Chapter 2

Mrs. Whitmore didn’t bother with small talk.

“You’ve stayed with Evan for thirteen years. You’ve worked hard.”

She pushed the check closer.

“This is compensation for all the years you interpreted for him.”

My hands clenched.

“Mrs. Whitmore, I…”

I wanted to say I didn’t want to leave.

But the tragic thing was, I couldn’t find a reason to stay.

Mrs. Whitmore cut me off.

“University of the Arts London. Curating. I remember that was your dream.”

I froze.

That was the school I had wanted to attend in college.

I gave it up for Evan.

Mrs. Whitmore continued.

“Evan is going to get engaged to Clara. If you stay, you’ll distract him.”

Distract him.

For thirteen years, Evan couldn’t function without me.

Mrs. Whitmore had never once said I was in the way.

Because back then, Evan needed me.

Now he didn’t.

So I had become the person distracting him.

I picked up the check and the ticket.

“I’ll think about it.”

Mrs. Whitmore smiled with satisfaction.

“I know you’re a smart girl.”

Then she left.

I returned to my room and opened the only locked drawer.

Inside lay an old photo album full of pictures of Evan as a boy.

Riding a bike.

Playing piano.

Squatting beside me in the yard while we planted a tree.

On the back of one photo, his messy childlike handwriting read:

Planted this tree with Nora. She said when it blooms, we’ll be grown up.

When we grow up, I still want to be with Nora forever.

He couldn’t speak back then.

But companionship had made us part of each other’s lives.

Innocently, I believed we would never be separated.

Then Clara came.

He started driving her around on his own.

He played the songs we had practiced together for her.

He even had the gardener cut down the vines climbing along the patio because Clara didn’t like them.

I closed the album.

I didn’t open it again.

With Clara here, he no longer needed me.

Evan came back after dropping Clara off.

I happened to be downstairs making dinner.

The housekeeper had the day off, so I cooked myself.

Evan followed me into the kitchen and leaned against the doorway, watching me chop vegetables and set plates.

“You’re acting strange today.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

Then he changed the subject.

“We haven’t eaten together in a long time.”

“You’ve been busy.”

“I won’t be anymore. The project’s done.”

I carried the food to the table.

Evan picked up a piece of glazed ribs, chewed twice, and said, “Yours still tastes the best.”

I smiled faintly.

“Evan.”

I called him by his name.

Not Mr. Whitmore.

Not young master.

Just Evan.

“You can actually speak now. You only stumble when you’re nervous. But when you’re with Clara, you never seem nervous.”

He put down his fork.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Nothing.”

I stood and started clearing the dishes.

“I have work tomorrow.”

He grabbed my wrist.

His words came out rushed.

“You’re weird today.”

“Maybe I’m tired.”

He let go and watched me carry the dishes into the kitchen.

The running water drowned out every other sound.

After washing the dishes, I went back to my room and packed.

I placed the photo album at the very bottom of my suitcase.

A knock sounded at my door.

When I opened it, Evan stood outside in pajamas.

His eyes swept across the room and landed on my suitcase.

His expression tightened.

“Why do you have a suitcase out?”

“It’s a new season. I’m packing up old clothes to donate tomorrow.”

He stared at me for two seconds.

Then he seemed to relax.

He didn’t ask again.

Instead, he reached into his pocket and took out an old pendant.

It was the one I had given him when he was ten.

The cord was worn pale.

The surface had tiny cracks.

It had been the only decent thing I owned back then.

When Evan liked it, I hesitated for a long time before giving it to him.

Now he held it out to me.

“Take it.”

“Why?”

He said, “It was the first thing you ever gave me. If you keep it, you won’t leave.”

I took the pendant.

Its edges dug painfully into my palm.

He hadn’t changed.

He was still as naive as when he was a child.

Still believing promises could keep someone forever.

But Evan, this time was different.