The Winter Of the Past

Layla woke up early the next day to buy breakfast for me.

“Good morning! I won’t stay home and have breakfast with you since I’m heading out for my classes.”

I watched her leave in a hurry and was distracted. She seemed strange to me, as if she was different from herself in our former life. But that weird feeling soon disappeared.

I went to a shop to buy something for her parents but ran into her, the person who was supposed to be attending classes.

Smiling happily, she held Charles with one hand and Caleb with the other. During both lives, she would only smile like that with Charles around.

I did not disturb them. Instead, I quietly bought the things I wanted and left.

When I walked past a bookstore, I gave some sweets to the shop owner. He took great care of me when I was in school. Besides, he would ask about my intentions first when he needed a part-timer in his shop.

I bade him goodbye before leaving. “Thank you for taking care of me, Mr. Fowler.”

Greg Fowler dismissed it. “I did that out of selfishness. I noticed my business picking up since you started working in the store.”

Layla carried Caleb in his arms and walked past the store while I was chatting and laughing with Greg.

Greg nudged my shoulders and asked me softly who the child was.

“I saw your fiancee carrying him several times. A man was with her too during the first few times. He was wearing gold-rimmed glasses and didn’t look like a nice guy! Zayn, you must be careful and stop him from snatching your fiancee.”

Everyone knew that I was deeply in love with Layla. They often teased me about that.

“You don’t act like she’s your fiancee. You take great care of her as if she were your daughter.”

With me around, she did not have to worry about anything. When she first went there to study, she could not get along with her roommate. Hence, I rented a house for her outside.

She was too lazy to clean up and was reluctant to cook. Thus, I moved in to stay with her even though my room was used to store miscellaneous items.

In the past, I thought my sincerity would help me win her heart too. But I was wrong. Some people were just heartless.

In my former life, I led a miserable life. Of course, there was something wrong with me as well.

“Stop teasing me. Layla and I aren’t married.”

Greg was stunned. “Aren’t you guys engaged to each other?”

I looked down at the stuff I had bought for Layla’s parents and said indifferently, “It doesn’t mean that I’m going to marry her.”

When I got home, I started packing my stuff. I wanted to stay in my homeland when I visited Layla’s parents. I could also visit my parents.

Hence, I bought a ticket for that afternoon. Before leaving, Layla came home. She gave me some snacks to eat during the journey.

She even told me that she had wanted to go with me.

“But I’m busy here. So, you need to help me visit my parents.”

“Mm, it’s fine. Go ahead with your work.”

After half-heartedly talking to her, I took the ride to go back to Cliffwood.

When I arrived, I bought some other things for Layla’s parents before I went to them.

It was already dark when I reached their house.

They were surprised at the sight of me before they grinned.

“What are you doing back?” They looked past me. When they found me alone, they asked if I had argued with Layla.

I carried the stuff into their house and shook my head before I told them why I was there.

“You want to cancel the engagement?” David Freeman, Layla’s father, was surprised at first. Then, he was overcome with anger. But he was not mad at me.

“Did my daughter do anything that made you sad? Tell me! I’ll scold her!”

Madeline Freeman, Layla’s mother, yanked David and asked him to calm down.

I shook my head to deny it. “She’s good. But maybe… We aren’t suitable for each other.”

They stopped dissuading me, given my firm attitude. But David wanted to buy me a drink.

After a few glasses of beer, David got drunk. He told me that he knew I was trying to defend Layla.

“You’re always sensible and responsible. If she hadn’t done anything wrong, you wouldn’t cancel the marriage… What a pity that I lost a good son-in-law.”

I chuckled and shook my head before I got a cup of warm water for him.

“I’ll always remember you and Mrs. Freeman’s kindness even if I won’t marry Layla. Just see me as your son. I’ll be nice to you like Sam.”

At the mention of Sam Freeman, David’s son, David kept sighing.

“I wouldn’t have sprained my ankle if he were half as good as you.”

We chatted with each other until the middle of the night.

The next day, Madeline made me coffee to keep me sober.

She was worried that I might feel awkward about canceling the engagement. She kept talking to me so I would not take it to heart.

“You don’t have anything to do at college, do you? Just stay here for a few days. I got some new fabric. I can make you some clothes…”

Her nagging made my eyes turn red. They were so nice to me.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for me to go abroad. I went back two days in advance.

I was wondering if the money I saved was enough during the journey. As I dwelled on it, I felt that it was fine as long as I had some money.

I saved some money while I was working for Greg. Besides, I earned some money from translating books a while ago. It would be enough for my living costs for a short while.

I grinned and smiled foolishly at the thought of my future. I casually touched my bag and found some money that David and Madeline had secretly stuffed into my bag. There was quite a lot of money. But their money was hard-earned.

For a moment, I teared up. I muttered my gratitude.