Love's Challenges and Triumphs

At my husband Jonathan Collins and my wedding, my mother-in-law Elsa Collins insisted on going on stage to give a speech.

She held the microphone and her face was full of wrinkles from smiling.

"Today is my son Jonathan's wedding. Thank you all for coming. Seeing Jonathan marry a beautiful and sensible city girl without spending a penny, I think he is capable, and I am so lucky!"

When I heard this, I looked gloomy.

I stared at Elsa on the stage, met her gaze, and found she looked proud.

It turned out that my understanding and kindness were just making me cheap in their eyes.

Elsa was still speaking on the stage, praising Jonathan. He was the only college student in his village and became a university teacher after graduation.

When he was in school, many girls pursued him. And I, a city girl, didn't ask for anything but even gave Jonathan a house, car, and money just to marry him.

"Men should learn from Jonathan. If you are good enough, many girls will be eager to marry you.

"We said we couldn't afford a house or a car, but she was eager to marry Jonathan. It was said that she almost broke up with her parents to marry Jonathan.

"Her parents only have one daughter, so to let her live a happy life, they brought her a house and a car, and gave her money.

"Jonathan's father and I didn't want to agree to this marriage. She gave us a house, a car, and money just to marry Jonathan, so I was afraid there was something wrong with her.

"But now everything is fine. She is pregnant. I'm relieved that she can give birth."

Jonathan wanted to rush over to stop Elsa when she said the first word but was held back by his father Morgan. I saw them look gloomy. Jonathan looked at me apologetically and said, "I'm sorry, Chole, my mother must have drunk too much."

"What do you mean?" Morgan glanced at me with disdain and said, "Your mother is right, you did marry her without spending a penny!

"I heard that you even paid for the banquet and wedding. Chole, it's not that we look down on you, but this is the first time in my life that I have seen someone so eager to get married."

Jonathan and I knew each other in college. He was good-looking and was good at talking and studying. Many girls, including me, favored him at the beginning of the school year.

I had always been bold and unrestrained in my attitude towards love. When other girls only secretly looked at Jonathan, I had already brought him breakfast and water.

Once when it was raining heavily and I heard that he was trapped in the library, I rushed to the library with an umbrella. However, I caught a cold and had a fever later.

Jonathan bought me some antipyretic medicine. I went downstairs in my loose pajamas with a fever patch on my forehead to get it. Just as I was about to turn around and go upstairs, Jonathan grabbed my arm and said, "Chole, I'm not worthy of you doing this."

I turned my head to look at his eyes and said, "It's worth it because I like you."

Jonathan's face turned red instantly, and I felt his hand holding my arm tremble.

I took advantage of this and added, "I have been pursuing you for so long, and I like you a lot, why don't you consider being with me?"

Jonathan lowered his head with red ears, and I just stared at him, waiting for an answer.

After a long time, Jonathan raised his eyes and nodded.

Then we were together.

No one was optimistic about our relationship. After all, I was recognized by everyone as a girl from a wealthy family, but he came from the countryside.

A friend advised me, "Just date him, but don't ever think about marrying him. You two have different family backgrounds. You will suffer if you marry him."

I smiled and said nothing.

Why couldn't a city girl and a country boy get married? Who stipulated only people from the same family background could get married?

My rebellious mentality made me be with Jonathan for six years, and we even started to discuss marriage.