Chapter 8
I nodded in reply. I had noticed how thoughtful and attentive Joseph was toward me throughout the journey back.
I recalled how today was Lawrence and Ivy’s engagement day. They were out there surrounded by everyone’s blessings and praises, while I had been accused of stealing a necklace.
Eventually, I decided to come clean with my parents and told them everything about my past relationship.
Lawrence had pursued me during college, and we got together before we even graduated. I had heard about the childhood friend that he grew up with, but I’d never seen Ivy around him, so I never thought much of it.
He kept a crystal globe ornament on his desk. Once, I accidentally touched it while I was cleaning his study. He immediately shot up from his seat and shoved me away, saying, “Don’t come into my study again! You’re not allowed to touch anything in here!”
He had a dark expression when facing me, yet his gaze turned tender when he turned around to pick up the globe.
He had shoved me to the floor, and just as I looked up at him, I happened to catch a glimpse of the from Ivy” engraving on the base of the globe.
11
I recalled the past six years of my platonic relationship with Lawrence. Every time, he’d tell me how much he liked me, yet the most he did was stare at my lips or hold my hand. He’d never touch me other than to give me a hug. Even a kiss was considered a luxury.
I once asked him why he seemed to never have the physical desire that men would have for their girlfriends.
T
Lawrence had merely said, “My parents are very traditional. We’re only dating now. We should save those things for when we’re married. This is how I express my love for you.”
At the time, I was deeply moved and grew even more certain that he was the one for me. I even ran away from home and turned down the arranged marriage my parents had prepared for me.
Now that Ivy was back from abroad, I finally realized that all these years, Lawrence had been saving himself for her.
I remembered there were a few late nights when he was drunk that I heard him mumble about how I couldn’t even hold a candle against Ivy. I had brushed them off as his drunken nonsense and paid no mind to it. But now that I’d seen this relationship for what it really was, I realized those
drunken words were exactly what he felt.
