
True or False: First Love Takes Priority Over Me
Chapter 3
Our marriage was unknown to anyone, and our divorce was even more unnoticed.
I watched as Chris, right after the divorce, held Mia's hand high and publicly displayed their love.
I'm guessing the Lane family still doesn't know Mia's father is a murderer.
Before, when Chris and I were dating, everything was kept so low-key, there wasn't even an official announcement.
When I asked him about it, he simply told me that relationships are between two people, not anyone else's business, so there was no need to let others know.
He didn't even introduce me to his friends, just kept telling me over and over.
"I love you, you love me, as long as we know, that's enough."
Back then, I naively believed him, but now I know the truth.
It wasn't that he didn't like showing off, it's just that the person he wanted to show off wasn't me.
I watched as he filled the sky with fireworks, all to make Mia smile.
Turns out, there really is a difference between love and no love.
Time passed, and because the jewelry appraisal event only had top-tier people present and not many from the lower ranks, the fact that I brought a fake didn't get out.
My job wasn't affected.
It wasn't until my birthday that I saw an unexpected letter on my desk, making me pause.
It was an envelope wrapped in a gardenia design—Chris's favorite flower.
I reached out and opened the envelope.
I couldn't help but wonder if he was the one who wrote this letter.
[Hello, Lucy.
[Hope this letter finds you well.
[Believe it or not, I never thought there'd come a day where we wouldn't speak for months.
[In the beginning, you were right. I did treat you as a stand-in, but hearts are made of flesh, Lucy.
[In the days you weren't by my side, I realized I've gotten used to your presence.
[Even though Mia hasn't been around me, I still think of you from time to time...]
At this point, I closed the letter and didn't read any further.
I had no idea what Chris was trying to accomplish. All I knew was that his behavior right now was just pathetic.
Years ago, when Chris and I were dating, I used to write him handwritten letters.
Eighteen in total, to make up for the 18 years I hadn't been by his side. I told him I wanted him to be with me for all the days ahead.
I told him that handwritten letters were a luxury in this internet-driven world, that no one wanted to take the time to sit down and write anymore.
Chris understood what I meant, and I hoped to get a letter from him in return.
But he refused, saying he was too busy.
Then one afternoon, I found those letters I stayed up all night writing tossed in the trash.
I sent a picture of them to Chris.
He told me not to misunderstand, that he had already taken pictures of them to keep as memories, but the physical letters were taking up too much space, so he threw them away.
I believed him.
But the next day, I heard from his friend that he had written a 1,000-word handwritten letter to his dream girl.
I cried a lot that day, convincing myself it was just that Chris didn't feel like writing to me, that he was really busy.
But now, after our divorce, Chris suddenly had the time to write me the handwritten letter he owed me years ago.
Chris, some things only have meaning at the right time.