"We...we didn't...we're not..." Dorothy was all choked up. Her tears fell uncontrollably, one after another.
She didn’t expect... She really didn’t expect...
It turned out that someone had been silently protecting her since her junior high years. In those days, she always thought she was unloved.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Huh? You didn't end up together?" the owner looked puzzled. "But he was here a year ago. He helped us stay in business, left a phone number, and said to call him if we ever needed financial support.” She had assumed that they were already a couple.
"Ma'am, can | have this photo?" "Of course! You better hurry back to this young man. He loves you so much, so don't let him down. There aren't many men out there who are as thoughtful and caring as he is. Don't let him slip away." Dorothy raised her head. Her lips were quivering before she managed to say, "Ma'am, if he comes back, could you not tell him | was here?" "Why?" "There are some reasons we can't be together. | want him to forget about me and move on." The owner frowned. She was utterly puzzled. "What reasons could possibly keep you two apart? As long as there's mutual affection, there's nothing you can't overcome. Look at me and my husband; we argue every day, complain about the mundane things in life, and even threaten each other with divorce, but we're still together after all these years." Dorothy lowered her gaze and shook her head.
"Our issues can't be resolved. And he's already married." She wished there were just petty quarrels. She'd be thrilled if they were just trivial matters of life.
"What a shame! You two seemed perfect for each other," sighed the owner as she got up to serve Dorothy her meal.
This was probably the most emotionally complicated meal Dorothy had ever had.
She didn't know if the bowl contained soup or her tears; either way, her face never dried of tear stains.
While looking at Everett's side profile on her phone, Dorothy touched the screen over and over again.
He had lost weight.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe must not have been eating well.
The spark in his eyes had dimmed. Was it all because of her? When she got up to pay after finishing her meal, the owner waved her off. "There’s no need for that! Consider it on us. It's only because of you that this young man was willing to help us. In a way, you're our benefactor. Come back to see us when you can." "Ma'am, take this money. I'll come back often." Realizing that she didn’t seem like she would give up, the owner accepted. "Alright then. Remember to come back." Dorothy had already stepped out when she turned back hesitantly. "Ma'am, please don't tell him." As she walked away, she could still hear the owner's sigh.
She was probably the only person genuinely wishing for Dorothy and Everett to be together.
After leaving the diner, Dorothy didn't want to go back to the hotel, so she wandered down the street.
She was familiar with the roads of Havenbrook City. She had walked this small path countless times when she was in school.
Dorothy realized that, back then, Everett must have been observing her. He must have secretly watched her from the shadows.
But at that time, she was solely focused on earning money and studying. She never thought about anything else.
The thought of Everett, an excellent student with outstanding character, having a crush on her since junior high and persisting for $0 many years was both absurd and touching.