Chapter 3

"Of course, you can." Jaycob was delighted beyond expectation. "Take your time to think it over. I won't disturb you anymore."

As I watched his figure leaving quickly, I had a feeling that my outfit was ridiculous.

I had thought it was a date, but it turned out to be merely my illusion.

After I got home, I told my best friend about it.

She said, "Say yes! Why wouldn't you? You will get him or some money. That's a monthly salary of half a million bucks."

Indeed, it was a lot of money.

In the end, I agreed with Jaycob.

We agreed to be married for three years.

However, at the beginning of the third year, Jolene came back.

5

"Jaycob."

Jaycob and I were walking hand in hand down the street when I noticed a tall figure emerging from the crowd ahead.

I felt uneasy as I glanced at Jaycob beside me.

He was staring blankly at Jolene.

Jolene made her way through the throng and dashed towards Jaycob.

He instinctively loosened his grip on my hand.

I was suddenly overwhelmed by disappointment, and I clenched my fists.

Jaycob and Jolene were like the protagonists of a novel, reunited after years of being apart. They still loved each other.

Jolene fell into Jaycob's arms. "Jaycob, I'm back."

Jaycob remained silent. He didn't push her away.

Jolene didn't receive any response and rose from his embrace.

Seeing that, I pulled Jaycob behind me. "Miss Hewitt, please have some self-respect. It's inappropriate to hug my husband in front of everyone."

"Your husband?" Jolene stammered incredulously. "Jaycob, are you married?"

Jaycob nodded slightly.

Jolene stepped back. Then she seemed to be hurt and ran away with her hand covering her mouth.

I had a feeling that she was like a character from a dramatic novel.

Jaycob finally came back to his senses and wanted to chase after her.

I grabbed his left wrist and tried to hold him back. "Can you not go?"

But deep down, I already knew his answer. But I just had my last hope.

"Erika, wait for me here. I'll be back soon." Jaycob gently pried my hand from his wrist with his right hand and then disappeared in the same direction as Jolene.

I was left standing alone, and my mind went blank.

I had waited for the date with him for a long time. And I had prepared a birthday surprise for him for so long. It suddenly seemed unnecessary at that moment...

Someone in the crowd shouted, "It's snowing!"

I snapped back to reality and looked up at the sky.

Snowflakes swirled and danced. They melted in my palm as soon as I reached for them.

It was the first snow of the year.

6

When I walked out of the bakery, it had stopped snowing, and the street was bustling with people.

I glanced at the cake in my hand. It was a bit ugly, but I had spent the entire afternoon making it myself.

I took a deep breath and exhaled a puff of white mist.

I walked to the trash can by the street, but I was hesitant to throw it away.

"Madam, can you help me toss the trash?" I felt a tug on my pant leg and looked down to see a little girl. She was about four or five years old and was holding up a plastic container.

I took the trash and tossed it into the bin.

"Thank you!" The little girl smiled, and her eyes curved like crescent moons. She was utterly adorable.

Suddenly, an idea struck me. I crouched down and showed her the cake in my hand. "Little girl, do you think this cake is cute?"

"It's cute. It's like a little bear." The girl's sweet words made me smile, even though the cake looked nothing like a bear to me.

"Then it's yours."

"Really?" Her eyes sparkled, but she then hesitated. "But my brother told me not to accept things from strangers."

All right then. I did seem a bit like a human trafficker.

"But you helped me throw away the trash, so I think you're kind-hearted." The little girl then had a way out.

She took the cake, and her cute hands were just big enough to hold it.

I was momentarily stunned and then smiled warmly and ruffled her hair.

"Molly!"

"I'm here." The little girl turned and ran with the cake in her hand. Then she threw herself into the arms of a young man. "The pretty woman gave me a cake."

He looked at me.

He held the little girl in one arm and the cake in the other and walked up to me.

To avoid any misunderstanding, I quickly explained it to him. "I'm sorry. I didn't need the cake anymore and didn't know what to do with it, so I gave it to the cute little girl."

"It's alright." He wasn't as difficult as I had imagined. He just shook his head and said, "Thank you for giving Molly the cake."

"You're welcome. I have to go now." I breathed a sigh of relief and then waved to the little girl. "Goodbye, Molly."

"Goodbye!"

7

Back at the apartment building, the lights at home were already on.

Jaycob seemed to have returned.

I went upstairs, opened the door, and immediately saw two people sitting on the sofa in the living room.