Chapter 150 I Wish You Happiness
Cherry noticed that Erin was quite agitated. She said with a sigh. “Erin, I know you’re still upset about lan’s affair, but it’s been some time already. Shouldn’t you let go of your anger?”
“What exactly are you trying to say. Mom? You’re not trying to convince me to forgive lan, are you?” Erin questioned, feeling a bit.
disappointed.
There was a hint of embarrassment in Cherry’s eyes, and she hesitated to admit her true intentions. She patiently persuaded, “Him coming to see me on his own initiative proves that he still cares about you. He even said he wants to change the names on the property deeds of both villas to yours. Erin, opportunities like this don’t come often! Don’t you realize how much these two villas are worth? Just think about it, if he ever wrongs you again, you won’t lose out on anything. You’ll have two villas, and you won’t have to worry about housing for the
rest of your life!”
Erin knew her mother’s intentions very well. She was simply asking her to compromise and accept the security that came with owning
property. Even if she were to repeat the same mistakes in the future. she would be compensated in the form of material possessions.
From a practical standpoint, owning two houses was certainly more reliable than relying on promises from a man.
Even so, Erin was loyal to nothing but her own ideal of love and marriage. Hence, she didn’t want to compromise what she believed in for
material possessions.
“Mom, you should have some faith in me. I can earn money on my own, and I can buy my own house too. You don’t need to worry about
these things. lan and I are done. There’s no need for you to keep persuading me otherwise,” Erin said calmly and defiantly.
The thought of her daughter giving up the opportunity to acquire two properties pained Cherry deeply. She steeled herself and took on a
more authoritarian tone. “Oh, Erin. Why are you so stubborn? Before you arrived, lan had already assured me that he has cut things off
completely with that other woman. He even fired her! He said not even his mother would acknowledge that woman-”
Erin had reached her limit listening to her mother’s ridiculous advice. Her anger flared up instantly. “Mom, can you please stop meddling in my personal matters? It’s your choice and your freedom to forgive Grayson so quickly. I won’t say anything about it! But please respect my
decision!”
Cherry fell silent for a moment upon hearing those words. She actually felt quite ashamed inside for forgiving her cheating husband so
quickly and easily. However, having control over his assets was better than ending up with nothing if they were to separate in the future.
“Fine, I don’t have a say in your life choices, after all. Do whatever you want.” Cherry returned to her seat without saying another word.
Erin felt a twinge of guilt in her heart. After all, her mother was still a patient, and she should have been more understanding. Thinking of that, she walked over, held her mother’s hand, and said patiently, “Mom, to tell you the truth, lan is still involved with that woman. He’s lying to your face. He has already hurt me deeply once, and I don’t want to get hurt by him a second time. I just hope you can understand.”
Cherry looked at her with reddened eyes and said, “I’m getting old. The reason I care so much about money is because I’m concerned for your future, as well as Gavin’s. Besides, when Gavin grows up, he’ll eventually get married and need to buy a house. I want to hold on to Grayson’s property to prevent him from being deceived by some vixen in the future. Do you think I still love Grayson as I did in the past? No. I’m just being more realistic.”
She went on, “As for lan, of course, I know he’s not a man that’s worth holding on to. I’m just thinking that if you can get those two houses. the four years you spent with him wouldn’t be in vain. Erin, you’re too naive. But I know your temperament, so I won’t force you anymore.”
After Cherry said that, she wiped away her tears, feeling heartbroken for both her daughter and herself. Cherry’s words made Erin’s heart ache. She didn’t expect that her mother understood everything better than she did. In a way, Erin was glad that her mother was being more practical.
“Mom, thank you.” Although she couldn’t meet her mother’s expectations, she still appreciated her mother’s efforts in looking out for her.
Cherry patted Erin’s hand and said nothing more.
Early the next morning, Cherry insisted on being discharged from the hospital. Alter the doctor confirmed that she was fine, she was allowed to leave. Erin and the others didn’t stop her as well.
After they returned home, Erin planned to go out and buy groceries and asked Cherry to continue resting at home. Grayson was practically a male servant now, not allowing Cherry to lift a finger. Cherry enjoyed it immensely. Thinking of how Grayson had cheated on her, she felt
justified in bossing him around.
Gavin was in his room doing his summer homework. When they picked up Cherry from the hospital in the morning, lan was also there. Seeing Erin about to go out with her shopping bags, lan hurriedly rushed downstairs and insisted on going grocery shopping with her.
Just as Erin walked out of the neighborhood gate, she turned around and said to lan, who was behind her, “lan, my mom is fine now. So, you can go back. I won’t keep you for lunch.”
Even if he was asked to leave so bluntly, lan didn’t feel embarrassed at all. He smiled and said, “There’s no need to chase me away so hastily. Let me stay and help you.”
“Mr. Sloan, you don’t need to go out of your way to please my mom,” Erin said with a hint of disdain in her voice.
lan replied seriously, “I’m not trying to please your mom. I’m trying to please you.”
“lan, have you forgotten what I told you the last time?”
He frowned and smirked. “Yeah, I remember, alright. You don’t want to be friends with me anymore, but I can’t do it! We were together for a whole four years! How can we just break up like that? It’s not like we’re sworn enemies now. Is it really necessary for you to treat me like
this?”
Erin froze briefly, but she remained calm and said. “Don’t bring up the past anymore. Everything in the past bears no meaning to me now.”
She didn’t look at him and continued walking forward. Rooted to where he was standing, lan had a gloomy expression. He took a few
steps forward and grabbed Erin’s arm. “I don’t believe that the past means nothing to you!”
Erin forcefully shook off his hand. “lan, whether you believe it or not is irrelevant to me. We’re all adults, and I’ve already made myself very
clear. If you continue to pester me. I’ll only dislike you even more!”
Her eyes were so cold and indifferent that lan’s hand recoiled as if he was stung. The deep helplessness in his eyes made his voice sound
pained. “Erin, I beg you, please don’t treat me like this. I’m begging you-”
A hint of surprise flashed across Erin’s eyes. She’d never seen lan so submissive before since the day she knew him. It didn’t sit right with her. How could the man she once loved change so much?
But whose fault was it all?
At this point, she’d already let go of the traumatizing pain lan’s betrayal dealt her. She didn’t want to suffer anymore and didn’t want to torment herself. She’d completely let go of this matter.
From the beginning to the time when their relationship ended, Erin knew clearly what kind of person she was. She was someone who couldn’t allow any form of disloyalty when it came to love. Whether lan had cheated on her emotionally or physically, it made no difference to Erin because the moment he did that, their love had died.
They could never go back to the past.
Erin looked at the man she had once walked down the aisle with. The dreamlike wedding scene replayed in her mind like she was
watching a movie.
“Erin, I can’t live without you-” lan took the opportunity to approach her, gazing at her with deep affection, but he didn’t dare to touch her.
Seeing and hearing his deep affection, Erin suddenly gave a quiet and calm smile. A beautiful glow passed through her eyes. From the
depths of her soul, Erin felt that the love between her and lan had truly come to an end at that moment.
“lan, your current persistence will eventually change with time. Those four years are now in the past. I have moved on, and I hope you can do the same. I won’t forget the little things we had together; they will remain in a corner of my heart. But you won’t and can’t be part of my
future.”
Erin’s expression was one of unprecedented ease and relief, but the sight of this became a deep scar embedded in lan’s heart. The pain made his eyes redden, and a tear ran down his cheek, sliding into the corner of his mouth.
lan tasted the unbearable bitterness of a love that was lost. He trembled as he asked with a quivering voice. “Do you really not regret it?”
Erin responded with a warm smile. “I won’t regret it, and you shouldn’t either. Sooner or later, you’ll understand that life goes on even when someone leaves. Thank you for the kindness you once showed me, and thank you for the hurt you once caused me. From now on. I’ll live better and cherish what life offers me. Ian, I wish you happiness.”
lan watched as Erin turned around and left again, unable to voice out the pain he so vividly felt in his chest. In that moment, he felt that the
woman who once loved him deeply like he was the center of her universe had truly departed.
There was not a trace of nostalgia left for him.
Their love had died and decayed in a time they could never return to.
