Chapter 6
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After an exhausting day, I collapsed onto the bed. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gavin loosening his tie. I suddenly sat up, eyes lowered, not daring to look him in the eye.
“I’m sorry, Gavin. Our wedding turned into a mess.”
After all, it was our special day, yet another man had caused such a scene. Anyone would
feel a little bothered.
“If you regret it, I would totally understand. I won’t blame you—”
Before I could finish, he leaned in and kissed me, silencing me completely.
When the deep kiss ended, I finally caught my breath and met his gaze, filled with
affection.
“I’ve waited so long to finally have you,” he said softly. “Don’t even think about getting
away now.”
I was stunned.
“What do you mean you waited so long?”
We had met not long ago through a blind date. Gavin fell for me at first sight and proposed before we’d even seen each other more than a few times.
My parents‘ friends had introduced us, and my parents were thrilled.
I happened to be looking for a way to move on from my past and felt a strange sense of familiarity around him, so I said yes.
He pulled out a photo. “Take a look. Recognize anyone?”
It was a group photo from my first job’s company retreat. Standing right behind me in the picture was Gavin.
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Even in that photo, his eyes were locked onto me. How could that be?
“You were one of the IT guys?”
Back then, I had eyes for no one but Easton. I didn’t even remember Gavin’s name.
With his checkered shirt, glasses, and the look of a typical programmer, he had blended in with the crowd.
Gavin nodded.
“I sent you a few friend requests on Facebook before you finally accepted. I tried asking you out, but you always seemed so busy.
“Then, you changed jobs. I resigned and started my own company. After that, I didn’t have a reason to see you again.
“I kept an eye on your posts, but they were all about another man.
“When I found out my aunt knew your mom, I didn’t wait a second before asking them to set us up.”
No wonder I’d always felt someone staring at me from across the desk. But every time I looked up, no one was ever looking my way.
I couldn’t help feeling a little embarrassed.
He was right. My timeline had been filled with Easton for years. I’d forgotten that I used to shine when I focused on my work.
“I’m sorry. I’ll delete all of that.”
He pulled me into a hug, his voice low and gentle against my ear.
“No need. We all have a past. As long as your future is with me, that’s enough. I just hope you’ll try to open your heart and make a little room for me.”
I hugged him back. “Well, you’ll have to earn it if you want my heart!”
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That night in our wedding suite, we laughed and played, wrapped in happiness and love.
The next time I saw Easton was at a family dinner.
He looked thinner, his eyes weary. When he saw me, his face lit up for a moment, but the second he spotted Gavin, that light faded just as quickly.
He didn’t look at me again. He turned and walked away.
His friends followed, glancing at me with awkward expressions.
“Wanda, Easton still hasn’t gotten over you. Hope you don’t mind.”
Tony looked embarrassed.
“We were really out of line before. I hope you can forgive us.
I waved it off, saying nothing about forgiveness or resentment. It was all in the past. Holding on would only hurt me more.
Later, I heard Tina had gone back to find Easton. She even tried seducing him to win him
back.
However, Easton didn’t even let her finish getting dressed before kicking her out of his
apartment.
He made Tina feel humiliated, and she held a grudge against him. She ended up dating a thug and even brought him over to beat Easton up.
Easton was hospitalized for months before he even began to recover.
When I heard about it, I only felt that the past would never change, no matter how someone regretted it.
After that, I never heard anything more about Easton.
That was, until years later, when Gavin and I returned to our college for alumni day.
I excitedly dragged Gavin to the cafeteria to eat my favorite spaghetti Bolognese.
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“Sir, can you add some extra sauce, please?”
Gavin tapped my nose affectionately. “You little foodie.”
The cafeteria worker behind the counter paused for a moment. He lowered his eyes and handed me a plate of pasta loaded with sauce.
I smiled sweetly and thanked him, but he looked
away.
He looked quite familiar.
Gavin noticed my change in expression. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. I just feel like I’ve seen him before.”
As we walked under the trees lining the campus, Gavin suddenly asked, “Do you think he regrets changing your college application back then?”
So, he had recognized him too. That cafeteria worker was actually Easton.
I held onto Gavin’s arm and teased, “Are you jealous?”
“Not at all. I should thank him. If he hadn’t made that mistake, how could I have had the chance to meet you?”
I nodded. “You’re right. I’m grateful, too.”
Grateful that he helped me learn to treasure the present.
“Come on, let me show you the classroom next.”
