Anna Collins turned his head and looked at the rain outside the window. His voice was so soft that it was almost swallowed by the sound of the rain: "Let's talk about recent things."

"recent?"

His brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes fell on her face. "Is it that something is not going well at work?"

Anna Collins suddenly felt a sense of absurdity. In their three years of marriage, this was the first time he had proactively asked about her, and yet, he had gone about asking the wrong question.

The corners of her lips curved up, and she remained noncommittal: "I guess so."

Ethan Grant hummed, and didn't ask any more questions. The carriage fell silent again.

Halfway through the journey, he suddenly seemed to remember something.

"What was that document you asked me to sign half a month ago?"

Anna Collins's fingertips trembled slightly, and a hint of sarcasm flashed in his eyes.

Half a month later, he remembered to ask.

She opened her mouth, but in the end she just smiled softly: "It's nothing important."

Just as he finished speaking, a dazzling headlight swept past the car window, and the shadows of the two people flickered on the glass, as if magnifying the sense of alienation infinitely.

The red light came on again.

Ethan Grant turned his head and looked at her indifferent profile, and suddenly felt a little strange.

He opened his mouth and wanted to ask something, but before he could say anything, his cell phone suddenly vibrated.

Anna Collins lowered his eyes and didn't look at the screen.

The light from the phone screen reflected between his brows, illuminating that moment of hesitation.

He reached out to pick up the phone, but the moment he swiped to answer it, he saw the calmness on her profile.

The calmness was like an invisible wall, blocking all the words in his throat.

Finally, he pressed reject.

The car drove back into the rainy night.

Anna Collins suddenly spoke, his tone soft, like a sigh, but also like a determination:

"Tokoyami, we have to find an opportunity to have a good talk."

Ethan Grant gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, but he simply replied, "Okay."

The wipers moved back and forth, making a dull sound, as if sounding the death knell for this crumbling marriage.

It rained heavily at night.

Anna Collins stood at the intersection, holding an umbrella, watching the traffic blurred into streaks of light and shadow in the rain.

Her reflection in the puddle looked lonely and small.

Seven years.

She remembered that the first time she met Ethan Grant was not in any sensational occasion.

But it's around the corner from the library.

At that time, she accidentally dropped a stack of heavy books while holding them, and the pages scattered all over the floor.

Just as she was in a panic, a slender and strong hand picked up the top book for her and said in a cold voice, "Be careful."

She was stunned, looked up, and met those cold yet extremely clear eyes.

From that moment on, she remembered what he looked like.

Later, she would often see him on campus:

On the playground, he tied a white towel around his neck and ran laps quietly.

In the classroom, he was reading a book sideways, so focused that it seemed as if the outside world had nothing to do with him.

At the school gate, he put one hand in his pocket, quietly waiting for someone.

And every time, she just watched from afar.

Don't dare to get close.

He never lacks people around him.

Friends, followers, and Clara, who was always treated tenderly by him.

Anna Collins would occasionally be teased by his friends: "Look at Shi Ye, he is simply a child of destiny, he must have been taken a long time ago.

She smiled, without comment, and kept all her thoughts to herself.

If you like someone, you can do it quietly without making it public.

Until the year of graduation, she thought this secret love would end.

She went to work and he went to face the wider world, and they would never have any intersection again.

But fate played a ridiculous joke on him.

It was supposed to be someone else's wedding, but in the chaos of the bride's absence, the question of "who is willing" suddenly arose.

Without even thinking, she stood up.

Everything happened so fast.

Put on your wedding dress, exchange vows, and be pushed into the spotlight.

Amidst astonishment and amazement, she became Ethan Grant 's wife.

For three years, she carefully guarded this position.

Cooking, waiting, taking care of him, whatever he needed, she did her best.

But no matter how hard she tried, the distance between them could never be narrowed.

Thinking about it now, she realized that her seven years of obsession was nothing more than a one-man show with no response.

That day should have been a celebration for others.

The wedding hall was ablaze with lights, flowers and crystal chandeliers complemented each other, and the guests gathered in a scene so grand it was enough to make headlines.

Anna Collins was just an inconspicuous member of the many invited guests. She sat in the crowd, so quiet that she was almost invisible.

However, the bride did not show up.

As time passed, whispers gradually began to rise from the audience, and gossip surged like a tide.

Some people suspected that the bride was being stubborn, while others speculated that the two had a temporary falling out.

Ethan Grant on the stage had a sullen expression on his face, a storm suppressed between his brows.

He called again and again, but only got endless busy tones.

In the end, his knuckles turned white from gripping the phone, and he suddenly sneered.

"Since the bride does not want to appear,"

He spoke slowly, his voice carrying throughout the room through the loudspeaker, cold and clear.

"Today, I, Ethan Grant, will have a new bride. Excuse me , is there any single lady here who would like to come on stage?"

With a loud bang, the auditorium was instantly in an uproar.

Everyone was shocked and looked at each other in bewilderment. No one had expected that this grand ceremony would turn into a farce.

Someone couldn't help but chuckle, "What the hell is this? Ridiculous!"

Some people were secretly excited and took out their mobile phones to take pictures frantically.

Anna Collins's heart almost jumped out of his chest.

She knew that if she stood up at this moment, she would become the target of public criticism and would be accused by everyone of being "the supporting role in the joke."

But she also knew that this was her only chance.

From the first time I met him, to the seven years of secret love, to the confusion at this moment .

All her thoughts, hesitations and patience converged into one thought at this moment.

So, amid the uproar, she slowly stood up.

Countless eyes were fixed on her.

Some were disdainful, some were shocked, and some sneered.

But she gritted her teeth and met Ethan Grant 's gaze.

That look was cold, yet filled with a hint of surprise.

"I do."

Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

The whole audience was silent for a moment.

Soon, the etiquette staff hurriedly took her backstage and hurriedly changed her into an ill-fitting wedding dress.

The zipper was a little tight, the skirt a little long, and she staggered as she walked, like a hastily put-together joke.

But when the wedding march sounded, Anna Collins still walked up the red carpet step by step.

She looked at the man in front of her, his brows were stern and his figure was tall and straight.

My heart was beating violently and my palms were covered in cold sweat.

This was a scenario she had never imagined.

She is both an intruder and an actor pushed onto the stage by fate.

Ethan Grant just looked at her coldly, as if she was just a "substitute" to fill the vacancy.

At that moment, she suddenly realized that all her courage was just a joke of fate.

But she still held her chin high and walked the red carpet with determination.

Because this is the opportunity she has been waiting for seven years.

Even if it's just a misplaced wedding.

The wedding ended with applause and blessings mixed with discussions and ridicule.

Anna Collins, wearing that ill-fitting wedding dress, followed Ethan Grant , like a shadow pushed into the spotlight.

At that time she comforted herself: It doesn't matter, as long as I marry him, one day he will slowly see her.

But three years later, she realized that she had always been just a quiet "filler".

He didn't go home on the first night of his wedding.

Photos were sent from outside , showing him drinking alone until late at night, with a cold expression and no one around him.

She waited in the living room until dawn, the tea got cold several times, and the lights were burned hot.

He pushed the door open and came in, his footsteps cold, and he just said lightly: "No need to wait in the future."

At that moment, she smiled and nodded, but there was a bitterness in her eyes.

Life after marriage seemed no different.

There is often only one person's tableware left on the table ;

She prepared three dishes and a soup, he occasionally picked up his chopsticks, but more often he just stood up hurriedly;

She ironed his ties one by one and placed them in the most conspicuous place in the closet, but she often didn't find them until late at night.

The tie was still hanging there neatly.

The most embarrassing thing was a company party.

The host teased, " Mr. Ethan, is this... your sister-in-law?"

He paused for a moment and replied calmly, "Yes, a friend."

Her smile didn't break, but her palms turned red from pinching under the wine glass.

In the past three years, she told herself again and again: Just hold on a little longer, there will always be a response.

But the response never came.

She waited for his goodnight text message and his birthday present.

But the phone screen was always cold and her name never appeared in his schedule.

Occasionally, she would call out his name in her dreams, filled with longing and dependence.

But when I woke up, there was only an empty guest bedroom and a cold pillow.

In the eyes of outsiders, they are a model couple: well-matched and enjoying a prosperous life.

But only she knew that this marriage was like an empty house. She kept the lights on, but he never came home.

The most ironic thing is that even if he never touches her, there will still be ridicule from the outside world:

"Look at Anna Collins, relying on her position, she is clinging to Ethan Grant 's position."

But she knew in her heart that the real "occupation" was that she never had it.

Until one day, the woman who had disappeared for three years finally returned to her country.

Anna Collins finally understood that the three years she had struggled to maintain were nothing more than a period of time to keep others warm.

And her marriage also came to an end.

The night in early spring is slightly cool.

Anna Collins came out of the company and just walked to the intersection, he saw the familiar black car parked on the side of the road.

The car window slowly lowered, Ethan Grant 's face was cold and his thin lips were pursed into a straight line.

She was stunned for a moment and walked over subconsciously.

"Get in the car."

The voice was still indifferent, but a little more urgent than usual.

Anna Collins sat in the passenger seat. Before he fastened his seat belt, he heard him speak:

"Clara is back."

At that moment, she felt as if her heart was hit by something heavy.

Yes.

She had heard that name for seven years.

From the soft light in his eyes, to the unintentional sighs from his mouth, to the envy and legends of countless people.

And now, that person is finally back.