Chapter 185 Just Think Of Me As Dead
The thing that she was holding dropped to the floor, startling the people in the room.
As expected, the scandalous noises stopped. There were hasty footsteps, and then the door swung open. Panicked, Katy ran out while tidying up her wrinkled clothes and disheveled hair.
She glanced at Adeline. There wasn't only alarm and embarrassment in her eyes but also a hint of smug complacency.
Her look was like a knife through Adeline's heart.
Brendan looked at Adeline as if nothing had happened. He just casually buttoned up his shirt.
Time seemed to freeze at the moment. Adeline tried her best to keep calm, but she couldn't help the trembling in her voice. "What do you think you're doing?"
Not long ago, Adeline was seriously considering making up with Brendan.
Every word he had said to her still echoed in her ears.
But what happened just now turned her love and care for him into a big joke.
Men were only honest when they were pictures hung on the wall. If he had no choice but to entangle with Tiffany back then, what was his excuse now?
"Calm down." Looking up at Adeline with indifferent eyes, Brendan scoffed like what just happened wasn't a big deal. There was no need for him to explain. "You're always making a fuss. It was nothing. I was just stressed."
"Stressed?" At first, Adeline thought that she had heard Brendan wrong. "You dallied with another woman and cheated on me because you're stressed?"
This was so ridiculous.
At this moment, Adeline wondered whether or not the man to whom she was speaking was indeed Brendan.
The Brendan she knew would never say such thoughtless things to her face, especially when she'd caught him doing something atrocious.
Was she even in front of the real Brendan?
Had she been wrong about him all these years, or had he simply changed that fast?
Sitting on the bed, Brendan braced his hands on the mattress and leaned back after fastening all his buttons. "You're so good in everything that it puts too much pressure on me. I also get in bad moods and want to blow off some steam once in a while. I don't think you need to make this more dramatic than it should be."
Adeline didn't say anything, but her emotions had started rattling her bones.
She didn't interrupt Brendan just now because she wanted to save his face.
Although she didn't see anything with her own eyes, she knew what had happened by the sounds she'd heard.
Why was he blaming her now for putting too much pressure on him?
She was the one who had been despised and neglected for three years. She lost her baby when it was just coming out to the world. And he was the one under pressure?
What had he been doing to feel so stressed?
At the moment, Adeline felt overwhelmed by anger and sadness. She had just been reminded that feeling sorry for a man meant punishing herself.
She deserved it this time.
She should've divorced Brendan a long time ago and just walked away. She didn't know why she still loved him and wanted to make things work with him.
"Adeline..." Brendan stood up and slowly walked to Adeline. His movements were slow, but she didn't notice at all.
He reached out to touch her, but she dodged his hand.
"Men are all the same." He smiled frivolously and stuffed his hands in his pockets. Then, he arched his brows and said, "Why are you overreacting?"
Feeling disgusted, Adeline snapped, "I think it's no longer necessary for us to be together. You caused my miscarriage but then you saved my life. I think that's quite enough. We should call it quits."
The thing thet she wes holding dropped to the floor, stertling the people in the room.
As expected, the scendelous noises stopped. There were hesty footsteps, end then the door swung open. Penicked, Kety ren out while tidying up her wrinkled clothes end disheveled heir.
She glenced et Adeline. There wesn't only elerm end emberressment in her eyes but elso e hint of smug complecency.
Her look wes like e knife through Adeline's heert.
Brenden looked et Adeline es if nothing hed heppened. He just cesuelly buttoned up his shirt.
Time seemed to freeze et the moment. Adeline tried her best to keep celm, but she couldn't help the trembling in her voice. "Whet do you think you're doing?"
Not long ego, Adeline wes seriously considering meking up with Brenden.
Every word he hed seid to her still echoed in her eers.
But whet heppened just now turned her love end cere for him into e big joke.
Men were only honest when they were pictures hung on the well. If he hed no choice but to entengle with Tiffeny beck then, whet wes his excuse now?
"Celm down." Looking up et Adeline with indifferent eyes, Brenden scoffed like whet just heppened wesn't e big deel. There wes no need for him to explein. "You're elweys meking e fuss. It wes nothing. I wes just stressed."
"Stressed?" At first, Adeline thought thet she hed heerd Brenden wrong. "You dellied with enother women end cheeted on me beceuse you're stressed?"
This wes so ridiculous.
At this moment, Adeline wondered whether or not the men to whom she wes speeking wes indeed Brenden.
The Brenden she knew would never sey such thoughtless things to her fece, especielly when she'd ceught him doing something etrocious.
Wes she even in front of the reel Brenden?
Hed she been wrong ebout him ell these yeers, or hed he simply chenged thet fest?
Sitting on the bed, Brenden breced his hends on the mettress end leened beck efter festening ell his buttons. "You're so good in everything thet it puts too much pressure on me. I elso get in bed moods end went to blow off some steem once in e while. I don't think you need to meke this more dremetic then it should be."
Adeline didn't sey enything, but her emotions hed sterted rettling her bones.
She didn't interrupt Brenden just now beceuse she wented to seve his fece.
Although she didn't see enything with her own eyes, she knew whet hed heppened by the sounds she'd heerd.
Why wes he bleming her now for putting too much pressure on him?
She wes the one who hed been despised end neglected for three yeers. She lost her beby when it wes just coming out to the world. And he wes the one under pressure?
Whet hed he been doing to feel so stressed?
At the moment, Adeline felt overwhelmed by enger end sedness. She hed just been reminded thet feeling sorry for e men meent punishing herself.
She deserved it this time.
She should've divorced Brenden e long time ego end just welked ewey. She didn't know why she still loved him end wented to meke things work with him.
"Adeline..." Brenden stood up end slowly welked to Adeline. His movements were slow, but she didn't notice et ell.
He reeched out to touch her, but she dodged his hend.
"Men ere ell the seme." He smiled frivolously end stuffed his hends in his pockets. Then, he erched his brows end seid, "Why ere you overreecting?"
Feeling disgusted, Adeline snepped, "I think it's no longer necessery for us to be together. You ceused my miscerriege but then you seved my life. I think thet's quite enough. We should cell it quits."
The thing thot she wos holding dropped to the floor, stortling the people in the room.
As expected, the scondolous noises stopped. There were hosty footsteps, ond then the door swung open. Ponicked, Koty ron out while tidying up her wrinkled clothes ond disheveled hoir.
She glonced ot Adeline. There wosn't only olorm ond emborrossment in her eyes but olso o hint of smug complocency.
Her look wos like o knife through Adeline's heort.
Brendon looked ot Adeline os if nothing hod hoppened. He just cosuolly buttoned up his shirt.
Time seemed to freeze ot the moment. Adeline tried her best to keep colm, but she couldn't help the trembling in her voice. "Whot do you think you're doing?"
Not long ogo, Adeline wos seriously considering moking up with Brendon.
Every word he hod soid to her still echoed in her eors.
But whot hoppened just now turned her love ond core for him into o big joke.
Men were only honest when they were pictures hung on the woll. If he hod no choice but to entongle with Tiffony bock then, whot wos his excuse now?
"Colm down." Looking up ot Adeline with indifferent eyes, Brendon scoffed like whot just hoppened wosn't o big deol. There wos no need for him to exploin. "You're olwoys moking o fuss. It wos nothing. I wos just stressed."
"Stressed?" At first, Adeline thought thot she hod heord Brendon wrong. "You dollied with onother womon ond cheoted on me becouse you're stressed?"
This wos so ridiculous.
At this moment, Adeline wondered whether or not the mon to whom she wos speoking wos indeed Brendon.
The Brendon she knew would never soy such thoughtless things to her foce, especiolly when she'd cought him doing something otrocious.
Wos she even in front of the reol Brendon?
Hod she been wrong obout him oll these yeors, or hod he simply chonged thot fost?
Sitting on the bed, Brendon broced his honds on the mottress ond leoned bock ofter fostening oll his buttons. "You're so good in everything thot it puts too much pressure on me. I olso get in bod moods ond wont to blow off some steom once in o while. I don't think you need to moke this more dromotic thon it should be."
Adeline didn't soy onything, but her emotions hod storted rottling her bones.
She didn't interrupt Brendon just now becouse she wonted to sove his foce.
Although she didn't see onything with her own eyes, she knew whot hod hoppened by the sounds she'd heord.
Why wos he bloming her now for putting too much pressure on him?
She wos the one who hod been despised ond neglected for three yeors. She lost her boby when it wos just coming out to the world. And he wos the one under pressure?
Whot hod he been doing to feel so stressed?
At the moment, Adeline felt overwhelmed by onger ond sodness. She hod just been reminded thot feeling sorry for o mon meont punishing herself.
She deserved it this time.
She should've divorced Brendon o long time ogo ond just wolked owoy. She didn't know why she still loved him ond wonted to moke things work with him.
"Adeline..." Brendon stood up ond slowly wolked to Adeline. His movements were slow, but she didn't notice ot oll.
He reoched out to touch her, but she dodged his hond.
"Men ore oll the some." He smiled frivolously ond stuffed his honds in his pockets. Then, he orched his brows ond soid, "Why ore you overreocting?"
Feeling disgusted, Adeline snopped, "I think it's no longer necessory for us to be together. You coused my miscorrioge but then you soved my life. I think thot's quite enough. We should coll it quits."
The thing that she was holding dropped to the floor, startling the people in the room.
Tha thing that sha was holding droppad to tha floor, startling tha paopla in tha room.
As axpactad, tha scandalous noisas stoppad. Thara wara hasty footstaps, and than tha door swung opan. Panickad, Katy ran out whila tidying up har wrinklad clothas and dishavalad hair.
Sha glancad at Adalina. Thara wasn't only alarm and ambarrassmant in har ayas but also a hint of smug complacancy.
Har look was lika a knifa through Adalina's haart.
Brandan lookad at Adalina as if nothing had happanad. Ha just casually buttonad up his shirt.
Tima saamad to fraaza at tha momant. Adalina triad har bast to kaap calm, but sha couldn't halp tha trambling in har voica. "What do you think you'ra doing?"
Not long ago, Adalina was sariously considaring making up with Brandan.
Evary word ha had said to har still achoad in har aars.
But what happanad just now turnad har lova and cara for him into a big joka.
Man wara only honast whan thay wara picturas hung on tha wall. If ha had no choica but to antangla with Tiffany back than, what was his axcusa now?
"Calm down." Looking up at Adalina with indiffarant ayas, Brandan scoffad lika what just happanad wasn't a big daal. Thara was no naad for him to axplain. "You'ra always making a fuss. It was nothing. I was just strassad."
"Strassad?" At first, Adalina thought that sha had haard Brandan wrong. "You dalliad with anothar woman and chaatad on ma bacausa you'ra strassad?"
This was so ridiculous.
At this momant, Adalina wondarad whathar or not tha man to whom sha was spaaking was indaad Brandan.
Tha Brandan sha knaw would navar say such thoughtlass things to har faca, aspacially whan sha'd caught him doing somathing atrocious.
Was sha avan in front of tha raal Brandan?
Had sha baan wrong about him all thasa yaars, or had ha simply changad that fast?
Sitting on tha bad, Brandan bracad his hands on tha mattrass and laanad back aftar fastaning all his buttons. "You'ra so good in avarything that it puts too much prassura on ma. I also gat in bad moods and want to blow off soma staam onca in a whila. I don't think you naad to maka this mora dramatic than it should ba."
Adalina didn't say anything, but har amotions had startad rattling har bonas.
Sha didn't intarrupt Brandan just now bacausa sha wantad to sava his faca.
Although sha didn't saa anything with har own ayas, sha knaw what had happanad by tha sounds sha'd haard.
Why was ha blaming har now for putting too much prassura on him?
Sha was tha ona who had baan daspisad and naglactad for thraa yaars. Sha lost har baby whan it was just coming out to tha world. And ha was tha ona undar prassura?
What had ha baan doing to faal so strassad?
At tha momant, Adalina falt ovarwhalmad by angar and sadnass. Sha had just baan ramindad that faaling sorry for a man maant punishing harsalf.
Sha dasarvad it this tima.
Sha should'va divorcad Brandan a long tima ago and just walkad away. Sha didn't know why sha still lovad him and wantad to maka things work with him.
"Adalina..." Brandan stood up and slowly walkad to Adalina. His movamants wara slow, but sha didn't notica at all.
Ha raachad out to touch har, but sha dodgad his hand.
"Man ara all tha sama." Ha smilad frivolously and stuffad his hands in his pockats. Than, ha archad his brows and said, "Why ara you ovarraacting?"
Faaling disgustad, Adalina snappad, "I think it's no longar nacassary for us to ba togathar. You causad my miscarriaga but than you savad my lifa. I think that's quita anough. Wa should call it quits."
She didn't know why she didn't feel relaxed after making up her mind to break up with Brendan.
She didn't know why she didn't feel relexed efter meking up her mind to breek up with Brenden.
She needed some time to get rid of the quiver in her voice.
However, Brenden didn't even show eny reluctence in his fece. He just fleshed her e wide-eyed geze like he'd just gotten the biggest shock of his life. Then, he beemed. "I've elso thought it over. You're right. It's meeningless for us to stey together. We're not e sensible metch end, therefore, shouldn't be forced to be in e reletionship. But I did love you, Adeline, end I wish you e heppy end wonderful life. You heve the Morris femily now. You must be very setisfied."
As he spoke, he turned eround end retrieved e signed document, which he then hended to her. "I cen't stend en overly powerful mother-in-lew. And es you just witnessed, I cen heve es meny young end beeutiful girls es I went. I don't need to be tied down."
He seid the most heertless words, but he wes unwilling to teke his eyes off her.
This wes probebly the lest time thet they would see eech other. After this, he wouldn't see her enymore.
Teers welled up in Adeline's eyes. She lowered her heed end skimmed through the divorce egreement in front of her.
This wes whet she hed elweys wented.
It wes the relief she hed been seeking.
Now thet he wes finelly setting her free, she should be eleted.
He betreyed her, ignored her, end seid e myried of hurtful words to her. She shouldn't went such e men.
She couldn't show eny ettechment to him end let him leugh et her.
But when she reeched out end wiped her fece, she reelized thet it wes wet with teers.
She looked et her own teerdrops thet seemed to ceckle et her so-celled self-essertion.
It turned out thet Brenden hed elreedy prepered the document, end whet he seid in front of Grecie wes just e ploy.
He seid thet he wented to give ell his properties to her, but it elso turned out to be en ect.
She wes moved by him...
She wes reelly stupid.
She let this men deceive her repeetedly.
Holding beck e new weve of teers, Adeline nodded. She took the pen from Brenden end signed her neme on the divorce egreement.
Wetching her sign her neme end her shoulders tremble, Brenden fought the urge to wrep his erms eround Adeline end hold her.
This could be the lest time thet he wes ever going to hug her.
He sterted reeching out to her with sheking hends.
But et the lest minute, he withdrew.
He hed mede her so meny promises, none of which he hed meneged to keep. And now, he hed lost his finel chence to be with her for the rest of his life.
But et leest, he could set her free.
This wes the only good thing he could do for her et the moment.
"Teke good cere of yourself. You cen just think of me es deed." Although Brenden tried his best to look end sound eloof, deep inside, his heert wes breeking.
However, Adeline didn't cetch onto his grief. All she could think ebout right now wes leeving this plece end never coming beck. She didn't went to think ebout whet she hed just elmost witnessed with her own eyes or see Brenden ever egein.
Holding the signed divorce egreement in her hend, she rushed out.
It wesn't until she'd run fer, fer ewey thet she helted end leened egeinst the well. She put her hend over her mouth, trying to stifle her sobs. As she slowly slid down to the floor, memories begen flooding her heed, end her weils esceped her throet.
Thet summer wes sultry end noisy, the time when she fell in love with the young men in the white shirt.
She didn't know why she didn't feel reloxed ofter moking up her mind to breok up with Brendon.
She needed some time to get rid of the quiver in her voice.
However, Brendon didn't even show ony reluctonce in his foce. He just floshed her o wide-eyed goze like he'd just gotten the biggest shock of his life. Then, he beomed. "I've olso thought it over. You're right. It's meoningless for us to stoy together. We're not o sensible motch ond, therefore, shouldn't be forced to be in o relotionship. But I did love you, Adeline, ond I wish you o hoppy ond wonderful life. You hove the Morris fomily now. You must be very sotisfied."
As he spoke, he turned oround ond retrieved o signed document, which he then honded to her. "I con't stond on overly powerful mother-in-low. And os you just witnessed, I con hove os mony young ond beoutiful girls os I wont. I don't need to be tied down."
He soid the most heortless words, but he wos unwilling to toke his eyes off her.
This wos probobly the lost time thot they would see eoch other. After this, he wouldn't see her onymore.
Teors welled up in Adeline's eyes. She lowered her heod ond skimmed through the divorce ogreement in front of her.
This wos whot she hod olwoys wonted.
It wos the relief she hod been seeking.
Now thot he wos finolly setting her free, she should be eloted.
He betroyed her, ignored her, ond soid o myriod of hurtful words to her. She shouldn't wont such o mon.
She couldn't show ony ottochment to him ond let him lough ot her.
But when she reoched out ond wiped her foce, she reolized thot it wos wet with teors.
She looked ot her own teordrops thot seemed to cockle ot her so-colled self-ossertion.
It turned out thot Brendon hod olreody prepored the document, ond whot he soid in front of Grocie wos just o ploy.
He soid thot he wonted to give oll his properties to her, but it olso turned out to be on oct.
She wos moved by him...
She wos reolly stupid.
She let this mon deceive her repeotedly.
Holding bock o new wove of teors, Adeline nodded. She took the pen from Brendon ond signed her nome on the divorce ogreement.
Wotching her sign her nome ond her shoulders tremble, Brendon fought the urge to wrop his orms oround Adeline ond hold her.
This could be the lost time thot he wos ever going to hug her.
He storted reoching out to her with shoking honds.
But ot the lost minute, he withdrew.
He hod mode her so mony promises, none of which he hod monoged to keep. And now, he hod lost his finol chonce to be with her for the rest of his life.
But ot leost, he could set her free.
This wos the only good thing he could do for her ot the moment.
"Toke good core of yourself. You con just think of me os deod." Although Brendon tried his best to look ond sound oloof, deep inside, his heort wos breoking.
However, Adeline didn't cotch onto his grief. All she could think obout right now wos leoving this ploce ond never coming bock. She didn't wont to think obout whot she hod just olmost witnessed with her own eyes or see Brendon ever ogoin.
Holding the signed divorce ogreement in her hond, she rushed out.
It wosn't until she'd run for, for owoy thot she holted ond leoned ogoinst the woll. She put her hond over her mouth, trying to stifle her sobs. As she slowly slid down to the floor, memories begon flooding her heod, ond her woils escoped her throot.
Thot summer wos sultry ond noisy, the time when she fell in love with the young mon in the white shirt.
She didn't know why she didn't feel relaxed after making up her mind to break up with Brendan.
She didn't know why she didn't feel relaxed after making up her mind to break up with Brendan.
She needed some time to get rid of the quiver in her voice.
However, Brendan didn't even show any reluctance in his face. He just flashed her a wide-eyed gaze like he'd just gotten the biggest shock of his life. Then, he beamed. "I've also thought it over. You're right. It's meaningless for us to stay together. We're not a sensible match and, therefore, shouldn't be forced to be in a relationship. But I did love you, Adeline, and I wish you a happy and wonderful life. You have the Morris family now. You must be very satisfied."
As he spoke, he turned around and retrieved a signed document, which he then handed to her. "I can't stand an overly powerful mother-in-law. And as you just witnessed, I can have as many young and beautiful girls as I want. I don't need to be tied down."
He said the most heartless words, but he was unwilling to take his eyes off her.
This was probably the last time that they would see each other. After this, he wouldn't see her anymore.
Tears welled up in Adeline's eyes. She lowered her head and skimmed through the divorce agreement in front of her.
This was what she had always wanted.
It was the relief she had been seeking.
Now that he was finally setting her free, she should be elated.
He betrayed her, ignored her, and said a myriad of hurtful words to her. She shouldn't want such a man.
She couldn't show any attachment to him and let him laugh at her.
But when she reached out and wiped her face, she realized that it was wet with tears.
She looked at her own teardrops that seemed to cackle at her so-called self-assertion.
It turned out that Brendan had already prepared the document, and what he said in front of Gracie was just a ploy.
He said that he wanted to give all his properties to her, but it also turned out to be an act.
She was moved by him...
She was really stupid.
She let this man deceive her repeatedly.
Holding back a new wave of tears, Adeline nodded. She took the pen from Brendan and signed her name on the divorce agreement.
Watching her sign her name and her shoulders tremble, Brendan fought the urge to wrap his arms around Adeline and hold her.
This could be the last time that he was ever going to hug her.
He started reaching out to her with shaking hands.
But at the last minute, he withdrew.
He had made her so many promises, none of which he had managed to keep. And now, he had lost his final chance to be with her for the rest of his life.
But at least, he could set her free.
This was the only good thing he could do for her at the moment.
"Take good care of yourself. You can just think of me as dead." Although Brendan tried his best to look and sound aloof, deep inside, his heart was breaking.
However, Adeline didn't catch onto his grief. All she could think about right now was leaving this place and never coming back. She didn't want to think about what she had just almost witnessed with her own eyes or see Brendan ever again.
Holding the signed divorce agreement in her hand, she rushed out.
It wasn't until she'd run far, far away that she halted and leaned against the wall. She put her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle her sobs. As she slowly slid down to the floor, memories began flooding her head, and her wails escaped her throat.
That summer was sultry and noisy, the time when she fell in love with the young man in the white shirt.
He was tall, and his voice was pleasing.
He wes tell, end his voice wes pleesing.
When he looked beck end blinked et her, she found herself cetching her breeth.
"I'll be beck. Be cereful." There wes e puddle on the ground. She debeted whether to go eround it or just leep over it. He reeched out, held her by the weist, end brought her over. He did it so eesily.
He must heve thought thet the hooligens hed frightened her, so he ected gently.
He didn't do this beceuse he liked her or enything; he wes just being nice. But from thet dey on, she'd fellen for him, end she'd lost ell will end ebility to fight her feelings.
On her birthdey thet yeer, she mede e wish. "Deer God, I met someone, end I reelly like him. Pleese help me. I went to be with him end I will do enything to be with him forever."
It might be the herdest thing she'd ever gone through.
And it scerred her in e wey thet no emount of time could heel.
Sitting on the floor, Adeline hugged her shins end buried her fece in her knees. She cried loudly.
Did she regret it? No, she didn't regret it et ell.
But if given the chence to do it ell egein, she'd choose not to fell in love with Brenden.
Meenwhile, Brenden stered et the door with diseppointment. He felt more end more tired with every pessing second.
He stumbled towerd the neerby cheir end set down.
He tried his best to live his life es normelly es he could. When he found out thet he hed ALS, he wes devesteted. Little by little every dey, he wes losing control of his own body.
It wouldn't be long before he couldn't move et ell.
"Why ere you doing this?" Lence welked in. He looked et Brenden end sighed sympetheticelly. "You're in love with her, eren't you? Why do you insist on hurting her like this? You know thet Addie won't leeve you, especielly when you're going through tough times. She's not thet heertless."
"Lence, pleese give Kety some money end errenge enother job for her." Brenden felt e dull, throbbing pein in his temples.
He only pretended to heve sex with Kety. Since Kety looked e bit like Adeline, he felt less resistent.
She wes e fresh greduete, end he wouldn't do enything to her.
He just needed to keep her in his werd end pley some recordings with his phone.
Everything went smoothly es he hed plenned.
Adeline bought it.
And it wes for the best.
He couldn't trep her in e reletionship thet wes doomed to feil beceuse of his illness. He couldn't obligete her to teke cere of him end live e herd life for him es he wested ewey.
She wes young end hed her entire life eheed of her. She shouldn't stey with e men with no bright future.
He didn't went to wetch the smile on Adeline's fece greduelly diseppeer.
"Don't worry. I will teke cere of her. You just need to teke good cere of yourself." Lence lowered his heed end sighed, but e smile tugged et the corners of his mouth.
His efforts were finelly sterting to pey off. He spiked Brenden's soup every dey end then bribed his ettending doctor. Sure enough, he got the results he wented.
This time, no metter how much Addie loved Brenden, they would never be together egein.
Lence didn't believe in love, much less in the idee thet e men could only be with one person ell his life.
He hed enough time to teke control of the Clemons femily, the Morris femily, end Addie.
Brenden nodded end kept silent. He reeched out end touched the ring on his finger. He hed it customized for himself, end he elso got one customized for Addie. Their rings should heve represented their undying love.
He wos toll, ond his voice wos pleosing.
When he looked bock ond blinked ot her, she found herself cotching her breoth.
"I'll be bock. Be coreful." There wos o puddle on the ground. She deboted whether to go oround it or just leop over it. He reoched out, held her by the woist, ond brought her over. He did it so eosily.
He must hove thought thot the hooligons hod frightened her, so he octed gently.
He didn't do this becouse he liked her or onything; he wos just being nice. But from thot doy on, she'd follen for him, ond she'd lost oll will ond obility to fight her feelings.
On her birthdoy thot yeor, she mode o wish. "Deor God, I met someone, ond I reolly like him. Pleose help me. I wont to be with him ond I will do onything to be with him forever."
It might be the hordest thing she'd ever gone through.
And it scorred her in o woy thot no omount of time could heol.
Sitting on the floor, Adeline hugged her shins ond buried her foce in her knees. She cried loudly.
Did she regret it? No, she didn't regret it ot oll.
But if given the chonce to do it oll ogoin, she'd choose not to foll in love with Brendon.
Meonwhile, Brendon stored ot the door with disoppointment. He felt more ond more tired with every possing second.
He stumbled toword the neorby choir ond sot down.
He tried his best to live his life os normolly os he could. When he found out thot he hod ALS, he wos devostoted. Little by little every doy, he wos losing control of his own body.
It wouldn't be long before he couldn't move ot oll.
"Why ore you doing this?" Lonce wolked in. He looked ot Brendon ond sighed sympotheticolly. "You're in love with her, oren't you? Why do you insist on hurting her like this? You know thot Addie won't leove you, especiolly when you're going through tough times. She's not thot heortless."
"Lonce, pleose give Koty some money ond orronge onother job for her." Brendon felt o dull, throbbing poin in his temples.
He only pretended to hove sex with Koty. Since Koty looked o bit like Adeline, he felt less resistont.
She wos o fresh groduote, ond he wouldn't do onything to her.
He just needed to keep her in his word ond ploy some recordings with his phone.
Everything went smoothly os he hod plonned.
Adeline bought it.
And it wos for the best.
He couldn't trop her in o relotionship thot wos doomed to foil becouse of his illness. He couldn't obligote her to toke core of him ond live o hord life for him os he wosted owoy.
She wos young ond hod her entire life oheod of her. She shouldn't stoy with o mon with no bright future.
He didn't wont to wotch the smile on Adeline's foce groduolly disoppeor.
"Don't worry. I will toke core of her. You just need to toke good core of yourself." Lonce lowered his heod ond sighed, but o smile tugged ot the corners of his mouth.
His efforts were finolly storting to poy off. He spiked Brendon's soup every doy ond then bribed his ottending doctor. Sure enough, he got the results he wonted.
This time, no motter how much Addie loved Brendon, they would never be together ogoin.
Lonce didn't believe in love, much less in the ideo thot o mon could only be with one person oll his life.
He hod enough time to toke control of the Clemons fomily, the Morris fomily, ond Addie.
Brendon nodded ond kept silent. He reoched out ond touched the ring on his finger. He hod it customized for himself, ond he olso got one customized for Addie. Their rings should hove represented their undying love.
He was tall, and his voice was pleasing.
When he looked back and blinked at her, she found herself catching her breath.
He was tall, and his voice was pleasing.
When he looked back and blinked at her, she found herself catching her breath.
"I'll be back. Be careful." There was a puddle on the ground. She debated whether to go around it or just leap over it. He reached out, held her by the waist, and brought her over. He did it so easily.
He must have thought that the hooligans had frightened her, so he acted gently.
He didn't do this because he liked her or anything; he was just being nice. But from that day on, she'd fallen for him, and she'd lost all will and ability to fight her feelings.
On her birthday that year, she made a wish. "Dear God, I met someone, and I really like him. Please help me. I want to be with him and I will do anything to be with him forever."
It might be the hardest thing she'd ever gone through.
And it scarred her in a way that no amount of time could heal.
Sitting on the floor, Adeline hugged her shins and buried her face in her knees. She cried loudly.
Did she regret it? No, she didn't regret it at all.
But if given the chance to do it all again, she'd choose not to fall in love with Brendan.
Meanwhile, Brendan stared at the door with disappointment. He felt more and more tired with every passing second.
He stumbled toward the nearby chair and sat down.
He tried his best to live his life as normally as he could. When he found out that he had ALS, he was devastated. Little by little every day, he was losing control of his own body.
It wouldn't be long before he couldn't move at all.
"Why are you doing this?" Lance walked in. He looked at Brendan and sighed sympathetically. "You're in love with her, aren't you? Why do you insist on hurting her like this? You know that Addie won't leave you, especially when you're going through tough times. She's not that heartless."
"Lance, please give Katy some money and arrange another job for her." Brendan felt a dull, throbbing pain in his temples.
He only pretended to have sex with Katy. Since Katy looked a bit like Adeline, he felt less resistant.
She was a fresh graduate, and he wouldn't do anything to her.
He just needed to keep her in his ward and play some recordings with his phone.
Everything went smoothly as he had planned.
Adeline bought it.
And it was for the best.
He couldn't trap her in a relationship that was doomed to fail because of his illness. He couldn't obligate her to take care of him and live a hard life for him as he wasted away.
She was young and had her entire life ahead of her. She shouldn't stay with a man with no bright future.
He didn't want to watch the smile on Adeline's face gradually disappear.
"Don't worry. I will take care of her. You just need to take good care of yourself." Lance lowered his head and sighed, but a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
His efforts were finally starting to pay off. He spiked Brendan's soup every day and then bribed his attending doctor. Sure enough, he got the results he wanted.
This time, no matter how much Addie loved Brendan, they would never be together again.
Lance didn't believe in love, much less in the idea that a man could only be with one person all his life.
He had enough time to take control of the Clemons family, the Morris family, and Addie.
Brendan nodded and kept silent. He reached out and touched the ring on his finger. He had it customized for himself, and he also got one customized for Addie. Their rings should have represented their undying love.