Julian's Stand in Wife

With each drag, her heart would ache.

In the midst of trying to pull the cigarette from Cecilia’s lips, some ash from the cigarette fell onto Noel’s hand.

The sudden burn made him reflexively shake the ash off, causing his facial features to scrunch up in discomfort.

“You’re so ugly,” Cecilia remarked bluntly, “I have no idea how I ever fell for someone like you.”

She even managed to blow smoke rings, causing Noel to cough once again.

A waiter approached them in the hallway, reminding Cecilia that smoking wasn’t allowed in this area.

Cecilia apologized, and changed direction towards the restroom. There was a window over there, but the corridor was narrow.

When Cecilia stood there, Noel had no space to stand. He had to press himself against the wall to look at her.

Cecilia smiled. “I can’t stand the sight of you, no matter how I look at you now.”

She didn’t give Noel a chance to speak.

Instead, she preemptively said, “Whether you’re standing, sitting, or doing anything else right now, I feel uncomfortable looking at you. So, can you please not invite me to meet up in the future?”

Every time she met him, it reminded her of the times when Noel was good to her. And that one day when she said he was so cold, and he only cared about hurrying her back home.

him that

that affection, in the face of money, became

a deep discomfort every time she thought about

turned to dust because

already accepted the Jarvises’ money, so what right did he have

Even Fanny…

been dragged into

love me deeply after we’ve broken up. If our love were deep, we

she threw away

could see her face

ignore the harsh words Cecilia had

you? Was it because of Mrs. Jarvis you?

Hah!

you’re

seemed Noel

did he have to portray

pulled a wad of money from her bag

no more smoke, the scorn and disdain in her eyes were crystal clear, like a knife

Noel remained silent.

understand what Cecilia

meeting with him wasn’t what he had expected. She seemed so