Red Rose

At night, Jeffrey wanted to take me to a party at a wine manor.

In these years together, I rarely had time to go out. He was happy for me not to see outsiders.

The party was gorgeous. Jeffrey seemed to be in a good mood.

Until Joanna, who was in muddy shoes, pushed open the door. On the way to the house, she hit the large grape vines.

The grape vines were the raw material for the next season's wine-making, and Kash Pearson, the manor owner, changed his face.

"Who are you? How did you break in?"

Joanna rubbed her broken foot with red eyes. She looked at Jeffrey, choking and unable to speak.

Jeffrey frowned and helped Joanna up. His tone wasn't good. "Sorry for that. Please forgive her, Kash."

The words made Kash even angrier, his eyes staring dead at Joanna behind Jeffrey, sneering.

"Sorry? Fine. Let her set up all these grape vines, and I'll forgive her."

Joanna tugged at Jeffrey's coat corner, still not daring to look.

Jeffrey shielded her even tighter, then looked at me who was holding the rose drink.

"Audrey, you come and help these grape vines up."

I was a bit surprised and repeated his words, "I'll hold these up?"

I saw the corners of Jeffrey's eyes instantly droop, an expression that the fault was all mine.

"Joanna's hands have never done tough work. She doesn't know how.

"You have always planted flowers. You must know how to do it."

The surroundings became dead silent, even the insects' chirping disappeared.

The visitors looked at each other, their eyes full of doubt.

One of Jeffrey's friends walked out.

"It's true, Audrey. Joanna's hands are precious. You are always a tough girl who can do tough work."

"Not only are you capable of working, you're quite capable of other things as well."

These rich young guys all let out scoffs. The knuckles of my clenched fists turned pale.

Jeffrey's expression became even more somber, and he was about to scold them for their rude words when Joanna fell to the ground.

The people around instantly went into chaos. Jeffrey picked up Joanna and got into the car to leave.

I was left at the party, facing more and more nasty words.

In the end, it was Kash who stepped forward and drove these people out.

He joined me in picking up the grape vines, and seeing that my fingers were scratched, he even brought me gloves.

"You don't have to do these."

Yeah, I didn't have to do these for Jeffrey.

"I don't want the grape vines to die."

I pitied these vines, which seemed worthless to outsiders. I pitied myself too, who seemed worthless to outsiders.

At midnight, Kash sent me home.

I stood in the yard for a long time.

There were many flowers planted here, almost all of which Jeffrey liked.

I picked these flowers in turn and packed them.

The tulip was planted after Jeffrey saw the wonderful colors it had.

The Daisy, representing purity and love, was brought back by Jeffrey after watching a ballet performance.

The Sunflower, with its vitality, was given by Jeffrey when he went to the amusement park.

All the flowers were Jeffrey's favorites.

Of all the flowers, there were no roses, which he chanted about as his favorite day and night.

It was only at that moment that I realized that he loved roses but was unwilling to give them a place in his home.

Jeffrey's exclusive ringing sounded, and the phone screen lit up.

"I just got out of the hospital. Now I'm going to pick you up at the manor.

"The rose bracelet is ready. You can bring it on later.

"I was a bit mean just now, sorry."

A call came in. It was Dad.

"Audrey, I arrived early.

"The car is at the door. You can come out now."

"OK."

The corners of my mouth rose as I dragged my suitcase away.

The last thing I did before I left was to bury all the rose petals.

I suddenly understood. Flowers could be sad too, weren't they?

The moment the car drove away, I sent a message to Jeffrey.

Audrey: [Jeffrey, I realize that I don't seem to love you that much.]

The next second, I threw my cell phone card.