Hearing the news, Christine wasn’t disappointed. Instead, she turned into a gossip queen. "So, going out with the Gregory guy living across your hallway?"
I was surprised. "How did you know?"
Christine explained, "Who around you could I possibly not know about? Besides me, there's Mark and Bryant. You wouldn't bother with Bryant. If it were Mark, you'd have told me right away. By process of elimination, that leaves Gregory."
My gaze drifted to the distant skyscrapers, their neon lights flickering in the night. I chuckled, "Nothing gets past you, huh?"
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, I hung up, only to find Bryant had woken up.
I put away my phone and dropped the smile, speaking steadily, "You're awake. You should go home then."
His deep eyes fixed on me. "Trying to avoid me now?"
"Not at all." I shook my head and walked into the living room. "I'm just trying to keep my life simple."
As everyone thought, I had no parents and barely anything to rely on. How could I possibly stand up to them?
Whether the Ferguson family or the Myers family, it made no difference. If I couldn't confront them, I could at least avoid them.
Bryant frowned. "Did Margaret come to you again?"
"It was Dorothy this time." I stated plainly, my voice tinged with fatigue, "Bryant, let's not make this harder for each other. Let's get the divorce papers sorted."
Then, we could go our separate ways.
Yet, he seemed to ignore my point, steering the conversation elsewhere. "Why the sudden need to sell the house? Did something happen?"
I sighed, trying to keep my tone as light as possible. "The best way you can help me is to just... not get involved. Leave me be."
That was the only way to keep the troubles at bay. That way, I could live my life in peace. I never thought that the person I once cherished so much, the one I chased after with all my heart, the only thing I hoped for was a clean break. Nothing more. I couldn't, and wouldn't, expect anything else.
After hearing my words, Bryant's expression turned melancholy. After a moment, he spoke gloomily, "Do you think I'm a complete disaster in family matters?"
I was shocked, a pang of sorrow touching my heart. "What do you mean?"
His thick and curly eyelashes drooped slightly, his laugh tinged with self-mockery. "In trying to repay Teresa for her kindness, I kept indulging Margaret, ruining my marriage. Now, coming home to an empty house, I no longer find the joy of seeing you there. I don't look forward to going home anymore."
Flashes of what had been a harmonious three years suddenly invaded my thoughts. Yes, during the first three years, when I was unaware of Bryant’s facade, I had felt happiness in our marriage.
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