit. He said, "It's okay, she's usually half an hour late. I'll be there just in time."

At first, I wanted to maintain appearances and leave a perfect image of my ex in his mind. I naively thought that once he discovered Michele's many flaws, there would be a day when he would regret it and be chasing after her.

Now it seemed he could be infinitely tolerant of Michele, while I would forever remain that indifferent ex-wife.

I didn’t know how I got home. Only after the warm water was poured over my head did my vision gradually clear.

A rapid ringing of my cell phone urged me out of the bathroom.

"Miss Patricia, Michele wants to drop out! You must go and persuade her!"

If I felt regret and hatred towards Caleb, all I felt towards Michele was overwhelming rage. Back then, I discovered her talent and couldn't bear to waste it, so I used my position to vouch for her admission to the principal.

I transformed her from a flower girl abandoned by her family because of her gender into a highly educated talent with a good reputation. Back then, she cried and said I was the savior who changed her life and she wanted to learn from me for the rest of her life.

Now, with only six months left until graduation, she couldn’t help but want to drop out. I sent her a message, only to find that I had been blocked without my knowledge. The scarlet exclamation mark reminded me once again of my foolishness.

I found her number again to call her, but her call came in just then. After answering, I angrily questioned, "Michele! What do you want?!"

She not only ignored me but also asked me with a grin, "Miss Patricia, I remember you know someone at the hospital. Could you use your connections to check on my baby? I want to have a boy."