When the Wind Brought Clarity

After receiving an affirmative answer, Selena left the house without looking back.

It was drizzling outside. Her tears fused seamlessly with the falling droplets, perfectly concealing her misery.

Upon arriving home, Selena had only just changed out of her dripping clothes when Zachary returned.

He was humming softly, seemingly in a good mood.

However, his happiness vanished the moment he raised his head and spotted Selena. He took a startled step back while hiding his hand behind his back.

There was a hint of awkwardness in his smile as he asked, "You're back so soon? Didn't Mr. and Mrs. Yane say they had something to discuss with you?"

Selena didn't respond, her gaze focused on Zachary's left hand, the one he was hiding behind his back.

Slowly stepping forward, she pulled his hand out from behind his back. The glimmering ring on his ring finger was a heartbreaking sight.

"Hah! You're already wearing matching rings. What's your next step, getting your marriage certificate?"

Zachary subconsciously rubbed the tip of his nose.

This simple action caused Selena's heart to clench painfully. Having known him since they were practically babies, she was more than familiar with his every little action.

"You two have already gotten your marriage certificate, haven't you?"

Selena let out a long sigh. Even though she had already mentally prepared herself to leave him, her heart still broke when she realized her fiance had gone behind her back to register his marriage with her sister.

Unwilling to continue this topic, she turned and headed for the bathroom.

She had been in the rain earlier, so she would fall sick if she didn't take a hot shower soon.

Zachary grabbed her wrist, explaining, "Selena, please listen to me. I know you've always felt guilty about what happened to Lucy. That's why I'm doing all this. It's to help you make it up to her.

"She's going to marry Michael Chiton soon, and we all know what sort of man he is. She definitely won't be happy there. I only want to help you do something for her before she leaves.

"When the time is right, I'll naturally divorce her. As for this ring, it's just for show, so you don't have to take it to heart. The woman I love most is you. Don't we even have this bit of trust between us?"

Selena could only stare at the self-righteous man before her, suddenly realizing she didn't know him at all.

She didn't know when Zachary had started to address Lucine so intimately as "Lucy", just like how she didn't know when his feelings toward her had started to change.

Her tone sounded distant when she said, "I was in the rain, so I'm going to shower now."

The Zachary before her was no longer the observant and caring man who used to love her. Now, he only had eyes for Lucine.

Only after she mentioned it did Zachary notice that her hair was wet.

A flicker of guilt flashed in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Selena. I should've gone to pick you up. Even so, you're already an adult, yet you still don't know how to take care of yourself. If the rain was too heavy, you should've just taken a taxi back home."

Selena ignored him and entered the bathroom without looking back.

The bathroom was soon filled with thick mist as water poured relentlessly from the showerhead onto Selena's head.

Selena shut her eyes tightly, visions of their past love playing in her mind's eye.

Zachary had once said he was her knight, and with him around, she could be a child forever.

As it turned out, "forever" only lasted six years for him.

When Selena emerged from the bathroom, Zachary hurriedly approached with the hairdryer. He thoughtfully started to dry her hair for her.

"Selena, I was in the wrong earlier for neglecting you. I've booked us a table at an award-winning restaurant. After the meal, we can go shopping. The ten-carat pink diamond necklace that caught your eye previously has finally arrived."

Before Zachary could say anything more, both of their phones chimed simultaneously.