ManyWriters

On April Fool's Day, Levi proposed to me over the phone.
The very next day, he took it back, using April Fool's as an excuse.
This is the prank he pulls every April Fool's Day without fail. This is the ninth time.
In past years' April Fool's lies, he's gathered friends to set me up, causing me to lose my entire company. He's also purposely called some thugs pretending to be clients, forcing me to drink until I had a bleeding ulcer, and more...
This year, he made a joke out of what I desire most.
After hanging up, I overheard Levi's friends roaring with laughter in their private room:
"Stella is such a pathetic woman! You've toyed with her so many times, yet she's still so desperately eager to marry you!"
Levi smugly looked at the phone he'd just hung up, lazily taking a sip of his drink:
"What can I say? Although this woman isn't good enough for me, she's truly a rare find as a dutiful wife and mother. If I marry her, no matter how I play around outside, she'll never question it."
"I really like that about her. This way, no one will stop me from being with Vivi, and I'll have a plain Jane to manage the household. What's not to love?"
"So I've decided! After I've had my fun a hundred times, I'll officially marry her!"Levi's brothers burst into laughter:
"Levi really knows how to handle women, making the most of every situation! From now on, when we're playing with women, we should learn from Levi's example!"
I gripped my phone tightly, unable to hold back a bitter laugh at my own expense.
So, the love I once held so sincerely in my heart was worth nothing in Levi's eyes.
Ten years of waiting would wear out even a machine.
Levi.
Those nine times I believed you were my love for you.
Now, I'm taking back my affection.
I lowered my head and dialed the number:
"Mom, Dad, I've made my decision. I'm coming home for the arranged marriage. I won't be staying here anymore."

Loveless, I'll Divorce You

I stumbled back to the home I shared with Levi, my disheveled appearance startling even our housekeeper.


No sooner had I finally drifted off to sleep than I began dreaming of times past.


Levi and I met on campus. He was chasing after me to return a book I'd left behind in the library.


His youthful, radiant smile had touched my heart even back then.


Later, he pursued me relentlessly, using every trick in the book. Shy and reserved as I was, I tried to avoid his advances.


But at that one mixer, someone slipped him something. As he frantically fled into a room, he ran right into me as I was about to leave.


Those mesmerizing bedroom eyes of his finally made me surrender helplessly, becoming his antidote.


The next morning, the young man sat by my bedside, his ears as red as drops of blood. He could barely look at me, my face equally flushed, as he stammered:


"I'll take responsibility for you from now on."


After that, it was a game of cat and mouse, with his persistence finally winning me over.


Back then, we were the golden couple – the talk of the entire campus, admired by all who saw us.


Yet I never could have imagined that the boy who once blushed crimson at the mere sight of me would one day become so utterly rotten...In a dream I couldn't wake from, I instinctively called out his name:


From afar came Levi's equally anxious response, his voice laced with indescribable panic:


"Stella, Stella! Don't scare me like this, why are you burning up?!"


"Pour ice water on me! I'll hold her to cool her down!"


When that ice-cold body with its racing heartbeat pressed against me, I couldn't tell which reality was the dream...


Until the next morning, when I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Levi's bloodshot eyes from staying up all night.


Seeing me awake, he finally let out a long sigh of relief, then pulled me into a tight embrace without a word:


"Why can't you take better care of yourself?! Do you know how scared I was last night? Stella, I was terrified of losing you..."


I was about to hug him back, to respond.


But unexpectedly, his phone rang the next second.


The screen lit up, displaying three words:


A coquettish, soft sob came through from the other end:


"Levi, it hurts so bad."Levi suddenly grew tense, completely disregarding my presence beside him:


Evelina was whimpering sweetly on the other end:


"Levi, the toaster's broken, and my hand hurts so much."


Upon hearing Evelina's tearful complaint, Levi didn't even spare me a glance. He turned and bolted for the door.


Soon, the sound of a car engine revving up could be heard from below. I didn't need to look to know that Levi had already sped off.


My heart felt like it was being pricked by countless needles, the pain sharp and intense.


Before I could recover, my phone buzzed with messages from an unknown number:


[Even if you were on your deathbed, what difference would it make? Just one word from me, and Levi would come running back.]


[Levi adores my delicate, feminine nature. No one wants a tomboy like you!]


[You think you can out-charm me? You don't even know how to please a man, yet you dare to try and steal Levi from me? Keep dreaming!]


I glanced at the screen coldly before turning it off with a bitter laugh.


I've always been a proud person. I never liked using dirty, broken things - and the same goes for people.


Since Levi had already rotted, no matter how much it hurt, I would cut him out without hesitation.To heal, the old wound must be cut away to allow new flesh to grow.


Watching Levi's car slowly disappear from view, I lowered my gaze softly:


I clutched tightly at the spot over my heart.


Only because I once loved so completely and without reserve does this decisive separation now feel so agonizing, almost suffocating.


Chapter 2