CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 1: AGREEING TO THE ARRANGED MARRIAGE

When Talia went to pick up Ethan at the bar, she heard the conversation inside and paused.

"Ethan, Vivian Coleman is back in the country, what about Talia?"

Ethan’s voice was indifferent, "What about it?"

"You’ve been with Talia for three years, now that Vivian is back, how will you choose?"

Through the crack in the door, Talia saw Ethan light a cigarette.

In the swirling smoke, he was silent for a moment before speaking in a subdued voice, "I don’t know. I don’t want to hurt Talia, but I can’t let go of Vivian Coleman either."

A friend sighed, "Vivian was your first love, your unobtainable ideal. The relationship between you two was so intense back then. It’s normal not to be able to forget."

Another friend chimed in, "But Talia has been with you for three years, and she’s so beautiful. You still haven’t gotten over Vivian?"

Ethan rubbed his temples, his voice slightly tired, "Talia is very beautiful. I originally pursued her because she resembles Vivian to some extent. Over the years, I’ve been searching for Vivian’s shadow in her."

"So you found a substitute?" The friend sighed, "I feel a little sorry for Talia."

Another friend asked, "So when are you planning to break up with Talia?"

Ethan gently flicked away the ash, "We’ll see. Talia is obedient and sensible. I’m really a bit reluctant to break up with her."

A brother beside him patted Ethan’s shoulder, "Ethan, you can’t have both wealth and virtue. You better think it through."

"Oh, come on, just date both," another friend said nonchalantly, "If you feel guilty towards Talia, just buy her more gifts to comfort her. Women are easy to please."

Ethan sneered, "You think everyone is like you, juggling three or four at a time? I’m not that wild."

Outside the door, Talia curled her lips in self-mockery and turned to leave.

After leaving the restaurant, Talia walked along the riverbank, recalling the bits and pieces of being with Ethan in the past few years.

Three years of relationship, she thought they were mutually in love.

But it turned out she was just a substitute for Ethan’s first love.

Talia stood by the riverbank, to the left was the bustling street, to the right was the ever-flowing river.

Tears streaked down her cheek.

The fierce river wind lifted her strands of hair.

Talia made a decision.

She took out her phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, Dad, I agree to come home and marry."

The night made the dim streetlights seem even more bleak, with small insects flying around beneath the light.

Talia stood under the streetlight, gazing into the vast night sky, her voice light, "It’s nothing, just tired of playing around, thinking of settling down and getting married."

"I was wrong back then. I was immature and shouldn’t have quarreled with you and run away from home. Now I’ve understood."

"Once I handle things here, I’ll return to Oakhaven."

...

Talia walked alone for a long time outside before returning to the Serene Gardens Villa. It was already past ten at night.

Nanny Aunt Zhang saw Talia return, handed her the nourishing porridge.

"Miss Rhodes, you’re back. This is the porridge you made for the gentleman. I saw it was cold, so I reheated it. I was just about to take it up when you returned. Why don’t you bring it up to him?"

Talia said nothing, took the porridge, and walked up to the bedroom.

When she pushed open the bedroom door, the space around the desk was empty, the computer screen glowing, but Ethan was not in front of the computer.

The sound of water splashing came from the bathroom, the light was on.

Is he showering so early today?

Talia put down the porridge.

The WeChat notification sound on the computer kept chiming, drawing her attention.

She moved the mouse and clicked open WeChat.

It was a message from Vivian Coleman.

[Ethan, I’m back, arriving at Mirehaven airport at eleven-thirty tonight. Can you pick me up?]

This message was sent ten minutes ago.

Turns out he was showering to go to the airport to pick up his ideal lover.

[Ethan, I’ve been thinking of you all these years we were apart, can’t forget you. I regret breaking up for the sake of furthering my career overseas.]

[We were both too proud, couldn’t learn to compromise. I know in your heart, you still have feelings for me, right?]

[Ethan, I’ve dated a few boyfriends these years, but they all ended quickly. Dating them always felt lacking. Later, I realized it’s because I’ve always loved you in my heart.]

[I was scared to return to Mirehaven before because I feared you still hated me and wouldn’t want to see me, feared seeing you with another woman, feared you no longer loved me.]

[I was wrong back then, Ethan, can you forgive me?]

Talia silently watched, feeling suffocated inside.

She was about to close the chat box and turn to leave when she saw Ethan’s reply.

[Vivian, I just want to ask one thing, do you still love me?]

His computer was logged into WeChat, and he even replied during his shower using his phone.

Talia’s heart trembled slightly.

Ethan’s work kept him busy daily, often not having time to reply to her messages.

She had gotten used to it and now rarely sends him messages so as not to disturb his work.

But he made time to reply to Vivian’s messages, even during his shower.

Love and not love, it’s really obvious.

Vivian practically replied instantly.

[Yes, only love you.]

[Okay, I’ll come pick you up.]

At that moment, her three-year relationship felt like a joke.

Talia quietly closed the chat box, putting the mouse back in place as if nothing had happened.

She went to the kitchen downstairs and served herself a bowl of the nourishing porridge too, sipping it spoon by spoon.

Ethan had a weak stomach; she learned to make this porridge specifically for him, soaking lily, adlay, and red bean in advance, putting them into boiling water, adding millet, simmering on low heat, and adding fresh yam cut into small pieces just before it’s cooked.

This porridge was time-consuming and laborious to prepare, but because he said he liked it, she had been making it for him for two years.

After finishing a bowl, Ethan came downstairs.

He was showered, hair blow-dried, and dressed in clean, fresh clothes.

"Where did you go? I didn’t see you when I came back."

Talia responded indifferently, "Went for a walk."

Ethan walked towards the door, "I have something to take care of outside. If you’re tired, just sleep first. No need to wait for me."

Talia lowered her eyes and gently replied, "Okay."

"Are you coming back tonight?" Talia asked.

Ethan paused his action of putting on shoes, was silent for several seconds, then replied, "There’s an urgent matter at the company, and if it’s too late after handling it, I probably won’t come back."

"Oh, alright." The girl did not complain or cause a fuss.

Talia had always been sensible.

Ethan didn’t think much, changed his shoes, and left without looking back.

Talia went upstairs, pushed open Ethan’s bedroom door, and the bowl of porridge by the computer was indeed untouched.

On WeChat, Adrian Jennings, her arranged marriage partner, sent a message.

Adrian: [Talia, when are you planning to return to Oakhaven?]

In Talia’s eyes, Adrian was like a kind neighborhood big brother, calling her "Talia," which felt more like a sibling’s nickname than one between an engaged couple.

[Once things here are sorted.]

Adrian: [Alright, let me know anytime if you need my help.]

[Okay, thank you, Adrian.]

Adrian: [Get some rest early, good night.]

That night, Ethan did not return.

The next morning, Talia was woken by the ringing phone.

"Hello?"

"Talia, my birthday is the day after tomorrow. Remember to come to my party!"

Talia took a look at the name. It was Autumn Sterling, a friend in Ethan’s social circle who had a pretty good relationship with her.

"Alright, send me the location."

After hanging up, Talia got up, tidied herself, and went out shopping to pick a gift for Autumn.

A necklace from a well-known brand that matched Autumn’s style.

...

On Autumn’s birthday, Talia arrived at the venue early.

"Autumn, happy birthday." She handed over the gift.

Autumn received the gift and politely thanked her.

While they were chatting, Ethan arrived late with a new woman on his arm.

The moment they made eye contact, Ethan froze, "Talia, what are you doing here?"