Love's Second Life: Rebuilding From Scratch

I took the flowers and casually placed them on the table.

"What's wrong? You don't like them?"

I had to admit Arthur was being a bit overly sensitive today.

In the past, I'd always responded to his gifts with exaggerated enthusiasm.

It wasn't just about trying to please him; I genuinely cherished his thoughtfulness.

Even a simple hairpin he bought on a whim to support a college student's startup at the subway entrance would be carefully treasured by me.

But honestly, those moments were rare.

"No, they're lovely and smell fantastic," I replied with a smile.

Arthur still seemed unsure.

He repeated himself, "Charlotte, let me say it again, Aria is just my junior from school. She has this dependency on me, and after spending so many years abroad, she's still adjusting to being back. I'm just being a responsible senior, that's all."

I looked at him playfully without saying a word.

A department can have anywhere from dozens to hundreds of people.

Did he treat everyone with such care?

As if remembering something, he took my hand. "I'm sorry about losing the baby, but we have to keep moving forward."

So, he still remembered that I had just lost a child.

Because it wasn't his pain, he could self-righteously demand that I move on.

But when I tried to move on, his heart began to waver.

He was looking at another woman.

"Maybe this child just came at the wrong time," I said.

He was about to say something more, but a sudden ringing interrupted him.

"The installers are here, right?

"You can't handle it alone, don't push yourself.

"These guys are slippery; wait for me, I'll be right there."

Arthur hung up the phone and rushed out without looking back. "I need to go to Aria's place; the furniture delivery guys are there. She can't handle it alone."

"It's okay, go ahead, don't keep them waiting."

I realized that when I decided to let go, I could be understanding, too.

My voice was drowned out by the sound of his footsteps down the stairs.

To save time, he didn't even wait for the elevator.