Love Gone with the Wind

The prom king, Evan Harding, attended the alumni gathering with his first love, introducing her to everyone as his fiancée.

The bystanders, eager for gossip, mocked me, "You've been doting on Evan for years, and now he's marrying someone else. Are you jealous?"

Little did they know, Evan and I had been in a relationship for a decade.

Just last night, he held me tenderly in his arms, promising to love only me for the rest of his life.

I hid my heartache and smiled as I finished my drink, "I was just too young and naive back then. I'm getting married soon too."

Evan was taken aback by my words.

After those people left, he scolded me irritably, "Luna is dying. Can't you compromise? Must you always have the last word?"

I stopped arguing and instead immersed myself in his love diary, counting all the ways he favored Luna.

He thought I was just forcing him and competing with him by saying I was getting married.

But what he didn't know was that I was serious about getting married.

15 days later, the day he married Luna was the day I went home and married someone else.

...

"Alec, I've agreed to the arranged marriage you proposed."

Lilliana Walsh spoke with a calmness that matched her expression. She was gazing through the large floor-to-ceiling window at the bustling scene outside.

On the other end of the line, Alec Carter stopped the voices in the room because of her words. "Lilliana, you know there's no backing out once you agree with me."

Lilliana responded with a quiet acknowledgment, "The wedding is set for 15 days from now, is that alright?"

"As you wish."

After hanging up, Lilliana's phone rang again. It was her sister, Kenzie.

"Lilliana, Alec just called me, saying he's going to marry you?"

"Yes, Kenzie."

Kenzie was silent for a moment, her voice filled with concern, "Lilliana, I'll handle everything at home, so you don't have to worry. You and Evan love each other so much. Don't sacrifice your happiness for the family's sake. I've lost so much already. I don't want the same for you. If they want the Walsh family, let them have it. I just want you to be happy."

Lilliana remained silent, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't bring herself to tell Kenzie that her love had long been tattered and torn.

She had thought it through. Instead of continuing to waste time with Evan, she might as well use the little value she had left to help Kenzie. Like marrying Alec.

Evan wanted to give Luna a wedding, so she would let him. The day he married Luna would be the day she got married too.

"Kenzie, I'm not sacrificing anything. Evan and I actually broke up a long time ago. I'm dating Alec." Lilliana made up her mind and lied to Kenzie.

Kenzie was skeptical, "Are you sure? When did this happen?"

"Of course, it's true." Lilliana tried to sound as casual as possible, "You know me, no one can force me to do anything. The wedding is in 15 days, and I'll be back soon."

Just as Lilliana finished speaking, she heard Evan come back.

He walked into the living room, poured himself a glass of water, and his handsome face looked weary.

Lilliana immediately ended the call.

"Back? Where are you going?"

Lilliana answered him in her heart, "Get married."

But what she said was, "Kenzie's birthday party. She wants me to attend."

Evan's expression darkened, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Lilliana, I'm sorry. With Luna's situation, I can't leave. I can't accompany you back."

Lilliana smiled softly, "It's okay. Those things aren't important."

But Evan seemed more remorseful, "Lilliana, if you're angry, just say it. Don't keep it inside. It makes me heartbroken to see you like this."

"Heartbroken?" Lilliana savored the word. "What if I ask you not to marry Luna, not to go through with the wedding?"

"Lilliana." Evan sighed deeply, "Please, just this once, can you compromise? It's Luna's only wish before she dies. She has never been in love and wants to wear a wedding dress once before she dies, that's all."

Lilliana looked at Evan she had loved for ten years.

It turned out that even someone as proud as Evan would lie for the one he loved.

Lilliana wanted to confront him. She wanted to say, "You're lying, Evan. Luna was your first love, the one you loved deeply. How can you say she's never been in love?"

But Lilliana said nothing. Since Luna entered their lives, she had lost count of the number of times she had been hysterical. She was exhausted.

"Alright, I understand."

Lilliana's calmness softened the coldness on Evan's face. He reached out to embrace her, but she stepped away.

He could only smile helplessly, ruffling her hair before turning to the study.

Watching his figure, Lilliana thought of the notebook that had fallen from the depths of the closet earlier that day.