Collins’words were like a needle that pierced the softest, fragile part of my heart.
I pressed my lips together. When I was about to say “not too bad“,but the words got stuck in my throat and left me with an almost self–deprecating silence.
Yeah.I had been happy.Well,at least I thought I was,before Nathan’s betrayal.
Back then,my whole world revolved around him.I gave up my career, freedom and even my original dream for him.
The Campbell Family said that Mrs. Campbell should be gentle and decent and shouldn’t show her face in public,so I learned to be demure and introverted,meek and obedient.
I thought that as long as I loved deeply enough,I could turn my life into a fairytale.
However,what happened next? Nathan and his secretary had an heir and my life began to fall
apart.
I never told anyone how it felt to fall from heaven straight into hell and yet somehow,Collins was able to get it out of me.
I lowered my head,unable to meet his gaze.“I used to think I was happy.However,later, I realize that happiness’was just me compromising with myself.”
Collins frowned slightly as he listened,but said nothing at first. Instead,he quietly took my hand in his very warm hand. Suddenly,I wanted to cry.
“Didn’t you say, when we were kids…that you wanted to open a dessert shop?” he suddenly asked,his voice soft.
I froze and looked up at him.
There was a faint,tender smile in his eyes as he said, “You told me you wanted to open the best dessert shop in the whole world. You even wanted to design the sign yourself,so everyone who walked in would walk out smiling and full of sweetness.”
My lips trembled slightly and my eyes began to blur with tears.
“I almost forgot,” I whispered,my voice hoarse.
Back in elementary school,our teacher wrote the word’dream’on the blackboard and told each of us to write one sentence about our dream and photograph each one of them to make a keepsake.
When I wrote down that my dream was to be a dessert store owner,there was a rich second–generation boy who made fun of me, “Your family is rich, so why is your dream so’counterproductive“?”
The tip of my nose was sore again and I suddenly felt that memories are an extremely cruel thing. It could easily drag you back into a world that once felt so pure and simple… and just as easily,cut open old wounds you thought had long healed.
I gave a bitter smile and nodded. “Yeah…I really did love making desserts back then.”
Then how come you forgot about it later?“Collins asked softly.
I paused for a few seconds before forcing myself to say, “The Campbell Family wouldn’t allow me
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to be in public,especially not running a store. They said it was beneath someone of my status.I was already Mrs. Campbell by then,so I had to be the’perfect wife. ‘Later…I just didn’t see the point.It’s not like he’d ever be proud of me.”
The light in Collins’eyes dimmed a little.He stared at me for a moment before speaking firmly and steadily, “You thought you were happy because you were living for someone else.However,the real happiness is living for yourself.”
I froze.
“Laurissa,“his voice was soft to the point of being almost loving, “It’s not that you’re incapable,it’s that you’re so used to caring for others.”
I looked up at him,unable to speak.
“If you still want to open that dessert shop,“he suddenly grinned,” Then let’s do it.I’ll invest and hold shares,but I won’t interfere with operations. I’ll be your’silent partner‘.”
“You…“I faltered and my voice barely coherent.“Didn’t you say…you had something else to tel me?About…what happened in the past?”
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