You Let Me Slip Away and Now I Stand Beyond Your Reach

Three days before the wedding, my fiancé sold the home we'd spent three years preparing for our marriage.

His gang was furious.

"Are you crazy? Just because Jolene wanted that limited-edition bag, you sold the house? Does Cynthia even know about this? Where is she supposed to live after the wedding?"

"Exactly! Cynthia oversaw every detail of that place—it's her heart and soul!"

Still, Willard Gray chugged down some wine with an indifferent look.

"She loves me so much. She even nearly lost her life shielding me from a knife back then. Why would she care about a house?"

"Besides, didn't she always say that wherever I am, that's her home? This is the perfect chance to see if she's sincere."

He didn't know that I stood outside the room door while holding hangover pills. After that, I silently turned to leave.

On the wedding day, Willard's calls came like a relentless curse. "Cynthia, where the hell are you? The whole family's waiting!"

I stared out the window at the familiar streetscape. "I already got married and came home a while ago."

——

That house took me three whole years of hard work, starting from drawing the first soft furnishing blueprint. But with just a single utterance of "I want it so badly" from Jolene, Willard sold it off for cash and bought her a bag instead.

I stood outside the door, my hands trembling so badly that even breathing felt painful.

Willard's friend, Jason Ward, couldn't help but ask, "Bro, you should've at least told Cynthia about this! Selling a house isn't easy. When she comes back and finds the home gone, won't she fight you to the death?"

My fiancé just waved his hand impatiently. "Enough already. It's always Cynthia this, Cynthia that. Do you think I'd treat her badly? Worst case, we'll just rent another place."

"But this was your wedding home, it's different. Doing this … really hurts her."

Willard grew more irritable after hearing that. "If she finds out, she'll just cry and pester me with questions. Who's got time for that?"

"She loves me to her core anyway. How could she break up with me over something like that? Don't forget that scar on her body was earned because of me. Selling a house is nothing."

Someone nearby started making faces and teasing. "I understand Willard's thoughts. Isn't this all for Jolene? Well, who wouldn't be tempted by such a beauty?"

"Haha, we even bet back then that Willard would end up marrying her. They were a perfect match, a match made in heaven."

Willard's expression darkened. "Shut up, all of you. Don't let Cynthia hear this. If she makes a fuss, I won't let you off."

Sadly, the crowd laughed even harder.

"Alright, alright, we won't say anything. You're awesome, Willard. You've got Cynthia wrapped around your finger."

As soon as he finished speaking, Willard's phone rang and Jolene's name appeared on the screen.

The surrounding crowd instantly fell silent, their eyes filled with knowing glances. "The real owner is here," whispered one of them.

Willard didn't object. His lips curled up, his voice instantly softening an octave.

On the other end of the line, Jolene's voice was sweet and coy. "Willard, did you really buy the 'Starry Sky' for me? I heard that bag was auctioned for three million!"

"Yes, it's already paid for. It'll be delivered to you next week."

"But ... isn't that too extravagant?"

"Just three million. As long as it makes you happy, it's worth every penny."

A satisfied sigh came from Jolene's end. "You're too good to me. Once I get the bag, I'll show it off to you first!"

Willard smiled so hard, his eyes squinted. "Alright, I'll be waiting."

The moment he hung up, his friends swarmed around him.

"Three million for a bag? Willard, are you trying to have Jolene move into the new house with just a bag in hand? Does Cynthia know about this?"