The Fickle Heart

I watched as Angela approached Carl and murmured something to him. Immediately, the manner in which Carl carried himself changed entirely. He looked unusually gentle.

I sifted through all the memories I had of Carl throughout the last two decades or so. He had never smiled at me the way he was smiling at Angela now.

Carl and I were childhood friends. We had played with each other since we were children. Being a rather carefree person myself, I often went around climbing trees and scampering outside with Carl.

When others bullied me, he would defend me and beat them up to chase them off. When I cried, he would patiently soothe me.

Even when we had grown up, Carl never bothered to put on any sort of pretense around me. I thought that meant he treated me like his soulmate, but as it was, he was merely treating me as if I were his pet.

When I saw the intimacy he shared with Angela, I finally realized just how worthless my love was to him. I didn't even know when he got so close to Angela, who had only just returned to the country.

Well, when it came to love, it didn't matter who came first. It was a matter of the right person at the right time.

Henry took me to his study before explaining on behalf of Angela, his niece, "Angela doesn't know about your relationship with Carl."

I nodded in response. I knew Angela grew up abroad. Henry only brought her back recently after her parents died in a car accident. Even after returning, she hadn't really mingled with the rest of us in the same social circle.

"Why did you come here to see me?" Henry asked with a puzzled look.

I glanced at him. Then, as I tried my best to stop my heart from pounding, I said, "I heard that Mr. Moran Senior has been urging you to get married. How do you feel about marrying me? I'm single, and so are you. We can easily make a good match."

Once I finished, I closed my eyes and waited for his decision.

When I heard a chuckle ring out beside my ear, I lifted my head and opened my eyes. Henry had walked up to me.

"Sure," Henry replied. "I'm a bit busy right now, but once everything is settled, I'll marry you!"

He gave me a hug before pulling an emerald bracelet out of his desk drawer. "This once belonged to my grandmother. I have one, and Angela was given the other one."

After putting the emerald bracelet on me, he escorted me home.

When I went back downstairs, Carl had already left the Moran residence.

Yet, even when I was lying on my bed that night, I was still a little perplexed. Why had Henry so readily agreed to marry me?