Fooled Eleven Times, Freed at Last

Paisley always behaved that way. Whenever Justin had one of his episodes, she would lash out at me.

Maybe she just couldn't bear the thought of me thriving while Justin was struggling. After all, why should I find happiness while he was suffering?

Still, I owed her nothing.

When we first got together, I knew a part of her heart still belonged to someone else. But for some reason, I held her close and promised to take good care of her from that moment on.

That first love of hers stood between us like a wall. Every time we tried to get close, he pushed us apart.

I had stood up to Paisley before. If she really couldn't move on and planned to stay with him forever, I was prepared to step aside.

I had my pride; I wasn't going to play the third wheel in someone else's love story.

But rather than trying to understand, Paisley flew into a rage. She pointed at me and accused me of disrespecting her as a person.

"Is that really how you see me? Justin and I are just friends. He's sick right now. What's wrong with me looking after him?

"Don't you have any friends? Or are you the kind of pervert who twists every little thing?

"You're a grown man, for crying out loud. Why are you being so petty?"

I felt like I'd done all I could. I never went out of my way to bother Justin.

But to Paisley, I still came across as immature.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I lifted my glass and downed it in one gulp.

My head started to spin as memories blurred around me. But in that hazy moment, I finally felt alive. I was reclaiming my identity once more.

Under the flickering neon lights of the bar, I made up my mind not to go home. Instead, I spent the night partying with friends until dawn and ended up crashing at a hotel.

By noon the next day, Paisley realized I hadn't returned. She called me immediately, her voice sharp with frustration.

"Are you done making a scene, Adrian? It's just a marriage certificate. Was it really worth staying out all night over something so meaningless?

"I've told you over and over. Justin and I are just friends. He's sick, and his family's far away. If I don't look after him, who will? Can't you be a little more understanding?"

My head throbbed from the hangover. Paisley's voice buzzed in my ears like a relentless mosquito.

Frustrated, I didn't say a word.

Noticing the tension, she softened her tone, letting a playful edge creep into her voice.

"I know I was wrong to leave you behind yesterday. Please don't stay upset with me. Let me make it up to you tonight by taking you out for dinner and a movie. What do you say?"

It was everything I'd ever wished for—a simple, romantic evening, just like any ordinary couple.

But with Paisley, it always felt like some kind of compensation after she'd done something wrong.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and whispered, "Okay."

Paisley's mood lifted instantly.

"Then it's settled. I'll pick you up tonight."

After the call ended, I smoothed my clothes and headed toward the office.

Even after taking the morning off, I had to return to work in the afternoon. That was the cold reality of adult life.

No matter what feelings surfaced throughout the day, they had to be ignored. Life didn't stop for anyone, after all.

I put on a smile as I stepped through the company doors. My coworkers wisely kept their distance, sensing not to pry.

But it wasn't long before my manager, Timothy Gellen, summoned me to his office.

"The company has decided to appoint someone to manage the overseas business. Adrian, I've always believed in your potential. A man can't afford to fail in both love and career."

Timothy must have known about what happened yesterday. This was his subtle way of giving me advice.

In the past, I'd have worn a long face and replied bitterly, "Paisley needs me. I can't just abandon her. If I did, I'd have nothing left to hold on to."