The Past is Like a Failed Painting

"Stop talking nonsense!" Someone interrupted. "Mr. Gillard has already said that this must not reach the ears of his disabled wife."

I stood in the crowd and felt that the laughter and joy around me became harsh noises and the wound on my hand was aching again.

It turned out that everyone knew their true relationship, but I was the only one who was kept in the dark like a fool for five years.

Suddenly there was an exaggerated exclamations from the crowd.

"This is a natural pink diamond worth one hundred fourty million dollars. It was bought at a Paris auction house. It turns out that the mysterious buyer is Mr. Gillard."

"This is the largest transaction in the auction house in recent years. Mr. Gillard is really a man who dotes on his sister."

Following the gaze of most people, I looked towards the stage.

Joseph was taking out a top-grade pure natural pink diamond necklace to give to his sister as a gift for her grand opening gallery.

I remembered not long ago, he disregarded my advice and took a flight to attend an auction abroad in a high fever.

After two to three days, he came home with a pink diamond ring in his hand.

"My dear, I bought this specially from abroad. Do you like it?"

At that time, I was so moved that tears welled up in my eyes, thinking that he was trying so hard just to give me a gift.

Joana walked to me gracefully wearing the necklace and her eyes fell on the pink diamond ring on my hand.

"Emily, my brother is indeed a fool. He even gave you the gift ring from the auction house. Those who didn't know would think our family is bankrupt."

"That's too much. Wait, I will teach him a lesson for you."

It turned out what I received was just a gift Joana did not want?

I then turned the pink diamond to the palm slowly.

At this moment, it seemed to weigh four hundred fifty kilograms, making it hard for me to catch my breath.

On the stage, Joseph was only focused on putting the necklace on Joana. The two of them were so intimate that there was no room for a third person in between.

I took off the ring and threw it into the trash can.

I did not want the ring.

And I did not want Joseph either.

I did not wait for him.

I sent him a text message saying that I was not feeling well and went home first.

After a minutes later, he replied with only [Okay.] and there was no more news from him.

Suddenly, a notification popped up on my mobile phone.

I clicked on it and it was a post from Joana.

[My brother is really something. He got drunk and started calling me by my childhood nickname "Dear Baby". I’m not a kid anymore.]

In the video, Joseph's eyes were hazy and his head were leaning on her shoulder, then he muttered to himself. "Joana, you are my dear baby forever ...."

Just after the video finished playing, the man returned home with a strong smell of alcohol.

As soon as he entered the bedroom, he eagerly pressed me under him and kissed me all over my face.

"My Dear Baby, I love you so much. I really love you so much. Tell me you love me now, tell me now ...."

Even though I had a nickname, he always stubbornly called me "Dear Baby".

His voice overlaps with the voice in the video just now.

Soon, I realized that every time he called me "Dear" or "Dear Baby", he was thinking of his true love.

Did he treat me as a substitute for Joana?

A feeling of nausea came over me and I could not stop myself from throwing up.

Joseph regained his senses and his eyes regained clarity.

"My Dear Baby, what's wrong with you? Did I hurt you somewhere?"

He patted my back gently and the worry between his brows did not seem fake.

I forced a smile and replied, "It's okay, I'm just a little bit comfortable because of the smell of alcohol."

He showed guilt on his face as he brushed my hair behind my ear.