Chapter 197

Chapter 197

"Shut up you two-faced bitch! Stop pretending!" By now, my emotions had completely spiraled out of control.

After that, I grabbed Ceria and left. I was done dealing with this ridiculous drama.

---

Over the next few days, Gabriel and I had zero contact.

Maybe Gabriel had come to his senses. Or maybe someone as proud as him had never been called out like that before and didn't want to keep in touch.

Either way, as long as those two stopped annoying me, I was fine with it.

A few days later, my mom woke me up early to prepare offerings for our ancestors.

Then the whole family headed to the cemetery.

And wouldn't you know it—Gabriel's parents and Marsha were there too.

I wasn't surprised we ran into each other, though. The Sinclair family's deceased relatives were also buried here.

Normally, when our families met, my parents would have greeted them warmly.

But now, my parents kept straight faces and said nothing. They clearly wanted nothing to do with the Sinclairs.

Another car slowly pulled into the cemetery parking lot.

I recognized it—Gabriel's car.

Gabriel got out slowly. Seeing both sets of parents there, he paused for a moment.

But he quickly walked over and greeted my parents. "Mr. and Mrs. Blake, it's been a while."

My parents used to be pretty satisfied with Gabriel as a son-in-law. They would have responded warmly to his greeting back then.

But things were different now. My parents couldn't be bothered with Gabriel. They just gave a cold snort and pulled me away.

"After doing something so disgusting, he still has the nerve to say hello," my mom said angrily.

She and my dad had been devoted to each other all these years. Their relationship was solid.

So she couldn't stand marriages being broken up by a third party.

"All right, why bring this up now? You want our daughter to feel worse?" My dad frowned at my mom.

"You don't get it. I'm telling our daughter she can't go soft. That man isn't worth it."

My dad nodded. "Your mother's right. Don't soften up over this."

Watching them both look so serious, I couldn't help but find it a little funny. "You two really are in sync, aren't you?"

Hearing that, my mom huffed. "I just hope you find a husband like your father."

I nodded, but my mind drifted to something else.

My parents didn't know I was pregnant yet. I didn't even want to imagine their reaction when they found out.

And I knew perfectly well that this baby was like a bond. As long as this child existed, Gabriel and I could never make a clean break.

I couldn't hide the pregnancy much longer, but I planned to keep it under wraps as long as possible and tell them when the time was right.

---

During my days back home, aside from occasionally chatting with Ceria, I mostly spent time with my mom.

So I didn't know much about what was happening outside.

Then one day, I suddenly got a WhatsApp message from Ceria saying Azure had been hospitalized.

I was a bit surprised, but I quickly put two and two together. Was Azure pregnant?

After all, if my memories from my past life were accurate, by now the baby should already be in Azure's belly.

Ceria shook her head. "I don't know about that."

"Is Gabriel with her?" I asked.

"Yeah." Ceria nodded.

So Gabriel had lied when he told me he wasn't with Azure?

---

The next day, I got a WhatsApp message from Steven.

[Ember, you're back home?]

[When are you free? Let's grab dinner.]

Even though it was just two messages, I could feel Steven's sincerity.

[I'm free now.]

We met at a barbecue place. We ate hot skewers and chatted casually.

"Did you know Azure went abroad to study too?"

I brought up Azure studying abroad directly.

Steven nodded. "I heard from friends before. But we don't have any way to contact each other now, so I don't know how she's doing."

I nodded. "Makes sense you wouldn't know."

Then I added, "Gabriel paid for Azure's study abroad expenses. So I'm guessing she wouldn't want you to know."

Steven's expression darkened.

I pressed on. "Also, it wasn't Gabriel who approached Azure first. She's the one who contacted him, right?"

Watching Steven's face visibly panic, I understood—he definitely knew about this.

"What's wrong?" I asked deliberately.

Steven finally pulled himself together and nodded slightly.

"That's true. I'm sorry, Ember."

Steven looked apologetic. "I accidentally saw messages Azure sent to Mr. Sinclair. That's how I found out. My feelings were really complicated."

Of course they were. Finding out that your girlfriend—the one you were planning a future with—was secretly contacting another man behind your back.

Anyone would be devastated.

"I actually confronted Azure about it before. I asked her why she'd do that, especially with a married man." Steven's voice choked up.

Even now, bringing this up seemed to hurt him deeply.

"And then?"

I stirred the coffee in my cup, suddenly curious what shameless excuse Azure had given when Steven confronted her.

Then I heard Steven say slowly, "Azure said she liked Mr. Sinclair. That feelings can't be explained."

Ha.

What a weak-ass excuse. Absolutely ridiculous.

I had to say, this conversation was really challenging my worldview.

Reality and memory were getting tangled up.

I never expected that Azure had been the instigator of this whole absurd situation all along.

After chatting with Steven a bit more, it got completely dark out. That's when Steven and I parted ways.

I'd offered to drive him home, but Steven insisted on refusing, saying it was out of the way.

I knew the real reason—he was probably worried I'd see where he lived and think it was pathetic.

"Ember, are you leaving again after coming back this time?" Steven looked at me seriously.

I nodded. "Probably next week."

A flash of disappointment crossed Steven's eyes.

He nodded. "Okay."

"What's wrong?"

Sensing Steven's disappointment, I asked with a smile.

Steven shook his head sadly. "Nothing. I just think abroad is so far away. I feel like you're suddenly so distant."

We were still talking when the bus arrived.

Steven smiled and jumped on, then pressed his face against the window and waved at me.

In that moment, I was suddenly reminded of TV dramas where long-distance couples say goodbye.

But I quickly shook my head, trying to get rid of that absurd thought.

What was I even thinking?