Chapter 2
The first time was on their third wedding anniversary. Knowing his passion for astronomy, Celia had carefully selected a location and prepared an outdoor picnic to watch a meteor shower together. However, after receiving a text from Brooklyn, he turned back halfway, leaving her alone on the mountaintop all night in the cold wind.
The second time, Celia needed an appendectomy, but right before the surgery began, he rushed off to rescue Brooklyn from some troublemakers and vanished for an entire week. She had to sign her own surgical consent, then endure the pain alone, and go to follow-up appointments, change dressings, and eat meals by herself.
The third time, her grandmother died, but he left the funeral to have dinner with Paige…
All the love Celia had for him was completely drained away after being abandoned time and again.
It turned out that after all these years, not only did he still have feelings for Brooklyn, but he had never forgotten her from the beginning…
This time, she knew that she had lost the bet completely. She was ready to own it.
After arriving home, she took a long, hot shower and changed into soft, cozy pajamas. Then, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm cup of ginger tea. Sipping it slowly, she finally felt alive again.
After that, she pulled out the divorce papers she had prepared on the day of the bet, signed her name, and handed it to Brooklyn.
“Here. You can be the one to give it to him.”
Brooklyn raised a brow, looking slightly surprised. “Why me?”
“I don’t want to waste time explaining to him why I want a divorce. Only if you give it to him will he sign without even looking.”
Hearing this, Brooklyn took the agreement with satisfaction. “Don’t feel too bad.” She offered her sympathy, fake niceties dripping from her voice. “Give it a few days, and I’ll introduce you to some hot new guy.”
“Sure.”
Seeing her quick agreement, Brooklyn’s eyes flashed with surprise.
“You agreed? Have you gotten over Mason so quickly?”
Celia let out a soft laugh, but there was no joy—only a bitter ache. “He’s the only man I’ve ever truly given my heart to. And look how that ended. I gave him nine chances, and every single time, I lost. If I still can’t walk away, I’d be pathetic. From now on, I’m only living for me.”
Just as she finished speaking, the front door swung open.
Mason, who had just returned, froze when he saw Brooklyn.
“Brooklyn? Didn’t I just drop you off at the hospital? Why are you here?””
Brooklyn did not bother explaining that her sprained ankle had been nothing more than an act. She just smiled and took the agreement, walking over to him.
“I came to see you. Here, help me sign this.”
Mason’s gaze remained fixed on Paige, not even glancing at the document as he signed where her finger pointed.
After signing, he finally thought to ask what it was.
Brooklyn opened her mouth to answer but paused. A thought flickered across her mind, and she replied smoothly.
“It’s a special gift; something Celia and I worked on together. You’ll know what it is in a month. Don’t worry, you’ll definitely be surprised when you see it!”
Mason’s curiosity was piqued, but before he could examine the document, Brooklyn quickly handed it back to Celia and stood up to leave.
“Well, that’s settled then. Goodnight.”
Mason’s curiosity instantly evaporated, and he quickly offered to drive her home. However, Brooklyn shook her head and glanced at Celia, her smile cryptic. “No need. Stay here and keep Celia company. After all, you won’t have much time left.”
What did she mean by not much time left?
Mason frowned, just as he was about to ask about it, Brooklyn pushed open the door. Instinctively, he grabbed his car keys and called out as he followed after her.
“Celia, I’ll just see Brooklyn out. I’ll be right back.”
Then, the door slammed shut behind him.
From the moment he entered until now, Mason hadn’t spared Celia a single glance.
Nonetheless, she had gotten used to it and felt nothing.
She simply tucked away the agreement and returned to her room. Then, she turned off the lights and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Turning off the light, she slowly drifted off to sleep.
Half an hour later, the sound of the door opening echoed faintly, followed by the lights flicking on. Celia groggily opened her eyes to see Mason pulling open a drawer, placing a few boxes of condoms inside.
Then, he crawled into bed and gathered her into his arms, his warm breath tickling her ear.
“Didn’t you used to wait up for me until midnight? Why did you go to bed so early tonight, hmm?”
Mason. That was before. It won’t happen anymore.
Celia thought silently, making up an excuse. “I’m on my period. I don’t feel well.”
Mason froze for a second, clearly remembering that he had left her in the rain on the side of the highway. “Sorry, I forgot.”
“Would it have mattered if you remembered?”
The question left Mason speechless.
Silence filled the room for a long while before he finally explained in a low voice, “I’m sorry, Celia. Brooklyn sprained her ankle. She’s been terrified of pain since childhood—that’s why I was in such a hurry. I promise this won’t happen again.”
A self-mocking smile flashed in Celia’s eyes. “You’re right. There definitely won’t be a next time.”
After all, they were about to get divorced.
