Our Love is Sure to Win

Ronald was a photographer. But he never took photos of people. I used to plead him to take a photo of me. He refused.

After learning that, I never asked him to take photos of me again.

Until one day, I picked up a book from the ground, inside which was a photo of a girl smiling under the green gabble.

I recognized her. She was a college student sponsored by Ronald.

How ironic. I was cuckolded.

I put the photo back into the book and called Ronald. "Have you ever taken a photo of any person, for example, any girl?"

My tone was light, but my heart ached faintly.

"No, what's wrong?"

"Sophie wants to find someone to take photos for her. I wonder if you know any photographer."

"I see. I'll send you the contact information."

"Okay."

His tone was as usual, neither too fast nor too slow. However, my heart sank as he spoke.

I had told him before that I hated deception the most, but he lied.

——

"Let's break up."

On the day when Ronald came back, I proposed a breaking-up. He didn't seem to be surprised. His gentle eyes were as calm as when I first saw him.

I couldn't help but think, Ronald, will you ever be lovesick?

Will you regret your doing and be afraid of losing someone?

He hugged me tightly, held my hand with great strength, and kept apologizing.

"Yvonne, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I'll spend more time with you in the future."

I didn't struggle. His solution, an indifferent apology, was within my expectation.

Ronald was very busy and spent little time with me. My traveling plan was always laid aside.

However, that was not why we had to separate.

I leaned against his chest and listened to his dull and powerful heartbeat.

This was Ronald, who seldom lost control of his emotions, who always compromised and said okay, and who made me speechless and unable to refute.

"No."

Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes, but I spoke rationally.

Love was just icing on the cake for me. It was good to have it, but it was not a pity to lose it.

"I don't agree to break up. Let's calm down first."

Ronald loosened his grip and looked at me with gentle eyes, as if he was indulgent of my unreasonable behavior.

I hated his hypocrisy and deception at the moment as much as I used to admire his considerateness.

After resigning from my job, I moved to the suburbs for its quietness.

The house was bought not long after my graduation. Back then, I won an award in a design competition with my friend. The bonus paid the down payment.

I simply desired to have a home in such a big city, a place completely belonging to me.

I was so happy. But I didn't tell anyone, including Ronald.

The flowers on the balcony were dancing in the wind. I leaned against the sofa. My mom pestered me with questions over the phone.

"When do you plan to get married to Ronald?

"You're becoming a spinster. Speed up!

"Don't hesitate. Ronald is a good guy. You'll soon be too much aged. What's the use of making so much money and ending up alone in the end?"

...

"Mom, I broke up with Ronald. Don't mention him again.

"Don't call me again if there's nothing important."

After saying that, I hung up the phone.

My mother graduated from a famous university and thought highly of herself. Although she came from a backward area, she had never felt inferior.

She had always been proud, decisive, and even bold.

Her husband's affair was undoubtedly a stain for her, so she didn't feel guilty at all for leaving her husband and abandoning her daughter.

If I weren't her daughter, I would definitely think that what she did was understandable.

Unfortunately, I was her daughter, and she had always looked down on me.

She didn't accompany me through those dark times.

So she shouldn't judge my life.