To the Love of My Life

Although Ruby Gregory’s response was affirmative, there was no joy or excitement in his heart.

As the party neared its end, everyone in the room was thoroughly intoxicated. Some, unable to handle their alcohol, were already lying down on the couch, their energy spent.

From the moment Ruby entered the room and saw Madeleine, she knew Madeleine was upset. With Steve Burton present, Ruby’s drinks were mostly intercepted by him and thus she stayed sober throughout. Madeleine, however, silently drank one glass after another.

Of everyone present, Madeleine had the best alcohol tolerance. Nevertheless, she could not withstand her own reckless, non-stop drinking. Eventually, she doubled over and began retching.

Ruby quickly supported Madeleine, helping her out of the room to the restroom.

With Madeleine hunched over the toilet, she continued to vomit until there was nothing left in her stomach. Only then, under Ruby’s supportive arm, did she stumble out of the restroom.

At the sparkling washstand, Madeleine turned on the faucet, splashed some cold water on her face, and suddenly feeling sick again, bent over and started retching, yet again.

At this point, with her belly completely emptied out, Madeleine’s retching was dry heaving.

Ruby stood by her side, gently patting her back. Seeing Madeleine in such a sorry state, she couldn’t help but open her mouth to speak: “Madeleine, if you’re upset, don’t drink like this. You’re only hurting yourself.”

After several more dry heaves, Madeleine finally began to calm down. She hung her head, staring at the sink for a while, then she softly laughed and murmured, “I was only gone for a month, just thirty days… When I returned, he told me he had found his true love and is planning to get married…”

Ruby and Madeleine had grown up together. They knew each other’s hearts inside and out. So, when Ruby heard this, she momentarily paused her hand that was gently patting Madeleine’s back. After a while, she spoke softly, “Is Howard getting married?”

At those words, Madeleine’s eyes instantly reddened, but she stubbornly refused to let her tears fall. Biting her teeth hard, a faint smile appeared on her face, “Yes, he’s getting married. Ruby, you wouldn’t believe it… as soon as I booked my ticket back home, my first thought was to call him to pick me up. As before, he really did come. But, when I asked him out for dinner that night, he refused, saying he had a date. Howard has always treated women lightly. This was the first time he rejected me for a woman. So, I jokingly asked him if he was really in love this time. He seriously told me that this time he was sincere, and that he intended to marry this woman…”

With that, Madeleine gently laughed, “Who could have imagined this playboy, who has been hopping around since junior high, would fall in love, and is now getting married?”

Since they were children, Ruby had known that Madeleine had feelings for Howard. However, this affection was a secret only known to the two of them.

Years fluttered by in the blink of an eye. Madeleine never had a boyfriend, while Howard had a constant parade of women at his side.