CHAPTER 387: CHAPTER 387: ENJOYING BEING LOVED

Audrey Sutton didn’t want to continue being melancholy at home, so she discussed with Flora and the others to settle on a restaurant, then went back to her room to get ready.

She changed into a bright little dress, applied delicate makeup, and stepped out looking beautiful.

She also wanted to be like him, seemingly carefree, happily living her own small life.

When she went out, she deliberately shared a selfie with her friends, mainly wanting him to see it.

As if to tell him, look, I’m happy, I can be joyful even without you around.

The address was a sky restaurant that several people had longed to visit but had always felt was too extravagant.

It’s said that the minimum average spend is one thousand yuan, and that’s without ordering drinks. A bit of alcohol here and there, and nearly ten thousand would be gone.

Audrey Sutton volunteered to treat everyone, bringing out the card Shane Warner gave her to splurge.

She felt that throughout the marriage, she hadn’t spent much of his money.

The money on the card was originally meant for their child’s savings, but now considering the circumstances, what’s the point of thinking about children?

If they do end up divorcing, Audrey Sutton would feel quite at a loss, which is why she decided to splurge a bit.

Flora’s post-breakup state was different from previous times, she seemed genuinely to be celebrating this time.

In the past she’d cry after breakups, drink for a night, feeling like the skies were falling, but this time she seemed to express in the group chat: she’s liberated.

During dinner, Flora herself also analyzed her psychological changes, the biggest reason being that she didn’t love this man as much.

She said, relationships can take several forms, being together isn’t always due to love.

Flora: "I once saw something online that said, roughly, there’s a type of person who loves because they’re loved by you, who enjoys being loved and can settle to live with you, but they don’t necessarily need only you. It fits exactly how I feel now."

Audrey Sutton paused while lifting her glass when she heard this.

She felt like this phrase described her and Shane Warner.

He enjoys being loved but doesn’t need her specifically...

While eating, Flora continued: "I feel like if he was a good man, satisfying in every way, I’d truly marry him, but in this situation I tend to nitpick, amplify his minor shortcomings. He’s not necessarily a jerk, compared to previous men I’ve met, he could indeed be considered a good man, maybe because I don’t love him that much. That’s why I don’t want to tolerate his small flaws, breaking up doesn’t make me sad at all."

Seraphina Vaughn and Barry Barrett joined in the conversation, expressing their thoughts, while Audrey Sutton drank her wine in a thoughtful manner.

Her mind was occupied with the phrase: he doesn’t necessarily need her.

Perhaps he’s that type of person Flora mentioned earlier, merely keeping the marriage going because she loves him very much.

It’s possible that he’s been enduring her various flaws and quirks all along, until one day he decided he’d had enough, feeling life would be the same with or without her, hence things became the way they are now?

In her distracted thoughts, Audrey suddenly heard Seraphina Vaughn say: "Anyway, once I feel he’s not in love with me, I’ll decisively leave, there’s no point in holding onto hope."

Audrey remembered a phrase she’d read somewhere: your deep affection can’t move someone who doesn’t love you, what hurts you isn’t their cold heart, but your persistence in holding onto hope...

This bitter realization hit Audrey Sutton hard and left her feeling more pessimistic.

They ordered three bottles of wine, and the four of them finished them all.

When settling the bill, it totaled over ninety thousand, but Audrey felt no remorse.

She reckoned this would probably be her last time spending his money.

A year plus of marriage, spending ninety thousand wasn’t unreasonable.

She knew Shane Warner received transaction alert notifications.

After settling the bill, she half hoped he’d text and ask why she’d suddenly spent so much.

That evening, she posted numerous status updates, almost rivaling the number she’d posted over the past six months.

But he remained indifferent, never reached out, didn’t even bother liking anything she posted...

After the last two days of courses finished, the summer holiday arrived. Shane Warner hadn’t returned, didn’t send any messages, and she didn’t bother calling Faye Xavier to inquire about him.

On the first day of vacation, she entrusted General and Pea to her fourth brother. With a noon flight, she and Six returned to Driftwood Isle.

The last time she’d gone back, it was with Shane Warner...

In these days, she’d been exceptionally good at concealing her emotions, behaved as usual, not letting anyone notice anything unusual.

On her way back, Audrey took a photo at the airport, and while switching to the ferry, she snapped many landscape pictures and selfies, posting them with the caption: The scenery on the ship is stunning, but I will eventually dock, perhaps... the view on shore will be even better.

Her words held another layer of meaning.

But that meaning wasn’t what was truly in her heart.

She didn’t want to explore views apart from him, at least not now.

They’d agreed she’d wait for him to finish being busy and then return together to the isle for the wedding.

But she really didn’t want to stay alone in that home waiting for his return.

She wanted to appear more carefree, as if acting this way wouldn’t make her look too pathetic.

When they got home, it was already night; grandpa and grandma had prepared dinner waiting for them.

The two elderly constantly bickered, yet cared for each other.

Grandma said grandpa was going fishing with friends early the next morning, so she helped him pack fishing items for the ocean trip.

While nagging about him going out to mess around despite his age, she also reminded him to be safe at sea.

Both seniors went to sleep early; it was past eight when they turned in.

Norman Sutton went off to find his buddy to play games, probably returning around one or two.

Audrey Sutton went alone to the rooftop, sitting in the pavilion looking at the starry night sky.

She recalled the scene from last time when she brought Shane Warner to the rooftop.

The emotions she pretended to hold up amongst people, now shed the facade in this moment.

Looking at the star-filled sky, her eyes gradually grew wet.

She sat in the pavilion, looked at her phone’s new messages, none of which were from him.

There were many comments and likes on her posts, but in truth, she posted those for Shane Warner to see.

Hoping he’d see her updates, perhaps he’d actively reach out, ask if she was on break already, if she’d returned home, wasn’t it meant they’d go together?

Many topics could have been initiated, but he remained passive.

She scrolled through their previous conversation history.

The more she read, the heavier her heart felt, she bit her lip, suppressing her sobs...