Chapter 4

Ivo laughed, and I laughed too.

It felt like we were back in our rented apartment, huddled around a tiny cupcake, making wishes.

Back then, my wish was:

"To be with Ivo forever."

Ivo's phone rang.

He glanced at it and hung up.

"It's work-related, Aria."

The phone rang three times in a row.

I looked at him.

"You should answer it."

After taking the call, Ivo grabbed his jacket and headed out.

He didn't even say goodbye to me.

I wasn't in the mood to be heartbroken.

The police station called.

The suspect had struck again, but this time they didn't succeed.

However, the victim saw the suspect's face.

They asked me to come help with a composite sketch.

I arrived at the police station.

My close colleagues looked at me, hesitant to speak.

So that's how it is.

I opened the door.

I saw Meadow crying, wrapped in Ivo's coat, and Ivo looking up to meet my gaze.

I sat down.

I turned on the computer.

"Ma'am, please describe in detail what you saw."

Meadow spoke between sobs.

"How tall was he? Which hand did he use to grab you?"

Meadow broke down crying: "Officer, please stop asking me questions. I feel so dirty, waaah."

"Aria, don't interrogate her like that."Ivo handed Meadow a tissue and patted her back.

I remained silent.

After completing the facial composite,

My expression changed.

"Ma'am, are you absolutely certain?"

Looking at the man on the computer screen, who looked nothing like the serial rapist, I asked again out of professional duty.

This time, Meadow didn't cry. She held onto Ivo.

"Brother, can I report this officer? Why would I lie to her?"

Ivo glared at me, then gently comforted Meadow.

For a moment, I thought I saw the Ivo who once only had eyes for me.

Except now, I wasn't the only one in his gaze anymore.

I swallowed my hurt feelings and finished my work professionally.

Walking out the front door.

Ivo honked his horn.

I glanced up but ignored him.

About to hail a cab.

Ivo got out of the car and pulled me in.

"Are you done throwing a tantrum? She's a victim. If she hadn't met a Good Samaritan today, she would've been... It's all my fault for not being there."

I looked up at Ivo. He seemed to be blaming me, upset that I had asked him to go back.

"Let's break up."

"Isn't this betrayal enough?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? I saved her, and she wanted to treat me to a meal. What's wrong with that?"

Ivo slammed on the brakes in agitation, startling me.I didn't have the heart to argue with him.

I closed my eyes and said nothing.

After we got home, we began a cold war.

For two weeks straight, Ivo didn't come home.

I knew he wasn't busy with work, he was busy accompanying Meadow.

Because Meadow's Twitter was updated every day.

Either she was bringing food to her lifesaver, or she was out shopping with him.

The latest tweet.

"You're watching, right?"

The picture showed the two of them playing badminton together.

I knew this message was meant for me.

Badminton is also my favorite sport, and the racket in Meadow's hand was mine.

Recently, I've been feeling dizzy and have no appetite.

Before I knew it, it was the anniversary of Mom's death.

I sat on the couch with the lights off.

My mom was a genuinely good person.

She had a hard life,

Married to an abusive man, and finally he died.

When I started making money, she could have had a good life.

Then she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

From diagnosis to death, it was less than two months.

I held my mother's ashes.