The sports car stopped outside the restaurant. Jesse unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to Shirley in the passenger seat.
“Shirley, I did so well today. Don’t I deserve a reward?”
Shirley closed the file in her hands, raising an eyebrow.
“Why should I reward you?”
“I played the role of your fiancé perfectly and successfully drove your ex–husband away.”
“You actually investigated me?” Shirley pretended to be angry.
After working with Jesse several times, their interactions had gradually become more relaxed.
Yet seeing him recognize Timothy’s identity so quickly, she couldn’t help but ask.
“Your background is common knowledge. Can’t blame me for that.”
Jesse pouted. “But even if I didn’t accomplish much, I still worked hard today, right?”
Shirley, long accustomed to his antics, couldn’t help but smile.
“Fine, what do you want?”
“Buy me dinner! At this new restaurant.”
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Jesse had already pushed open the car door, circled around to her side, and opened it for her, extending his hand politely.
Shirley hadn’t expected his request to be so simple. She promptly agreed to follow his suggestion for dinner.
Jesse suddenly put down his fork, looking at Shirley with unusual seriousness.
“Actually, today’s my birthday.”
Shirley paused.
“Why didn’t you say so earlier? I didn’t have time to prepare a gift.”
“It’s fine.” Jesse cut her off.
“But since it’s my birthday, could you grant me one wish?”
Seeing his uncharacteristically earnest expression, Shirley found herself nodding before she knew it.
“Okay.”
Jesse took a deep breath, his gaze softening with determination.
“Shirley, I like you. From the first moment I saw you at the airport to getting to know you since, I’ve grown more certain of these feelings.”
“So will you be my girlfriend? I want to stand by your side openly.”
Shirley froze, her eyes stinging at Jesse’s sincerity.
For three years, she’d felt worthless in relationships yet never received such a passionate confession.
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Now this man before her was healing her wounds in his own way.
“Yes.”
She whispered, a genuine smile spreading across her lips for the first time in ages.
A year later, Shirley saw Timothy’s news on television.
Timothy sold all his possessions and became a monk at the old church.
Patricia was taken by police for falsifying accounts, facing indefinite legal sanctions.
After Patricia’s downfall, her parents came by once, hoping to reconcile with Shirley.
But Shirley refused outright.
She could accept Timothy loving Patricia, but her own parents not loving their biological daughter-
that was something Shirley could never wrap her head around.
She did keep the bank card they offered, though.
Shirley donated every penny to domestic charitable organizations.
Shirley sighed at the unexpected turns life had taken for those she once knew.
Jesse wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“What’s on your mind? You seem lost in thought.”
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Shirley shook her head.
“Nothing, just feeling sentimental.”
“Then answer me this.”
Jesse turned her around, locking eyes with her intently.
“Between Timothy and me, who’s better looking?”
Seeing his childish pout, Shirley couldn’t resist teasing him.
“Well… he might be slightly more handsome.”
Jesse’s eyes widened instantly, disbelief flooding his face.
“What? No way! I lost to him?”
Watching him flare up, Shirley finally burst into laughter.
Sunlight streamed through the floor–to–ceiling windows, bathing them in warm, radiant light.
She snuggled into Jesse’s embrace, thinking every second of this moment deserved to be treasured.
Past wounds had long healed.
From now on, she would take their time walking down life’s path with the right person.
