The Words I Left Behind

Jasmine stared at him, stunned.

Before she could react, the doorbell rang.

The next second, William smiled and walked over to open the door.

"William, am I late? Blame today's students—they wouldn't stop asking me questions!"

Jennifer stepped inside like she belonged there, pulling out a pair of women's slippers from the shoe cabinet.

Jasmine remembered those slippers—she had bought them not long ago, but never even got to wear them before she moved out.

Seeing how familiar Jennifer was with the house now made her whole body tremble.

"Not late, perfect timing. Go wash your hands—food's ready," William said gently, his voice like a knife in Jasmine's ears.

Jennifer smiled shyly and headed toward the table.

"Ms. Spencer, sorry I'm late!"

Jasmine didn't respond, not that Jennifer was waiting for a reply. The latter went straight to the chair and sat down.

"William, you're so sweet—you even set out my plate and cutlery for me."

"I know you're a clean freak. I washed them several times just so you could inspect them!"

"Then what kind of reward do you want?"

William reached out and pinched her cheek. "I want you to eat well. You've been working too hard at school, and then you got sick on top of that. Look how skinny you've gotten."

Jasmine watched the two of them talking back and forth like no one else was there.

That heart of hers, which was already long dead, felt like it was suddenly throbbing again.

She couldn't help herself and cut in, "William, this is the last thing you agreed to do for me?"

She felt like someone had poured a bucket of ice water over her.

When William looked at her, he finally noticed something.

When had Jasmine gotten so thin?

His face showed a flicker of guilt, but his words still came out cold and firm. "I made all this food, and I know you wouldn't be able to finish it alone. Jennifer just got out of the hospital, remember? I've been taking care of her all this time. You're the one who insisted I do this final thing now. I couldn't just abandon her."

Jennifer sat right across from her. The smug look in her eyes was like a slap, mocking Jasmine's foolishness.

Suddenly, Jasmine just felt tired.

All her strength, the last bit she had been holding onto, was punched right out of her. Her heart ached, and it wasn't just that. Every bone in her body felt like it hurt.

Her head dropped, but only for a second.

The next moment, she forced herself to stand.

However, her eyes never left the floor.

"I should've never expected anything from you, William."

Her voice was soft—so soft, like the sound of a pin dropping to the floor, barely heard.

As he saw her about to leave, William's feet twitched slightly. But before he could react, Jennifer stepped past him.

She reached out and tried to grab Jasmine, but her sleeve caught on Jasmine's wig.

In an instant, the wig was yanked right off.

William gasped sharply. "Jasmine! Your hair—where is it?!"

Jasmine had her back to him, and her hand began to shake violently.

Her mind went blank. It felt like Jennifer had ripped away the last shred of her dignity.

Just as Jasmine was about to give up and finally tell William the truth, Jennifer picked the wig up off the floor.

Her expression turned serious as she looked at Jasmine, and she said in a sharp, accusing tone, "Ms. Spencer, I never thought you'd go this far. Shaving off your hair just to make William stay with you?

"After those five things, don't tell me you're planning to say you’re going to become a nun just to guilt him into staying with you?!"