Stanford frowned but did not say a word. He was waiting for George to elaborate.
George was choosing his words carefully. Just as Stanford was running out of patience, George finally
said, “Bro, I’m in Thailand.”
“What are you doing there for?” Stanford realized something and continued, “Who made you go over?”
“I’m trying to help you. I went to look for Amanda.” George sat pathetically under a streetlamp.
Stanford started to grip the cellphone tightly and started to become anxious while waiting for him to
update him on Amanda’s situation.
“She met a man in Thailand with some significant social status. They went out tonight and Amanda was
dressed up beautifully. I feel that they are …” He hesitated and continued, “They could be socializing.”
Stanford narrowed his eyes and pondered wasn’t Nina with her? Since when did she have a Thai man?
“If you wish to reconcile with her, you’d better act quickly. Amanda is very determined. It would be
difficult if you want to pursue her again.” George raised his head to look at the courtyard and the house
was still lit. George then said, “Amanda is staying in that man’s house.”
Stanford’s heart sank and felt as if a vice was clamping down on his chest.
“In my opinion, he is a formidable opponent. You’d better be careful.” George began to unload his
thoughts without consideration for Stanford’s feelings, “Additionally, when together with Amanda, they
actually look great for… “
The call was cut off before he finished. Now he realized that he had misspoken. George wanted to call
Stanford to explain himself but the line was busy.
George slapped himself. He should not have said that Joan and Amanda looked great together. He
should consider how Stanford felt. Even if he thought that they looked good together, he should only
support Stanford. What he just said must have angered Stanford.
George was upset and paced up and down while making calls. It was already very late and he should
look for a hotel to stay. Now he managed to call Stanford but it was not answered. Stanford must be
angry.
He wanted to call Atwood but realized the time and decided to call him in the morning.
In the house.
Amanda placed the necklace back into its case and returned it to Joan. She already planned to leave
tomorrow and she should return the necklace to him now. She did not want to risk losing it or damaging
it.
Joan stood by the Koi pond and stared at the fish. He was in a daze and his thoughts started to
wander.
Amanda approached him without him noticing and said, “It’s late, aren’t you going to sleep?”
Joan came to his senses and turned to see her. She had already changed her clothes into something
casual. Amanda handed the necklace case to him and said, “Here you go, the necklace.”
Joan did not accept it immediately and said, “Actually, I really wanted to …”
“Then…” She interrupted Joan and looked into the pond and asked, “What fish is this?”
Joan did not let her change the topic and said, “This necklace was given to my mother by my
grandmother. Before she passed away, she told me to give it to someone I love. I wish to give this
necklace to you.”
Amanda’s expression froze. Joan had been very direct and clear in what he meant. Amanda did not
know how she should respond.
“Joan…”
Now Joan interrupted her, “I heard that this was made in the last century by a European craftsman.
Now its design is not so fashionable but it witnessed our family’s rise to glory.”
“It’s too precious. I can’t accept it.” She then placed it at the edge of the pond and thanked Joan,
“Thank you for your hospitality over these few days.” She turned to leave.
Joan asked, “Can you give me a reason?”
Amanda paused and replied, “I am a woman who had been hurt. It can also be said that I am someone
who had experienced life and death. If I did not experience these, I would certainly be moved if a
person like you proposed to me. However, now I no longer desire to be in a relationship. I am thankful
that you find me worthy of you.” She walked off after saying these.
Joan became felt miserable seeing her walk away. He wanted to say something else but Amanda
avoided him by going back to her room and locking her door, not giving him any more chance to
communicate with her.
In the morning…
Amanda had already packed her things and received a call from Joshua.
Joshua asked, “When are you coming back? Your brother is getting married soon.”
Amanda replied, “I’ll arrive tomorrow night if all goes well.”
“You’ve decided on your journey?” Joshua asked again.
“Yes, I wanted to take the morning flight but it was sold out so I bought the afternoon flight. It would be
late in the night when I arrive home.”
“Okay, give me a call and I’ll go and pick you up,” Joshua said.
“Okay,” Amanda replied.
“This time there should be no other surprises, right?” Joshua said. He was at the Dragon Square in C
city standing in front of a famous dessert shop.
“No,” Amanda replied.
“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up, he pointed to the dessert display and said, “Strawberry cake, chestnut crisp, and
cranberry cookie, one each. Please wrap them up.”
“Okay.” The attendant opened the display cabinet and placed the desserts into a box.
His fiancée had starved herself over these few days so that she would look good for her wedding
photos. He knew that she liked the desserts at this shop so he came specially to buy some for her.
While waiting for the desserts to be boxed up, he heard his fiancée’s voice and he walked over in the
direction of the voice.
At the waiting area…
Bonnie came to buy some desserts and stood at the display for a while. She would need to take her
wedding photos in a few days. She was craving these desserts but she forced herself to resist as she
did not want to put on any weight. Just as she was hesitating, she met two of her college friends.
They sat down to catch up and one of them noticed the ring on her finger and asked, “Are you
married?”
Bonnie placed the glass of water down and tried to cover up the ring, “Soon.”
Tiffany Young who loved to compare saw her behavior and guessed that the ring must be a fake. She
joked sarcastically, “Wow, that’s a big rock. Is it real or not?” On saying this, she stretched out her hand
and said, “Mine cost tens of thousands of dollars and was given to me by my boyfriend. If yours is real,
then it should easily cost hundreds of thousands.”
Bonnie had always been someone who did not like to show off. In college, her grades were very good
and she was very beautiful. Thus, she had many admirers and the other girls were envious and jealous
of her.
Bonnie never told her friends about her parents and everyone thought that she was just a girl from an
ordinary family.
Tiffany then intentionally said, “Let me have a look. I can tell if it’s real or a fake.”
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