Chapter 6

After being locked away for two days, the door swung open, and the harsh light flooded in. Wendy instinctively curled up, moving toward the corner to hide.

Miles stood at the doorway. He frowned.“What happened?”

The doctor was about to speak, but Vivian hurried in and said in a gentle tone, “Miles, Wendy’s been through enough. We should take her home quickly.”

She reached out to touch Wendy, but Wendy flinched sharply.

Wendy hung her head, long hair falling messily over her face. Her right wrist was still wrapped in bandages, and her fingertips trembled slightly.

Miles stared at her. Annoyance crept into his voice. “It’s just two days, and you’re acting like this?”

The doctor hesitated to speak, but Vivian was already holding Miles' arm, interrupting with a soft voice, “Her right hand is still injured. Of course, she’s uncomfortable.”

Miles frowned, stepped forward, and reached for Wendy’s hair. “Wendy, we’re going home.”

Wendy shuddered and instinctively drew back.

Miles’ hand hung frozen in the air.

On the way back, Wendy leaned against the car window. Her eyes were hollow as she stared at the scenery outside the window streamed by.

“It’s tomorrow.” Miles suddenly spoke. His voice sounded a little hesitant. “It’s just a staged wedding between Vivian and me.”

Wendy said nothing.

“You know that. It’s just to make my mother happy.” He glanced at her from the side. “I’ll withdraw the divorce application. Nothing happened between Vivian and me.”

Still, Wendy remained silent.

Vivian, in the passenger seat, looked back and asked with a gentle voice, “Wendy, would you like to come with me to pick out a wedding dress later?”

Miles frowned. “She’s still recovering.”

“But Wendy’s been married before. She knows what styles suit someone,” Vivian blinked her eyes and replied with an innocent tone, “I needed her advice.”

Miles hesitated for a moment, then looked at Wendy. “Will you come together?”

“Fine.”

At the bridal shop, Vivian reached out to touch a gown and gave Miles a sweet smile.

“Miles, this one’s beautiful. I like it.”

Wendy jerked her head up. It was her wedding dress.

Designed by her late mother, a top-tier bridal designer, it was the last piece her mother had crafted for her daughter—a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

After her wedding, it had been safely kept in this bridal shop.

“No.” Wendy’s voice trembled. “This is mine.”

Vivian looked at Miles with puppy-dog eyes. “But I really like it.”

Miles remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice, “Wendy, it’s just a wedding dress. Let her have it.”

Wendy stared at him in disbelief. “You know what this means!”

That dress was her mother’s last gift to her.

Miles looked away and replied in an indifferent tone, “Then we’ll order another one.”

Vivian eagerly had the staff bring the gown down for her to try on. Wendy stood frozen, fingers digging into her palms, numb to the pain.

As Vivian walked out wearing the wedding dress, the staff could not help but gasp.

“It’s gorgeous! It looks like it was made just for her!”

Vivian twirled in the gown, grinning at Wendy. “What do you think, Wendy?”

Wendy’s gaze was fixed on her. Her throat felt blocked. She could barely speak.

Miles stood to the side, his gaze conflicted. Finally, he said, “It suits you.”

Vivian’s smile grew even brighter, but suddenly she yelped and tripped, falling hard to the ground.

The dress tore with a loud rip. Wendy’s mind went blank. She lunged forward like a madwoman, pushing Vivian aside and trembling as she scooped up the damaged gown. “You did this on purpose!”

Vivian fell forward into Miles’ arms. Her eyes reddened. “I didn’t! Wendy, why did you push me?”

Miles grabbed Wendy’s wrist. “Wendy! What are you doing?”

Tears fell onto the gown as Wendy looked up at him. “This was my mother’s last gift to me.”

Miles was stunned. For a moment, he seemed to waver. However, Vivian was already sobbing on his shoulder. “Miles, it hurts so much.”

He closed his eyes and said coldly, “Stop embarrassing yourself.”

Then, he turned around and left.

The staff exchanged uneasy glances with each other and whispered,

“So sad.

“I heard it’s all because of her that Mr. Carter's mother has been bedridden for two years.”

Wendy knelt on the floor, picking up scattered diamonds and torn tulle one by one. Tears fell onto her hands, burning with pain.

She broke down, crying heartbrokenly as she held the ruined gown.

It was just like her love story, which had once shone like diamonds, but now it was shattered and worthless.

Chapter 7

Wendy stood in the corner of the wedding hall. Her fingers dug into her palms.

Tomorrow was the day.

Tomorrow was the day their divorce was finalized. She could finally leave this place for good.

However, she had to watch Miles marry Vivian with her own eyes today.

The red carpet was lined with guests, and Belinda sat in her wheelchair, smiling brightly.

Music swelled, and Miles, sharp in a black suit, walked slowly down the aisle with Vivian’s arm in his.

Wendy’s mind drifted to her own wedding day.

The same hall. The same red carpet. Miles’s hands were sweaty with nerves, yet he gripped hers tightly and whispered in her ears, “Wendy, I finally get to marry you.”

Now, he walked with another woman, calmly tracing the path they had once walked together.

A tear fell before she could stop it. Wendy quickly wiped it away, but the murmurs of the guests reached her ears.

“Isn’t that Mr. Carter’s ex-wife? How dare she show her face here?”

“Isn't she mentally unstable? She nearly killed Mr. Carter's mother.”

“Tsk, how pathetic.”

Wendy barely registered the words. Her gaze was fixed on Miles on the stage.

For a moment, he seemed to feel something. His eyes searched the crowd, and then they landed on her tear-streaked face.

Miles paused for a moment. His expression was complicated, but he said nothing. He turned back to complete the ceremony.

‘Wendy, you’ll understand me, won’t you?’ he thought to himself.

After the wedding, the guests gradually left.

Wendy had just reached the main bedroom door when sounds from inside made her freeze.

“Easy, Miles.”

Vivian’s sultry voice stabbed straight into Wendy’s chest.

Her body tensed, fingers trembling, as she heard Miles’ low, heavy breathing.

“Shh.”

“What are you afraid of?” Vivian giggled. “She’s going to find out sooner or later anyway.”

“Shut your mouth.”

“Do you regret marrying her?” Vivian suddenly asked.

Wendy held her breath.

A few tense seconds passed before Miles’ irritated voice answered,

“Yes. I do.”

Those two words scorched her from the inside out.

She remembered that day at the altar, when he had solemnly promised he would never regret marrying her.

Yet he regretted it now.

She could not bear to hear more and stumbled back to the guest room, slamming the door and collapsing to the floor.

The sounds from next door lasted late into the night. The creaking bed, Vivian’s moans, and Miles’ low groans…

Finally, Belinda’s delighted voice rang out. “Have a baby soon! I’m waiting to hold my grandchild!”

Wendy leaned against the wall, tears streaming, but a bitter smile formed on her lips.

By morning, she had packed all her belongings. She glanced down at her phone.

Today was the last day.

From downstairs came laughter and chatter.

As she walked down the stairs, she saw Miles bending over to tie his mother’s scarf, and Vivian holding a delicate purse beside him. The three of them were smiling, looking every bit like a happy family.

“Well, up so early?” Belinda’s smile immediately turned cold when she spotted Wendy. “We’re going out. Remember to change the sheets in the master bedroom.”

Vivian pretended to be concerned. “Belinda, let the maids do it. Wendy’s hand is still injured.”

Only then did Miles notice Wendy. His brow furrowed. “Where are you going?”

“Today's the day our divorce is finalized.” Wendy stared him straight in the eyes. Her voice was eerily calm. “I’m going to the civil affairs office.”

Miles froze for a moment. “I promised to take Mom and Vivian to the hot springs hotel today.”

The air went still for a moment.

“Go cancel it.” He suddenly said, “Let me spend the next couple of days with them, and everything will be just like before.”

“Okay.” Wendy lowered her head and replied in a soft tone.

Miles let out a sigh of relief and went to help his mother. “Mom, let’s go.”

Wendy stayed still, watching the black Maybach slowly pull out of the driveway.

Only when it disappeared completely did she wipe the tears from her face, grab her suitcase, and walk to the front gate without looking back.

The official seal clicked lightly as the document closed.

“This is your divorce certificate. Please keep it safe.” The staff handed her a document. “The property division agreement has been signed by your ex-husband.”

Wendy did not even look at it. She shoved the divorce certificate into a courier envelope and filled in the address of the Carter residence.

“Please deliver to this address, cash on delivery.”

Outside the office, a car had arrived to pick her up. The driver waved when they saw her. “Here!”

Wendy opened the door and, as though remembering something, pulled the wedding ring from her pocket. It was the ring Miles had slipped onto her finger by the ocean. The inner band was engraved with ‘Forever.’

She stared at it for two seconds, then tossed it out the window.

It clinked onto the middle of the street, quickly crushed under the wheels of passing cars.

“Let’s go.” Wendy closed the door. “I’m never coming back.”

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Seven Years of Winter Before Spring

Chapter 6
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