I was sitting on the sofa in the dressing room, looking at my mother, who was in a white fishtail dress.

It was the fourth time that I've attended my Mom's wedding.

Her voice suddenly sounded. "Do you want to say something? Say it. I told you, don't be so timid."

My heart skipped a beat. 'Did Mom see through my thoughts?'

I looked into her eyes but dared not to speak.

I didn't know what to do.

After the makeup artist left, I slowly walked over.

I stood beside her with my head lowered, like a child who had done something wrong,

"Mom... Can you... not get married?"

What I wanted to say though, was, "Can you not marry Henry?"

Because, I really liked him, for many years...

I didn't dare to speak, and I lowered my head even more.

"Why? Are you afraid I'll leave you alone when I have someone else? No matter who I'm with, you're my only daughter."

…

Well. After divorcing my dad, my mom was like being reborn. Since then, she had been seeing different guys.

Her craziest record was to have seven boyfriends in a month.

My mother was indeed a beautiful woman though. She was a model when she was young. And now she was getting old, yet still stunning. She had never lacked pursuers.

Once she found her new husband didn't treat me well, she would take me away without hesitation.

But this time, the man she was to marry was my crush.

Henry and I went to the same high school and college. He was two years younger than me.

He was handsome, and he did well at school. I was just one of the many girls who liked him, one that was not special.

I never dared to tell him I love him. I didn't even dare to approach him. I'd been keeping my love only to myself.

He rejected all the girls who confessed to him because he'd only fall for girls who were smarter than him.

"Smart" had nothing to do with me. I was timid, dumb and clumsy.

I wrote him a love letter of a dozen pages but could only hide it in the drawer of the classroom.

Later, it was gone. And I never met him after finishing college.

One day, to my great surprise, my mom took him home.

And she told me Henry was her new boyfriend!

I was standing on the stairs with a blank look when I heard the news.

He greeted me, "Hello, little one."

My heart broke.

I'd loved him for over ten years, yet he didn't even know my name.

I stuttered, "Hello..." Then I ran away.

My crush was about to be my step-father and live under the same roof with me. I was going to be crazy.

The next morning.

I got up and went downstairs, still in pajamas.

It was not the maid but Henry who was making breakfast. I was stunned and looked at him for a long time.

He'd probably go out later, as he was wearing a white shirt and black trousers. His sleeves were rolled up slightly, revealing his beautiful arms.

He looked skillful when he baked. And the kitchen table was spotless.

Just as I was fangirling over him, he coughed lightly and turned his head.

"Good morning. Do you want to change your clothes and have breakfast?"

Only then did I realize that I wasn't wearing any bras.

I ran back to my room with a red face.

That morning, only Henry and I had breakfast.

It turned out that my mother went on a business trip last night. She was relieved to hand me over to a man she had just dated.

It was the first time that I had breakfast with Henry. I felt uneasy.

I was afraid that he would always remember my unkempt and foolish look in the morning.

After spending a week alone with Henry, I finally couldn't help but call my mother.

I had an agreement with Mom that I would never disturb her while she was working.

But she wouldn't come back. Only Henry and I were at home. It was really embarrassing.

There were so many rooms at home, but my mother arranged for him to live next door to me. We met so often that I couldn't even walk properly. I really didn't know how to maintain my image.

I squatted on the ground and quietly packed up my things, planning to move to the room that was far away from him.

Yet he happened to deliver milk to me.

He put the milk on the table and gently pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"Zoe, do I bother you?"

When I heard his handsome face say that, I was instantly dumbfounded.

Moreover, my legs had gone numb after squatting for so long. Just as I was about to get up, my legs suddenly went limp.

She fell into his arms and put her hand on his shoulder.

There was a faint scent of sandalwood in his arms, and the sweet orange fragrance on my body.

Two types of fragrances interweaved. It was wonderful.

I couldn't change my room. Every day, when I pushed the door open, I would see Henry in a suit or home clothes.

My mother was very busy with work and hadn't come back for a long time. She transferred me a lot of money and told me to ask Henry for help when I ever needed it.

Later I found out that Henry had started his own company after graduation.

His company had business dealings with my mother's company, and that was how they met.

My mom worked very hard, so I got to be lazy.

After graduation, I found an idle job with a low salary and low stress.

Henry gradually became busy, but he asked the nanny to prepare my meals every day.

He came home before I fell asleep every night.

He'd watch me finish the milk he had prepared and say good night to me.

One night. I went to the college reunion,

So did he.

And he sat down next to me in front of everyone.

Some of our classmates thought we were dating and made a noise.

I waved my hand repeatedly, afraid that they would misunderstand.

Hearing that I was single, they introduced many boys to me. I got tipsy and added many people on Instagram.

When the party was over, Henry pulled me into his car.

I was a bad drinker. At that moment, my vision was blurred. I grabbed his big hands and shook them, asking who he was.

When we arrived downstairs, he parked the car and carried me out of the car.

After opening the door to my room, he threw me onto the bed and kissed me on the neck.

"Zoe, do you like me?"

All of a sudden, he grabbed my neck. I was overwhelmed.

Henry actually asked me if I liked him?

Before I could respond, he grabbed me by the waist.

I was like a salted fish on a chopping block.

He was in control of me.

But the remaining rationality in my mind told me that he was my...

I cannot let him know that I like him!

Woo woo woo...

Damn it...

His pleasant voice entered my ears again.

"I guess not. Or you won't be thinking for so long."

He tucked my messy hair behind my ears.

"Zoe, what kind of man do you like?"

I was speechless.

I like men like him.

I was drunk. And I didn't know if I said that.

My brain and body were both out of control.

But what was he doing to me?

The moon was hanging high up in the sky, and the sound of raindrops hitting the green plants came from outside the window.

I thought I heard my mother's voice.

…

When I woke up, it was already noon the next day.

I went downstairs and saw my mother drinking coffee in the living room. Henry wasn't around.

I walked to her and sat down, calling in a soft voice, "Mom."

She put down the cup and looked at me. "Oh, let me look at you."

"You look good. Henry has taken good care of you recently."

When I heard my mother mention Henry's name, I felt a little guilty and did not dare to look her in the eye.

I couldn't help but touch my neck. I applied some concealer. Mom shouldn't have noticed anything.

Fortunately, my mother's attention was not on me. Instead, she showed me the gifts.

It was two blue neckties.

"This one is for you. And this one is for Henry. Bring it to him."

I couldn't help but think that Henry and I were walking on the street in couple's clothes...

No way!

What was I thinking?

Later, I saw Henry in the garden.

He was in a white shirt and leather overalls, watering the lawn with a water pipe.

The autumn sun was not as dazzling as it was in summer. But it was warm.

Under the sunlight, the water droplets all over the sky formed brilliant rainbows.

I could hear my heart thumping.

I turned around and ran away and asked the maid to hand the gift to him.

I drove my Beetle away from home without bringing any luggage.

...

After hiding for a few days, Henry came to my apartment.

Looking at him standing at the door, I put the chicken wing behind my back.

I was not sure if I wanted to share my chicken with him.

Mom would never allow me to eat fast food at home.

I stumbled and asked him, "What are you ding here?"

He walked straight in and carried me to the porch with one hand.

Then he locked the door and asked, "Why aren't you wearing shoes?"

I looked down at my bare feet.

I immediately went to the door just now, so I forgot.

I sat on the cabinet and shook my feet.

He helped me get my slippers, squatted down, and pulled my feet over to put them on.

His palm was warm, and my cold feet suddenly warmed up.