“Why are you puzzling over this? You can call him whatever you like.” Samuel handed Charlotte a piece of watermelon. “Here. Have some watermelon.” Charlotte shook her head. “I don’t want it.”
“What’s the matter? Are you going on a hunger strike?”
“I have no appetite.” “Actually, I think no matter who Mommy is with, she’ll still be our mommy. No matter who your Daddy is with, he’ll still be your daddy. So what’s the use of us worrying so much?”
Charlotte sighed again. “I know, but I just wish they could be together.” “But, you also saw how even after we thought of so many ways to get them together. In the end, it didn’t work and even made things worse. I don’t want that to happen again.”
“But, will Mommy and Uncle Julian really be happier together?” Samuel hadn’t thought about this question, so he paused. He thought solemnly for a while. “Why don’t you ask Mommy yourself?”
Charlotte turned and leaned her back against the fence before stretching her hand out toward Samuel. “Give me the watermelon.” As opposed to asking adults about such matters, it was better to eat watermelon!
They wouldn’t tell the truth anyway since the adults always thought it was easy to lie to them just because they were kids. It was late at night, and everyone had gone back to their rooms to sleep after drinking. Jolly got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and was taken aback when she saw a shadow in the yard outside.
“Can’t sleep?” In the courtyard, under the grapevine trellis, Justin was sitting alone. A plate of peanuts and a bottle of wine were in front of him, and it was even white wine.
“Haven’t you drunk enough?” Jolly walked over and sat down opposite him. “What’s the matter? In a bad mood?” Justin’s expression was reserved. “Why would I be in a bad mood?”
“Don’t pretend. In fact, it’s not hard to understand. Chris is your ex-wife. You’ve pursued her with great effort last time, and now, all you can do is watch her marry your cousin. But, of course, no one will feel good about that.”
“You weren’t so understanding when you asked me to add an extra dish.” “I was helping you relieve the awkwardness, okay? Since you’re Leroy’s savior, I didn’t want. to let you die of embarrassment on the spot.”
After Jolly rambled on, she picked up a peanut and stuffed it into her mouth.
Crunch. “This peanut is good. Do you have another glass? Give me one.” Justin glanced at her. “Can you still drink? Go back to sleep.”
“Who are you looking down on? I can drink glasses as tall as ten of you, and it won’t be an issue. So you won’t get it for me, huh? Fine, I’ll get it myself.”
With that, Jolly went into the kitchen and got herself a glass. The two sat opposite each other, a stack of peanuts and a bottle of white wine between. them. Anyone inside who came out to see this scene would feel as if they had seen a ghost.
After three rounds of drinking, they were slightly tipsy. Jolly sniffled and looked at the man in front of her. “Hey, if you were like this before, maybe you would still have a chance.”
“What am I like now?” “Down to earth. The old you was high and mighty like a god. Besides those who had their eyes on your family fortune, who else would be willing to bother with you?”
After Jolly finished half a bottle of wine, her head was spinning, and Justin was rather drunk too. Those who shared a drink could share feelings most of the time, too. Even if they were passersby when the sun rose the next day, they
were genuine friends while drinking. Justin didn’t expect that there would be a day when he shared a drink with Jolly. “Do you think that if I found out earlier…”
“Why’d you stop talking?’ Jolly squinted at him. “Found out about what earlier?” “Nothing. Justin lowered his head and poured another glass of wine; his eyes were red- rimmed.
“That’s annoying.” Jolly curled her lips in disdain. “Do you know that your behavior of talking halfway and hiding everything inside is the most annoying ever? If you have something to say, just say it.”
“Does Rachel feel that way too? Does Julian tell her everything?”
“Of course. There are no secrets between us.”
“Julian must treat her really well, right?” “No.” Jolly stared at Justin, then extended a finger before slowly shaking it from side to side. “You’re wrong about that.” She suddenly laughed. “Julian treats Chris extremely well!”
Justin’s mood that was hopeful returned to its original bleak state. Jolly continued, “When they were in Montenegro, Julian took care of Chris while studying. At that time, Chris still couldn’t speak, but he treated her little by little. Julian handled everything from what she ate and drank to trivial matters such as food and clothing. But, most importantly, Julian encouraged her to learn. Julian is the most selfless and kind man I’ve ever seen, and Chris is also the strongest woman I’ve ever seen.”
Justin gave a firm nod and filled two glasses of wine. “Here. Let’s toast the most selfless man and the strongest woman.” “You’re quite funny.” Jolly picked up the wine glass and smiled before clinking it against Justin’s glass. “You’re not bad either.”
“Don’t you all hate me?” “That’s all in the past. Don’t mention it anymore. I’ll be anxious if you mention it again. I’ll punish myself with this glass. Here, allow me to apologize to you for everything that has happened in the past.”
With that, Jolly chugged down the glass of wine. The full moon hung high, and the cold late autumn wind blew, keeping them sober.
Justin’s tolerance to alcohol was low, but it seemed hard for him to get drunk tonight. Nevertheless, whether it was what he said or what Jolly said, were clearly engraved in his mind, lingering and echoing. “Rachel will definitely be happy in the future if she has Julian.”
“No! Since you like her, you should go after her and get her back.”
“Have you had too much to drink?”
“Who drank too much?” Jolly waved her hand, her cheeks slightly flushed. “What’s all that with having to fulfill someone if you like them? It’s all bullsh*t. If you really like someone, you just have to believe that no one else in this world can give her true happiness except yourself. So, she has no choice but to be with you!”
Justin stared at Jolly. “You’ve really drunk too much.”
“I didn’t! I didn’t drink too much!” Leroy had probably come out to find Jolly at this moment as he woke up in the middle of the night and didn’t see her. As soon as he came out, he saw Jolly gesturing toward Justin in the yard.
“Jolly?” As soon as he got closer, Leroy frowned. “Oh my God. Why did you two drink again? How much did you guys have to drink?” Justin appeared sober as he waved his hand. “She’s drunk. Take her back with you.”
“Who’s drunk?”
Jolly placed her arms around Leroy’s neck. “Do you think I look like a drunkard?”
“What do you think?”
Leroy was angry and speechless. No man would like to see his girlfriend drinking with other men in witching hours. “Come on. Come back to bed with me.”
“Wait!” Jolly grabbed Leroy and pointed at Justin’s nose again, her voice muffled. “Let me tell you. You have to fight for your own happiness! Don’t be a timid turtle! I support you! Get her back!”
Leroy immediately covered her mouth, then smiled awkwardly at Justin before carrying Jolly into the house. ‘Jolly, if you don’t shut up, you’ll definitely regret what you said tomorrow morning!”
What happened to giving Julian unwavering support?
Why did she defect after having only a few glasses of wine?
