Let bygones be bygones

“ Liam is right, I love this feeling of ‘control’.” Vanessa squatted in front of the iris bushes, her fingertips gently brushing the petals, a shy yet proud smile blooming on her dark face. “Whether the flowers grow well or not depends entirely on how much care the gardener puts in. Look at this one, I watched over it every day when it was forming buds, afraid of insects and wind, taking better care of it than I would of myself—it’s blooming so beautifully, all thanks to me.”

Liam stood behind her, sunlight filtering through the leaves and falling softly on his face. He bent down and gently brushed the fallen leaves from Vanessa's hair, a natural and intimate gesture—a gesture that used to be reserved only for me. Back then, when he picked willow catkins from my hair, he would smile and say, " Clara's hair is soft, don't let these things get itchy." But now, the way he looked at Vanessa was more focused than when he looked at carefully cultivated flowers.

“With this kind of dedication, anything is possible.” Liam ’s voice carried a long-lost sense of admiration. “He’s much better than some people who just stand by and offer sarcastic remarks.”

My grip on the watering can tightened suddenly, and the icy water trickled down my fingers, soaking the backs of my feet. I stood at the garden gate, still holding the fertilizer I'd just bought— Liam had specifically asked me to buy it yesterday, saying the irises needed fertilizing. So he hadn't forgotten my kindness; he'd just transferred that kindness to someone else.

It was an autumn when irises were in full bloom. They met because of the flowers, and even more so because of my "soft heart," and gradually moved in together. From then on, Liam 's phone was full of flower orders. He wanted roses with dew on them, magnolias freshly picked in the early morning, and even lilies, which I was allergic to, were brought home by him. He said, " Vanessa said the scent of lilies can calm the mind," completely forgetting how I had broken out in rashes and was bedridden the last time I came into contact with lilies.

The villa's terrace, living room, and even my study were filled with all sorts of flowers, the fragrance so strong it was cloying, keeping me awake at night. Meanwhile, Liam and Vanessa chatted and laughed across these flowers, discussing everything from flower care to physics formulas, from childhood anecdotes to future dreams, their conversation as harmonious as a couple who had been together for over a decade.

The turning point came one weekend evening. Liam suddenly pulled me down to sit, his expression serious yet with an undeniable insistence: " Clara , I want to sponsor Vanessa's education. She's only seventeen, and her problem-solving skills are clearer than many undergraduates. It would be such a waste for her to drop out."

Vanessa stood beside him, nervously picking at the calluses on her palms—the result of years of carrying flowers and doing odd jobs. She raised her dark face, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked at me timidly: " Sister Clara , I... I didn't mean to trouble you. After my mother's car accident, my family was burdened with debt, and I had no choice but to drop out of school. If you're willing to help me, I promise I'll study hard and pay you back when I earn money. I'll remember your kindness for the rest of my life."

Her eyes were so much like eight-year-old Liam's . Years ago, he huddled in the stairwell, those same tearful eyes, asking me, "Can I go home with you?" At that moment, I remembered the days I scrimped and saved to pay for Liam 's tuition, my fingers red from knitting him sweaters in the cold winter, and the way he said, "I'll never forget your kindness." My heart softened once more.

Liam and I will cover your tuition and living expenses ." I patted her on the shoulder. "Just let me know if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

I truly treat her like a younger sister. Knowing she was used to wearing her old clothes, I took her to the mall and bought her a dress that cost several hundred yuan, while I was still wearing last year's old T-shirt; afraid that she would be laughed at by her classmates, I took her to get skin care treatments, bought her skin care products, and taught her how to do makeup; even worried that she would fall behind in her studies, I stayed up all night organizing my notes and wrote down Liam 's study methods for her word by word.

Vanessa would always hug my arm, sweetly calling me " Sister Clara ," saying, "You're even better than my own sister," and "When I become successful, I'll definitely give you a good life." She would bring me water to wash my feet, tidy up my room, and say to Liam , "My sister is so good to me; I can never let her down in this lifetime."

But I never expected that her "repayment" would be to climb into my husband's bed.

That day was the day Vanessa received her acceptance letter—she got into the university where we worked, in the same physics department as Liam . I took half a day off to buy her favorite pork ribs and the strawberries she'd been talking about for so long from the market, and also ordered a cream cake with "Bright Future" printed on it, wanting to surprise her.

As I inserted the key into the lock, I was still smiling and thinking that I would take a picture with her later and post it on WeChat Moments to show off my "good little sister". But the moment I pushed open the door, the clothes scattered in the living room were like sharp knives, stabbing my eyes painfully—it was the white dress I bought for Vanessa , and Liam's favorite gray shirt.

The bedroom door was ajar, and the sounds coming from inside froze me. The shopping basket in my hand clattered to the floor, ribs rolled all over the floor, and strawberries splattered with juice. I rushed over and pushed open the bedroom door, and the sight before me made me lose my mind instantly— Liam was shirtless, Vanessa was curled up in his arms, the two of them tightly embracing, the blankets had slipped off, revealing skin covered with ambiguous red marks.