Jolly had never expected that Leroy would break up with her. It had been more than twenty years since she was born, but no one had ever dumped her before. When she was in a relationship with Ryan in the past, she was the one who left without saying anything and ditched him.
Although she was burning with fury, she found it hard to vent her anger. “What did you just say?”
Leroy looked up. “We’re really not a good match. I’m sorry. Let’s end it here.”
Seeing that Jolly’s expression was gloomy, Rachel said, “You have to think it through, Leroy. You can’t break up with her just because you feel like doing it.”
“I’ve given it some serious thought. It’s been a pleasure getting to know all of you. Thanks, and sorry.” After finishing his words, Leroy rose from the chair, and Rachel did the same.
“I’ll take my leave now.” He then directly left the office. Just when Rachel wanted to say something. Jolly cut her off and snapped, “You have no right to break up with me! I was the one who was supposed to say it! Let’s end it here, then! I didn’t want to be with you to begin with!”
Like a lioness whose fur was standing on end, Jolly was infuriated. After the man was gone, she turned to look at Rachel and said, “How does he have the nerve to break up with me? I was supposed to say it. He has no right to do that to me!”
“Jolly.”
“He crossed the line. He’s a terrible guy just like Ryan!” Jolly kept cursing at Leroy for a long time before she suddenly took a seat and hung her head low. “How could he break up with me just like that?”
Rachel patted her shoulders. “Don’t you want to break up with him as well? He did it so that you didn’t have to. Honestly speaking, he has done you a favor.”
All of a sudden, Jolly wrapped her arms around Rachel and cried her eyes out. While patting her back, Rachel placated her by saying, “Just cry it all out. You’ll be fine.”
As she consoled Jolly, she took a glance at the couch across from her where Leroy’s coat was placed. On such a chilly day, he had left the place without even taking the coat with him. How was it possible that he was such a cold- hearted man?
Before the meet-up with Leroy on this day, Rachel knew that Jolly was prepared to break up with him.
Jolly was indeed a fervent woman who could do anything for the man she loved, but she would never let her parents take the risk alongside her. Leroy’s identity and background meant that she would be faced with various risks by getting together with him, and her parents would definitely be affected. She could never be so selfish.
Once she was done crying, she wiped the tears. off her eyes and uttered, “Don’t tell my parents about it. I don’t want them to worry.”
“No problem.”
“I’ll tell them that I broke up with Leroy peacefully sometime later.”
“Sure, you have the final say.”
“It’s fine even if we don’t fall in love, right?” Jolly lifted her head. Her eyes were red and swollen, looking like two peaches. “We have kids and our own careers. Our future is bright.”
Rachel had the urge to tell her that it was indeed fine even if she didn’t fall in love, but the fact that there was a man she loved but couldn’t get was her biggest source of suffering. “You have a point. You’re doing fine on your own.”
“It’s not fine!” Jolly suddenly started bawling again while cursing at Leroy. “That b*stard!”
A helpless Rachel passed her a piece of tissue to wipe her tears. She wondered when this situation would end.
In the afternoon, Rachel had to pick up the kids from school.
“Mommy!” Charlotte was the first to rush out of the crowd as she crashed into Rachel’s arms like a rabbit. On the other hand, Samuel, who was behind her, was as slow as a snail.
Rachel beckoned to Samuel to get him to walk faster. After all, it would be hard for her to drive the car out of the school compound when more people gathered at the entrance. Just then, a bashful figure was seen appearing beside her. “Are you Charlotte’s mom, Madam?”
A startled Rachel looked down and saw an adorable young boy gazing at her with his head tipped back. He appeared sheepish as his face was all red; it was as though he had summoned his courage to speak to her.
“Why are you following me?” Charlotte immediately got out of Rachel’s embrace and glared at the young boy with childish vigilance. The young boy’s face turned a shade redder. “I- I’m sorry.”
“The entrance is pretty wide. How could you say that he’s following you?” Rachel pulled Charlotte’s hand. “You can’t be so fierce to your schoolmate.”
“It’s fine, Madam.” The young boy hurriedly. shook his head. Charlotte ignored him as she urged Rachel to leave immediately. “Let’s go, Mommy. I’d like to have some French fries.”
“Say goodbye to your schoolmate, then.”
“Let’s go, Mommy!” Charlotte wasn’t willing to do as she was told. She then turned her head and shouted, “Hurry up, Samuel! We’re getting some French fries.”
A helpless Rachel could only leave this place with them.
“Madam!” The young boy ran after them. “Madam.”
A puzzled Rachel asked, “What’s wrong?”
“What are you doing?” Impatience was written all over Charlotte’s face. “Why do you keep following us, Freddie?”
“I…” the young boy muttered, but he couldn’t bring himself to say what was on his mind. “What on earth do you want?”
Unable to take it anymore, Samuel yawned and said, “He wants to invite you to his birthday party this weekend.”
The young boy appeared even more bashful. It was then Rachel understood his intention as she bent down and asked, “Is it your birthday this weekend?”
“Yes.” The young boy nodded solemnly. “Can I invite Charlotte and Samuel over?”
“Sure, but you have to tell them about it yourself. I can’t decide for them.” Rachel put on a smile and patted Charlotte’s shoulder, hinting at the girl to respond to her classmate. There was a fierce expression on Charlotte’s face. “Did you follow me all day just to tell me this?”
“Huh? Yes.” The young boy was visibly shy as he looked meekly at her and Samuel. “Can you two come?”
Samuel didn’t like attending parties, so he shook his head. “I’m not going.” The young boy instantly sported a disappointed expression and appeared uneasy. “A-Alright. I’m sorry.”
Perhaps he believed that since the two of them grew up together, Charlotte would also turn him down as Samuel wasn’t going to the party.
Therefore, he never asked Charlotte about it as he was ready to leave while feeling dejected. Charlotte placed her hands on her hips and snapped, “Hey, you haven’t asked me yet.
What’s wrong with you, Freddie?”
The young boy was startled for a moment before asking, “Can you come?”
“Is there any cake? I love strawberry-flavored cakes.”
“Yes, my mommy said that she’s going to make a three-layered strawberry cake. There will also be your favorite strawberry chocolate.”
“That sounds great.” Charlotte nodded with pleasure. “I’ll see you, then.”
“Alright!” The young boy bowed his head excitedly. “See you! Goodbye, Charlotte’s mom.”
Meanwhile, Rachel was dumbfounded while she stood to the side. She soon came to her senses and said, “Goodbye, Freddie.”
Is Charlotte some kind of socialite or princess at school? Just by looking at the way Charlotte bossed the young boy around, one might think that the birthday party was actually for her. Who in the world would take part in a friend’s party and still demand what kind of cake had to be prepared?
