The Seventh Year as a Stand-In

"Meadow? Is that you, Meadow? Are you human or ghost?"

Someone who knew Meadow cried out in surprise.

I didn't know Meadow, but I'd heard bits and pieces about her story with Garrison.

Just as everyone was questioning whether this Meadow was real or fake, Garrison suddenly shoved me aside from behind and rushed forward.

It happened so abruptly that I lost my balance and fell straight to the ground, my palm landing directly on broken glass, instantly causing blood to flow.

"Are you Meadow? Why are you here?"

Garrison's eyes were red-rimmed as he held Meadow tightly in his arms, completely disregarding me lying injured nearby.

Compared to the pain in my hand, the ache in my heart was far more lethal.

"Garrison, your wife's right here."

The guy who had been joking earlier reminded him in a low voice.

Unexpectedly, Garrison immediately grabbed the beer bottle from the table and smashed it over the guy's head without hesitation.

"Get your medical bills from the Garrison. As for our previous business talks, they're all off the table."

His eyes were filled with cold fury. Though he didn't spell it out, everyone present could hear the warning in his tone. Because the man had given Meadow a hard time earlier, Garrison was making an example of him. It also showed that even after seven years, Meadow's place in his heart remained unshakeable.

No one in the room dared to make a sound, or even come to help me up.

Where Meadow knelt, there was also broken glass, and now her knees were seeping blood.

Without a word, Garrison took off his jacket and draped it over Meadow's shoulders. Then, under everyone's watchful gaze, he wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her up.

Meadow curled into his embrace, her slender frame shaking with sobs, evoking sympathy from those around.

This intimate scene stabbed at my eyes.

He left in a hurry, only giving me a calm glance as he coolly said, "Meadow's hurt. You should head home on your own."

After getting bandaged up at the hospital and returning home, I sat on the couch until three in the morning waiting for Garrison. When he finally arrived, Meadow was with him.

He carried Meadow straight upstairs, completely ignoring my presence on the couch.

"Garrison, put me down. Your darling is still here," Meadow whispered a reminder, and only then did Garrison pause and look over. "You just had your knee bandaged. Don't move around too much", Garrison patiently coaxed Meadow, and fearing she might be upset, he quickly added, "I'm not married to her yet. She's not my darling."

He distanced himself completely, with an indifferent expression as if he had never known me. Yesterday's passionate proposal scene now felt like a dream I had.

I looked up at the two of them. They seemed as loving as a married couple, while I felt like an intruder, completely out of place.

Fighting back the pain in my heart, I softly chuckled, "Garrison, I accepted your proposal yesterday."

Garrison's body stiffened, his face showing discomfort. Before, he was afraid I wouldn't accept his proposal. Now, he feared that I had.

He didn't answer me immediately. Instead, he lowered his gaze and gently comforted Meadow in his arms, "It's okay, sweetheart. Let me take you to your room to rest. I'll sort things out here."

Throughout all of this, he never once looked at me. I couldn't tell if it was out of guilt or disgust.

I think he must have been disgusted by me. Garrison isn't capable of feeling guilty. He'd only blame my existence for interfering with his freedom with Meadow.

After quite a while, Garrison finally came down from upstairs and sat across from me. We shared countless moments of intimate closeness, but now it felt like an entire galaxy separated us.

"What's going on with Meadow?" I asked.

"Melody, let's not rush into our wedding just yet," he said softly.

I knew exactly why. "Because of her? Are you planning to marry her instead?"

"Meadow's not in a good place emotionally. I'm worried about upsetting her. She's been through so much these past few years. I want to make it up to her."

Even though I already knew the answer in my heart, when I heard Garrison say it out loud, my heart still clenched painfully. Tears started streaming down my face uncontrollably.

I'm not the cool, collected heroine found in novels. I'm just an ordinary person who gets heartbroken and cries hysterically when faced with betrayal from the one I love.

"Garrison, how could you do this to me? You feel sorry for her, but do you feel sorry for me at all? We've been together for seven years! The wedding invitations have already been sent out, and now you want to postpone our marriage for her? Should I just step aside and let her take my place as the bride?"

"Melody! Keep your voice down. Meadow's still sleeping. This has nothing to do with her! It's my decision to make things right with her!"

Garrison pinched the bridge of his nose, his face full of impatience. I raised my hand, emotionally shattered, ready to slap Garrison across the face.

But before my palm could connect, a small, slender figure rushed in front of Garrison.

I couldn't stop my hand in time, and that slap landed squarely on Meadow's cheek.

That slap, delivered with all my might, brought tears to Meadow's eyes and shattered the years of feelings between Garrison and me.