Yet happy endings mainly existed in fairytales. Reality was much darker.

Just when Elvira was about to say yes to Ethan’s declaration of love, she overheard Colette talking on the phone in the living room.

It turned out that neither the affection nor the attention Ethan had displayed was sincere. He had been acting that way only because his father had told him to.

Back then, Ethan’s father had just started his own business and was desperate for support from other enterprises. Somehow, Colette convinced him that the Tao Group was able to help him out.

Anyway, the prince charming Elvira thought she had met turned out to be a hypocrite in masquerade. He was only using her. Thank God she didn’t agree to be his girlfriend. Otherwise, she was bound to get hurt deeply.

After that, Ethan had contacted her a few times. She turned him down and had remained out of touch ever since they left college.

Ironically, Ethan’s father's business had been booming in the past few years. The company was now of an even larger scale than the Tao Group.

Elvira thought maybe, afterwards, Ethan was also glad that she had turned him down.

It had been a long time ago. She wondered why Ethan was calling her now.

But since she had nothing better to do at that moment, she went to meet him after hanging up.

In a cafe on the second floor of a building, Ethan sat at a white wooden table, cross-legged, waiting.

Nothing seemed to have changed about him after college, except his shortened hair. When Elvira turned up, he rose from his chair.

“Elvira, you looked exactly the same as before,”

he greeted her with a smile. His cute dimples added to his charm.

"Hi, Ethan, it's been a while."

Elvira smiled at him.

They took their seats and talked. Ethan told her that his grandfather was diagnosed as having terminal cancer. Elvira was shocked.

The word “cancer” always scared her.

“My grandfather has always wanted to see me get married...” There was a trace of sadness in his tone. He looked at Elvira, a bit worried.

His grandfather's days were numbered, so he wanted her to visit his grandfather and pretended to be his girlfriend so that the old man wouldn’t have any regrets when he died.

Elvira smiled, considering the idea ridiculous.

Back when they were in college, she had a huge crush on him. Although Ethan had never actually done anything to harm her, when the truth was revealed, it was really hurtful.

He claimed he liked her. He did so many nice things for her and she were moved. Then one day, she found out that it was all just a fat lie. He had no true feelings for her at all. It was way too cruel.

Elvira was vulnerable when it came to relationships. The matter crushed her.

Even an innocent mistake could leave a permanent scar on someone’s heart, let alone a well-designed lie.

After hearing Ethan out, she gave it some thoughts, but she found it hard to make a decision. She was afraid that it might be another lie.

According to her past experience, once there was a first, there was always a second.

If a person hurt you once, they would do it again.

Just like what Amber had done to her.

"I need some time to think about it,” she said eventually.

Elvira was soft-hearted, after all. She never learned. Despite what had happened between her and Ethan, she still couldn’t turn him down directly. What if what he said was true? What if his grandfather was really dying? She didn’t have the heart to let an old man die with regrets.

“Sure.” Ethan nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions.

He knew what he did to her was wrong. Before he came, he had hesitated for a long time.

He had hurt her. He was ashamed, but he didn’t know what else he could do except asking her for help.

His grandfather’s condition could get worse any day. He couldn’t let him leave this world with regrets and a broken heart.

This was no ordinary favor. Ethan had considered the other girls he knew. However, he didn’t think any of them was fit to do it, so he didn’t ask.

Elvira was the only choice. There was a good chance that she would say no, but he had to give it a try.

He was surprised to see that she barely changed at all. Time was merciful to her. All of a sudden, it felt like they were back to college again.

He smiled at her, sincerely.

When Elvira left the cafe, Ethan remained in his chair and watched her receding figure, pondering what she had said—"I need some time to think about it.” He knew her well. When she said that, it only meant that she probably would say yes.

A hopeful glint flashed across his eyes. He picked up the cup of coffee on the table and took a sip.

It tasted bitter.

Back home, Elvira reminisced about the time in college. It felt like a hundred years ago.

Outside, the sun came through thick clouds and spilled scanty rays of sunshine. It was going to rain.

Sitting on the couch, looking out the French window, she wondered when Nigel was going to come back home.

After a long moment of contemplation, she picked up the phone.

She used to be treated like a princess when she was little. The elders all loved her, especially her maternal grandmother.

Among the grandchildren, Elvira was her favorite.

She had forgotten many things about her childhood, but the thrill at going to visit her grandmother was still fresh in her memory even after so many years.

Details had faded over time, but she remembered how happy she was back then. She would run excitedly and couldn’t wait to see her dear grandmother.

Her grandmother’s was in the countryside. After Faye married Elvira’s father, she didn’t come and visit her parents often. So Elvira didn’t see her grandparents often either.

But every time she came, there were all kinds of delicious food laid out on the table for her to enjoy, and her grandmother would look at her with a doting smile.

A fit of sadness filled Elvira’s heart as she thought of all this.

She would always remember that day. It was one year before the Tao Group faced a crisis.

Elvira and her family had just had dinner. She was playing on her phone. Then without a warning, everything changed.

Her mother got a phone call. She didn’t say much on the phone, but Elvira could tell that it was about her grandmother. Something bad happened.

Tears streamed down her mom’s cheeks like a broken dam.

That evening, her parents rushed to the hospital. Her grandmother had cerebral ischemia and left them that evening.

Elvira had hoped she could go to the hospital with her parents, but they had said no.

That was the biggest regret in her life.

Actually, even if she had gone to the hospital, she might not have been able to see her grandmother anyway. However, for Elvira, there was always something missing. There was a hole in her heart. And it would never be filled again.

She missed her grandmother, so much.

When she raised her head, Nigel was back home, standing in front of her. Yet in her eyes, his face was a blur.

She had been crying. When Nigel came back, he saw her through the French window sitting in the living room. He had thought she was waiting for him, and was happy. But then he saw the tears on her face and in her eyes.

Something wasn’t right. He dashed into the house and came to her. Immersed in her sorrows, she didn’t even realize he was standing right in front of her.