Chapter 3

Wendy was half-asleep when the ringing woke her, her mind blank for a moment. Once fully awake, she suddenly realized it was 5:30 am. Time to get up and make breakfast for James and Ethan. James had a sensitive stomach, and Ethan was a picky eater, so she was the one who made them breakfast every morning. Sometimes after working a night shift that ended at 6:00 am, even though the hospital would provide breakfast, she'd still rush home on an empty stomach just to make sure James and Ethan ate properly. She did this for six years without fail, but she had forgotten that people could change. In the beginning, James and Ethan would feel sorry for her. They'd give her kisses and hugs, acknowledging her hard work. Then, they got used to it, and after that, they began to reject and resent her. They started to prefer fried chicken and hamburgers. They picked up a taste for sugary drinks and snacks. Then, they began to despise the food she made. Truth be told, this alarm was no longer necessary. She just couldn't bear to let go. With a bitter smile, Wendy deleted the alarm and turned off her phone to go back to sleep. ... Meanwhile, Ethan was tugging on James' arm with excitement. "Daddy, let's go out to eat! I want fried chicken! If we don't leave now, Mommy will come back and make us eat her food again!" James knew how much Wendy had done for them over the past six years, but the unchanging routine had also become dull and tiresome to him. So, he agreed to Ethan's request. At 7:00 am, James wondered why Wendy wasn't home yet. He assumed that she was working overtime, so he didn't think much of it and took Ethan out. Zelda ran after them, trying to stop them. "Mr. Frank, you have a weak stomach, and Ethan's health isn't the best. It's better to eat at home. Outside food isn't healthy." "Zelda! Don't be annoying like my mom, okay?" Ethan hopped into the car and made a face at her. "Careful or I'll get Daddy to fire you!" Zelda's reminder was what Wendy would always say. Ethan believed that Wendy was just being cheap and made up excuses to keep him from going out to eat. Jenna was the one who told him the "truth". Word of Wendy's upcoming overseas study plans spread like wildfire. Many of her colleagues were surprised. Wendy was known for being extremely devoted to her family. So why the sudden change? This program was said to last at least three years. Could Wendy really bear to be away that long? If they weren't mistaken, there was a three-month program before, and Wendy didn't even go to that one. And now she was choosing to join a three-year one? Her parents, both veteran doctors at the same hospital, soon heard the news too. They didn't believe Wendy would make such a decision until Wendy confirmed it herself. "Yes, the name list for those who are joining the program has been released. I'll be leaving in less than a month." "Why?" her parents asked. Wendy lowered her gaze. "Isn't this what both of you always wanted?" Mary and Chris were silent for a long while before asking, "Did James agree to this?" "I trust you'll make sure he does. Although… I don't plan to tell him before I leave," Wendy said/ She knew that her parents only cared about whether Jenna and James would end up together. Now that she had given them their answer, there was nothing else left to say. She ended the call then set off on her rounds. Right after she ended the call, Jenna called Mary and Chris to tell them she had successfully gotten the job as James' personal assistant. She also invited them to dinner. Mary asked, "Jenna, have you spoken to your sister recently? She—" "Mom! I'm telling you some good news. Can you not mention such a downer? I'll send you the address. Don't forget to come tonight! Oh, and invite Wendy too." In the end, Mary and Chris didn't invite Wendy. At the restaurant, they saw James and Ethan already there. After they'd eaten most of the meal, Chris thought of Wendy's three-year trip and started to say, "James, do you know that Wendy…" Even though they hoped Wendy would allow Jenna and James to be together, they weren't sure how James truly felt. After all, if he really wanted to be with Jenna, divorcing Wendy wouldn't be hard. Yet, over six months had passed, and he hadn't made a move. \ Did that mean he didn't want a divorce? If so, Jenna wouldn't be happy even if she did marry him. They hoped to use the trip to test James' stance. But before Chris could finish, Jenna cut in, "Mom, Dad, what were you about to say? It's such a happy day, so let's toast James since he's the one who gave me this job." She wrapped her arm around James' and was being openly affectionate. Nonetheless, the look she gave Mary and Chris was cold and warning. They understood what Jenna was trying to tell them and, from the way she and James interacted, if James didn't plan to marry her, he probably wouldn't be so permissive. Just then, Ethan threw his arms around Jenna and planted a kiss on her cheek. "I want to be with Daddy and Auntie Jenna forever!" Mary and Chris pressed their lips together, swallowing their words. James noticed their hesitation. "You were saying something about Wendy?" Mary and Chris quickly snapped out of it. "Oh, it's nothing. Cheers!" They should let their children live their own lives, so they were going to stay out of it. Jenna later sent photos from the dinner to Wendy, taunting her, "Whatever I lost, I'm taking it all back!" Wendy looked at them and simply deleted it. She found it funny. James had pretended to pursue her back then just to get close to Jenna, so she was sure Jenna knew this. Yet, at the time, she'd been flirting with another rich heir and missed her chance with James. So, how was all of this Wendy's fault? "What are you thinking about? You were spacing out. It's rare for you to get off work early. Aren't you going to pick up your kid?" A colleague leaned over, looking at her curiously. "Dr. Sanders, you've been a little off lately." Wendy merely smiled. After work, she went to the market and bought some fruit and vegetables. She spotted some fresh peanuts and grabbed a few pounds on impulse. No one in her family knew she loved peanuts. As a child, Jenna didn't like them, so their parents never bought any. After marriage, Ethan was allergic to them, so she never had them at home either. Now that she lived alone, she could finally eat them again. While she was roasting the peanuts, her phone rang. It was a number she hadn't seen in so long that she thought they'd never speak again in this lifetime. "I heard you're coming to further your studies in the middle of next month." The voice on the other end was cold. "Since you're coming anyway, why were you keeping it from me? Were you too scared to tell me?" Wendy lowered her gaze. "I was planning to reach out once I arrived." The other end fell silent. Just when Wendy thought he might hang up, the man finally spoke in a distant voice. "Do you remember our bet, Wendy? You lost." "Yeah, I admit defeat," Wendy said. Right after she said that, the man's breathing grew sharp. His voice turned harsh and cold as he snapped, "You admit defeat? Wendy, how could you admit defeat? What did you promise me back then? Believe it or not, I—" "Is it so bad that I admit defeat?" Wendy cut him off. "Isn't there a saying that goes, when love fails, work thrives? Who knows, maybe this time our new drug research will succeed. I thought you'd be thrilled to hear this." Her voice was light and calm. He didn't detect the sorrow or reluctance in her voice at all and asked uncertainly, "You've really let go? Won't you regret this?" "Nope." She hung up before taking the peanuts out, peeling them one by one and arranging them in a neat pattern. The nostalgic smell of peanuts filled the room. It had been so long that it brought her back to the half-year she spent abroad as an exchange student. That was when they had first met.