Every Valentine's Day, Albert bought a bouquet of balloon flowers for another girl.

In the third year of our marriage, that girl finally accepted that extraordinarily meaningful bouquet.

On that very night, she posted on Instagram: [After ten years of perseverance, the efforts paid off.]

I liked it and submitted my application to be transferred to the branch office.

On the day I left, Albert stopped the plane like crazy.

——

Half an hour ago, I received an apology message from Albert.

He said the company was busy and he couldn't spend Valentine's Day with me today.

Looking at the cold dishes in front of me, I was full of self-mockery.

I knew he couldn't come, but it had nothing to do with work.

It was because Penelope accepted that bouquet of balloon flowers.

We had been married for three years. I didn't know until today that he sent Penelope a bouquet of balloon flowers every Valentine's Day.

He has been sending them since high school.

In the past few years, Penelope had never accepted them.

But today, she accepted them.

Judging from her Instagram post, she was very happy. When she looked down at the bouquet of balloon flowers, there was a smile on her lips.

The text was beautiful.

[After ten years of perseverance, the efforts paid off.]

I read Albert's comment and realized he had been persevering for ten years.

[Not to say ten years, even twenty or thirty years will also be worth it.]

Between the lines, there was his excitedly expressed love.

I took a deep breath and suppressed the sadness and disappointment in my chest.

I sat in the restaurant from dusk till night.

It was so long that even the waiter looked at me with concern.

"Madam, do you need any help?"

I shook my head, "Just take the bill."

It was cold in early winter, but I didn't feel it at all.

As for Albert, he didn't say anything besides that text message, he didn't even wish me a happy Valentine's Day.

When I got home, it was already ten o'clock at night. Just as I finished washing up, the door banged.

"Harriet, open the door. It's me."

I put away my alertness and ran to the door in slippers.

As soon as I opened the door, Albert squeezed in.

Following behind was Penelope.

A strong smell of alcohol filled the air, and Penelope smiled.

"He was so excited tonight that he had drunk a lot. Harriet, why don't you make him a hangover remedy."

I lowered my gaze and fixed it on Albert, who no longer had his usual elegance and grace and became just a normal drunkard.

I nodded, just about to turn around, Penelope called me.

"Harriet, help me put him on the sofa first. He's too heavy. I can't do it alone."

I took a deep breath and dutifully supported Albert's arm.

As soon as I touched him, he shook off my hand.

"Don't touch me, I want Penelope."

With his snap, the back of my hand turned red instantly.

My bent back stiffened, and my hand paused in mid-air.

Penelope smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Harriet. You know, Albert is just more attached to me. He might have mistaken you for those people in the bar. Don't mind it."

I could hardly suppress a jeer. Mistake me for those people in the bar? What kind of people? Barmaids?

I stood up straight and said calmly, "I'm going to cook porridge. You can deal with him."

With my back to the living room, I could hear their rustling whisper.

It seemed Albert loved Penelope so much. Lying on the sofa, he clung to her arm and acted spoiled.

"Penelope, don't go. Sing a song for me.

"You have no idea how happy I was when you accepted that bouquet of balloon flowers."

As he finished speaking, he chuckled.

I closed my eyes, and my heart was filled with disappointment and sadness. Tears blurred my vision.

Instead of making porridge, I made a cup of honey water.

Just as I walked to the sofa, Penelope reached out her hand.

"Give it to me."

I subconsciously tightened my grip on the glass. Somehow I didn't want to give it to her.

I said indifferently, "Let me do it. It's getting late. You should go back first."

I supported Albert's neck and brought the glass to his lips.

"Albert, have a sip to ease the alcohol."

"Go away, I want Penelope."

Albert pushed me away like crazy and held onto Penelope's waist, refusing to let her go.

Penelope raised an eyebrow at me, with indescribable provocation in her eyes.

"Harriet, let me do it. It's getting late, you should go to sleep."

She acted like a mistress in my house.

I gritted my teeth and forced a smile.

"Okay."

I listened to the rustling sound behind me and quickly walked into the bedroom.

The moment I closed the door, my tears burst out like torrents.

I don't know how long I sat on the ground. With two dried tear marks on my face, my eyes were swollen and painful.

There was a noise from the living room outside. Penelope helped Albert into the room, and since then, that door had never opened again.

During my three-year marriage with Albert, we were tolerably close and loving.

But it never occurred to me that he loved another girl.

It was Penelope who he had always respected.

Albert and I met in college.

On the day we confirmed our relationship, he couldn't wait to introduce me to his friends, including Penelope.

Penelope was three years older than Albert, and when we met, she acted like a big sister.

She told Albert to love me and not disappoint me.

On our wedding day, she even joked that if Albert let me down, she would stand up for me.

But today, she brought me this great surprise.

My phone kept ringing with WhatsApp messages.

[Harriet, Albert cheats on you?]

[Who is that girl? They are so bold. Is Albert crazy?]

I clicked on the video, the noisy music was deafening, but all I could see were the two people on the sofa.

Albert sat on the sofa, with Penelope sitting on his lap.

They were close together. It seemed they were kissing.

A sudden nausea came over me. I covered my mouth and bent over, but nothing came out.

It was disgusting.

It was so disgusting.

For all these years, I had been blind like a fool.

Did they secretly mock me for being a fool?

The next day, I sat expressionless on the sofa. Penelope and Albert had not yet woken up.

It wasn't until noon that there was any sound in the guest room.

Albert rubbed his messy hair and walked straight into the kitchen.

When he came out again, he had a glass of milk and a sandwich in his hand.

When he saw me, his body stiffened for a moment, with a somewhat surprised expression.

"Harriet, didn't you go to work?"

I glanced at him. When I saw what he had in his hand, I asked, "Who is that for?"

He hesitated.

"Penelope is at home. So I made her breakfast."

"You slept together last night."

I interrupted Albert's words, with a hint of anger and questioning in my tone.

He saw me but had no intention of explaining as if it had long been taken for granted.

Has such a thing happened many times behind the scenes?

Was that why he didn't faze at all?

Albert frowned, his look turning cold.

"Harriet, I view her as a big sister."

Albert has used this excuse many times.

When he accompanied Penelope to Iceland, he said that she was his big sister, which made it acceptable.

When he traveled thousands of miles to France to celebrate her birthday, the same excuse made his demand irrefutable.

I pulled my lips and sneered, "So, can you sleep with your sister?"

"We have been like this since we were young. What's the problem?

"Harriet, can you stop being suspicious and unreasonable? You are only twenty-seven, you shouldn't be so feudal."

Albert looked at me expressionlessly, his deep eyes giving me a chill.

I looked away, and my heart sank little by little.

In Albert's heart, Penelope was different from anyone else.

If one day, both Penelope and I fell into the water at the same time, I had no doubt that Albert would choose to save her first.

She was his big sister.

Because of this, Albert would never let her be in danger.

"Albert, let's get divorced."

I decided that after a whole night's contemplation.

Only by getting divorced could we get a solution.

I was not generous. I couldn't share my husband with another girl.

Albert stayed in place.

He turned his head towards me in disbelief.

"What did you say? Divorce?"

I nodded and calmly said, "Yes, divorce."

Silence set in.

After a moment, Albert whispered, "You must be crazy."

Instead of answering me, he went straight into the guest room.

It seemed he deemed I proposed divorce out of rashness and couldn't be taken seriously.

But I was very clear that instead of a rash statement, this was the result of careful consideration.

In fact, I had already packed my luggage.

I carried my suitcase and knocked on the door of the guest room.

"Albert, I'm leaving. I will have the divorce agreement prepared by a lawyer, and you just need to sign it."

The door suddenly opened, and Albert stood in front of me with a cold face.

"Harriet, can you stop making a scene?"

He seemed impatient, and I was shocked for a moment.

"I wasn't causing a scene."

"You're asking me to divorce!"

I couldn't understand. Penelope had accepted that bouquet of balloon flowers. Albert should be happy that I asked to divorce.

After ten years of waiting, he finally got what he wanted.

Why was he suddenly disagreeing now?

"Albert, did you prepare balloon flowers for Penelope for ten years?"

He frowned and asked, "How did you know?"

I found that Instagram post. I followed Penelope two years ago.

Albert never knew.

As he looked at that Instagram post, a complex emotion flashed on his face.

"Harriet..."

"Don't worry. There's another one."

I clicked on the video of them kissing.

In the video, Albert was handsome, and Penelope was charming.

They truly looked like a well-matched couple.

Albert's expression became even more unpleasant.

I smiled indifferently.

"Albert, I just found out that you have always loved Penelope. If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have wooed you.

"But it's not too late to realize it now. At least we don't have children yet. We don't have to argue over custody.

"I will draft the divorce agreement as soon as possible. Let's handle this matter quickly."

I said calmly, but Albert shook his head in pain.

"Harriet, I can explain."

"Albert, my stomach aches."

Their voices sounded almost at the same time.

Albert panicked and hurriedly ran into the guest room.

Penelope covered her stomach, her face pale.

Her voice was weak.

"Penelope, is it your period? I'll take you to the hospital."

His face was full of eagerness and concern as he picked up Penelope.

He trot while comforting her.

When he passed by me, he didn't even spare me a glance.

He remembered Penelope's period clearly but never remembered mine.

I bitterly jeered. His explanation was no longer important at this moment.

I applied to transfer to the branch company.

While I waited for the approval, I found a lawyer to draft me a divorce agreement.

I sent Albert the divorce agreement. But Albert didn't even make a call after two days.

I called him reluctantly.

The phone was answered in a few seconds.

But it wasn't Albert's who picked it up.

It was Penelope.

"Harriet."

"Where is Albert?"

Penelope smiled and raised her tone.

"I am unwell these days, and Albert is taking care of me at my place. He's making porridge for me now.

"If you have something to say, you can tell me, and I will convey it for you."

When I'm on my period, Albert would at most pour me a glass of water.

He said that all the girls had periods, and that I should endure the pain.

But he took care of everything for Penelope when she was in her period.

I jeered, "It's not a big deal. Tell him that I have sent the divorce agreement to his company. If there's no problem, he should sign it as soon as possible."

Penelope exclaimed, "Harriet, do you divorce because of me? Please don't misunderstand. Albert and I have always been like this since we were young. I am different to him."

I tightened my grip on the phone.

Penelope's provocation was like a slap in my face.

How could I have thought that she wanted to bless us?

There was a lump in my throat. "Don't misunderstand. It's not because of you."

"Is that so? That's good. Albert has been sending me balloon flowers for ten years. I accepted them this year. He was just a little excited.

"Harriet, ten years is longer than the time you two have known each other."

Albert and I had only known each other for six years.

But he had sent her balloon flowers for ten years.

This meant that Albert had waited for Penelope for ten years and loved her for ten years.

A touch of pain came from my fingertips. I came to my senses and said lightly, "Yes, ten years, quite a long time. He finally had this day."

After the words fell, I hung up the phone tremblingly.

[After ten years of perseverance, the efforts paid off.]

This was what Penelope said.

Albert finally had this day.

The approval came quickly.

The next day, I bought a ticket to Seattle.

I sat in the waiting room and dealt with the remaining work.

Suddenly, someone called.

Looking at the name on the screen, I hesitated and answered the call.

"Did you send me the divorce agreement?"

Albert's voice sounded tired, probably from taking care of Penelope.

I responded with a faint "yes".

"If there's no problem, then sign it. I'll come back in a month for the divorce hearing."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Albert's sneer.

I felt like he was mocking my incompetence and self-importance.

It grated on my ears.