Boat Against the Current

Lucille jolted slightly and turned to glance sideways at Sophia. Sophia smirked at her and then set an alarm on her phone.

A minute later, the alarm rang on the dot. Sophia pretended to pick up a call and then forced out a few tears, looking at the driver’s seat tearfully. “River, the butler said my puppy fell sick. I’m so worried! Could you send me home first?”

River stopped by the roadside and frowned at the rain pouring outside. When he turned around and saw Sophia’s teary face, however, he hesitated for a few seconds before finally addressing Lucille.

“I’ll send Lucille home first. Her house is in the other direction, so why don’t you get down and take a cab to your destination?”

Sophia did not give her time to say no, hurriedly offering her an umbrella.

Lucille looked at River and then Sophia. Finally, she got out of the car without a word.

There were some holes in the umbrella. The rain leaked through and drenched her immediately.

The bad weather meant there were no cabs on the streets, either. She had no choice but to run with her bag over her head. She ran in the rain for half an hour before she finally reached the embassy.

There were still no cabs after she got her visa. Lucille walked an hour home, the rain beating on her the entire time.

She knew she had a fever once she got home. Her body hurt all over, and she practically passed out on her bed.

She had a few strange nightmares as she broke out in a cold sweat. It felt like a monster was chasing her the entire time.

When she desperately opened her eyes, she saw that River was the monster.

He held her in his arms, feeding her the medicine sip by sip. His tone was gentle and pained. “Drink the medicine, okay? You’ll get better in an instant.”

Lucille could not tell if this was a dream or reality. She instinctively swallowed the medicine and drifted back to sleep.

When she next woke up, her fever had broken. She looked next to her, but there was no one there except for a phone vibrating on her bedside table.

She unlocked the phone and saw it was River’s friends spamming their group chat.

[You should win Best Actor, bro. I heard you turned down a project worth millions just to go home and take care of your little sister.]

[I feel like River’s fallen for real! He ran twenty red lights to rush home when he heard she had a fever. Has he actually fallen in love with her?]

[Agreed, I don’t think that anxiety was an act.]

River replied, [Me, fall in love with her? Over my dead body. I’m just doing this to make her even more devoted to me. That way, won’t her heart be shattered once she finds out the truth.]

Every word shook Lucille’s heart. She thought, ‘Over my dead body? Is that what you say to me after five years of dating? River, you’re heartless.’

All the strength drained from her body. Her hand fell limp by her side.

The next second, her bedroom door opened. Walking in with a basin of warm water, River stiffened and then quickly grabbed his phone back.

His usually lazy drawl was a touch nervous. “What did you see?”

Lucille lowered her head to hide her reddened eyes. Her voice was hoarse. “Why? Is there something I’m not supposed to see?”

She did not understand. He knew she was already irresistibly in love with her. Why did he continue the charade? Was there any need to prolong this act?

He was still on edge, worried she would discover the truth. Wasn’t he tired after pretending all this time?

Enough! He had achieved his goal! Her heart was already broken!

River did not know what she was thinking. He just assumed she was in a bad mood because she was sick, so he hugged her soothingly. “Of course not. I’m just preparing a surprise for you. Since you’re upset, I’ll tell you what it is right now!

“I found out a place that we can get married without any hindrance. Lucy, why don’t we move there and get married? I’m already making the arrangements.”

They had been discussing a future like this for countless nights. Hearing him say it now, however, Lucille no longer felt any trace of emotion. Her heart was dead and still.

She knew that they would no longer have a future.

Ten days from now, she would be gone from his life… and he from hers.