To the Love of My Life

Although Madeleine was laughing, Ruby thought it sounded more like crying. Even though she and Madeleine weren’t biological sisters, they were close like sisters. Without any hesitation, Ruby took Madeleine’s side and said, “Even so, Howard cannot just hit someone.”

“Hitting me? What would be the point of Howard hitting me? He wishes he could kill me,” Madeleine said, her smile even more radiant than Ruby’s anger. She paused for a while before murmuring, “Ruby, there’s no way I’d let Howard sleep with me for no reason. That night, he was drunk and mistaken about who I was, but I wasn’t mistaken about who he was. I deliberately had the driver take him and his little true love with me. I even had them sent to my home. However, I put his little true love in the guest bedroom and Howard in the master bedroom with me. That night, Howard and his true love both slept really well. When they woke up the next day, I gave them a big gift. Guess what?”

At this point, Madeleine chuckled and continued, “I showed the video of Howard and me sleeping together to his little true love. I also called his parents and told them that Howard had slept with me. Without any hesitation, Uncle Coleman proposed marriage to my father on Howard’s behalf. I also brought up Howard’s little true love to Uncle Coleman. And that very day, Howard’s true love was given a sum of money and sent abroad.”

“Even if Howard truly likes his little true love, he has no choice now. It’s his parents’ command and arranged by the matchmaker. Besides, our families have been friends for generations, so nobody will take Howard’s side. They’ll only force him to marry me,” Madeleine said.

“Howard resents that I bullied his true love and set him up. So he got mad and slapped me hard…” Madeleine then demonstrated a slapping gesture while shaking her head regretfully, “But it’s such a pity. Originally, Howard and I were planning to get our marriage license this Monday, but my face hasn’t healed, and it looks terrible in photos. So we have to delay it…”

Madeleine’s performance was so relaxed and effortless, but Ruby noticed the tears filling Madeleine’s eyes. Unable to hold back, Ruby interrupted, “Madeleine, don’t say anymore.”

“Ruby, let me talk. You don’t know, Edward Woods, Rusell Henris, and my brother – they’re all men. Although they treat me well, they don’t understand me. I can only talk about these things with you. If I don’t, I’ll suffocate. It’s unbearable…” Madeleine’s tears suddenly started to fall as she said, “Ruby, I had no choice. All these years, he just couldn’t fall for me. But I really like him. I have no choice but to do this. You don’t know how I truly don’t want to force him.”