What Cannot Be Consoled

After more than a month of not seeing him, Oliver looked much older. His hands trembled as he opened a box and pulled out an emerald bracelet, pressing it into Pearl's hand.

"Pearl, this was Yolanda's. It's the Sterling family's heirloom meant to be passed down to daughters-in-law. She passed so suddenly that she never had the chance to give it to you. Today, I'm putting it on you myself, in case I pass away one of these days too..."

"Oliver, please don't talk like that."

Seeing her once vigorous mentor now frail and elderly, Pearl's eyes grew moist. However, she knew clearly that she and Ethan were about to divorce. She could not accept this heirloom meant for a Sterling daughter-in-law.

However, Oliver insisted on slipping it around her wrist. He continued, "You were still in school before, and you and Ethan didn't have a proper wedding. Now that you're graduating soon, you should make time for a ceremony. That was Yolanda's dying wish."

Neither Pearl nor Ethan responded. Oliver went on about the wedding for quite a while, then pulled out two tickets and handed them to Ethan. "These are from Peter for you two. His son is directing this musical. It's happening tonight."

"Peter?" Ethan frowned.

Oliver immediately smiled. "Pearl knows him. He's my friend at the care facility. Last time Pearl visited, she happened to run into Peter, who collapsed on the roadside after having a heart attack."

Oliver looked at Pearl with pride. "Thanks to Pearl's quick emergency care, Peter survived. He's always remembered Pearl since then. He even said he wants to attend your wedding ceremony and congratulate you both."

"That happened? Why didn't you tell me?" Ethan looked at Pearl. He had known nothing about it.

Pearl did not expose him in front of Oliver. After she saved that man, she sent Ethan several voice messages. He had not replied to any of them at the time.

Now, she understood. He had never bothered to listen to her voice messages at all.

After leaving the care facility, Pearl wanted to take a cab straight back to school. However, Ethan waved the tickets in his hand. "Someone went out of their way to save these for you. It would be rude not to go."

Thinking of Oliver and Peter's thoughtfulness, Pearl took the ticket and decided to go.

On the way, Ethan said he needed to swing by home to get his work phone.

Pearl thought to herself that when he had spontaneously gone up that mountain with Vivian, his work phone had rung all night in the study, yet he had been fine with that. When he was with her, however, work suddenly became so important.

With that thought, Pearl took off the bracelet from her wrist. The things that did not belong to her should be returned to their rightful owner sooner rather than later.

She had just removed the bracelet when she looked up and saw Vivian stepping out of the elevator.

"Ethan! No wonder you weren't home when I went looking for you. Where were you?"

Vivian completely ignored Pearl and bounced over to Ethan like a rabbit. Pearl consciously took a step back.

"You were looking for me? What for?"

"To get you to join the competition, of course! Look, I already got the bikes ready for you..."

Only then did Pearl notice there were three bicycles in the elevator along with a lady with blonde hair. Pearl recognized the lady as an influencer named Joy Walker who had appeared in Vivian's videos before.

Joy greeted them cheerfully, then teased Vivian with a knowing look, "So, this is the mystery man from your photo! He really is gorgeous!"

Her gaze landed on Pearl standing behind them, puzzled. "And who's this?"

Both Vivian and Ethan looked embarrassed. Pearl simply pointed at Ethan. "I'm his sister."