Chapter 8

The day the theater troupe arrived, I had an unexpected encounter with Isabella. I had just exchanged a bag of diamonds for a small bundle of White Rabbit candies when she spotted me, her face lighting up with pure delight.

Gone was the desperate girl I'd seen at the ATM. Instead, she radiated energy and excitement. She eagerly recounted how, upon opening the bag and seeing the diamonds—especially the stunning red one—she had been in complete disbelief. At first, she wondered if they might be counterfeit, but the accompanying certificates confirmed their authenticity.

Determined to save her mother, she had approached the pawnshop with trembling hope. To her astonishment, the diamonds and platinum fetched her 200,000 yuan. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she had wanted to find me immediately and thank me properly.

Tears welled in her eyes as she explained how the money had covered her mother’s medical bills. After the successful surgery, she hired a nurse to care for her and then, without hesitation, returned to the troupe.

Performing on stage had always been her dream, but now she had an even greater purpose—to prove to me that the girl I’d helped hadn’t let me down.

At the end of her story, Isabella sighed, "Fate works in the most mysterious ways, doesn’t it? Like the threads of a story woven by unseen hands." I couldn’t help but nod in wholehearted agreement.

On opening night, I was stunned by how famous Isabella’s troupe had become. People traveled from distant towns just to see their performance. Nathaniel shot me a mischievous grin and said, "You didn’t think I invited them just for fun, did you? Star power boosts business!"

I laughed, genuinely impressed by his sharp instincts. Just as we were sharing the moment, I felt a sudden tug from behind. My foot caught on something, and I stumbled backward.

In that split second, I fell into a familiar embrace.

"Sophia, what are you doing?" Ethan’s furious gaze locked onto mine, and I instinctively frowned.

"Ethan, what are you doing here?"

He opened his mouth but then hesitated, falling silent.

Just then, Isabella appeared behind him, clutching a cloud of pink cotton candy. She beamed at me. "Ethan brought me to see the show! Sophia, what about you?"

Her eyes sparkled with mischief, hinting at some clever little scheme.

I smirked, slipping out of Ethan’s hold to return to Nathaniel’s side. As I walked away, I tossed over my shoulder, "I’m here with my boyfriend."

Isabella gasped dramatically. "Sophia, how could you? Ethan’s been waiting for you, hoping you’d come back once you cooled off. I can’t believe in just two weeks, you’ve already—"

"Enough!" Ethan snapped, irritation sharp in his voice.

"Ethan, are you seriously yelling at me?" she pouted, feigning hurt.

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she gazed at him, the picture of wounded innocence.

Normally, that look would have him scrambling to comfort her. But today was different. Ethan didn’t even glance her way. Instead, he took two determined steps toward me.

"Okay, Soph, stop. I know you’re trying to get under my skin, and I’m sorry," he began, his voice steadier than I expected.

"I messed up. I forgot your birthday. I got caught up with work and lost you in the mall. I didn’t mean to leave you behind—we got separated in the crowd. It’s my fault, and I own it. Punish me however you want, but not like this. I just want you back."

He dragged a hand through his hair. "We’re supposed to get married. Six years shouldn’t be ruined by a few misunderstandings, right?"

I let out a dry laugh. "Six years? Those years have been chipped away by your constant doubts, your favoritism, your accusations. How can you still cling to that love now?"

"Love is like a garden," I continued softly. "You nurture it, and it blooms. But neglect it, pluck at its petals, and it withers."

Ethan’s eyes glistened, but he shook his head in disbelief. "Soph, what are you saying? I don’t understand."

"Come home with me," he pleaded, stepping closer.

I stood my ground, unmoving. Desperate, he reached for me.

But before he could touch me, Nathaniel blocked him with a sharp glare. "She said no. Are you deaf?"