7
452words
In my past life,at Margaret’s memorial when she announced her remarriage,she’d looked the same.
But now,with my fulfilling life,I had no interest in her feelings.
Swaying,I reached the restaurant’s entrance to hail a cab.
A slender figure hurried to my side,supporting my arm.
I turned to see Eleanor,eyes full of worry:
“You’re drunk.Let me get you a ride.”
What was this act now?
Crocodile tears.
I yanked my arm free,stepping back:
“No need.I can manage.”
Eleanor’s lips tightened,her words laced with concern:
“Stop pretending.Look at your ragged clothes—you’re not walking home to save money,are you?”
I almost laughed.
In my previous life, I'd never spared any expense for Eleanor and the kids, buying them whatever they desired.
I scrimped on myself,walking miles every day after my bike broke, too frugal to even take the bus.
She didn’t know that this life,my partner cherished me,refusing to let me suffer.
If Charles hadn’t forced that drink,I’d have driven myself.
Eleanor reached out once more,but I dodged:
“James,I wronged you back then.Let me make it up to you.”
She pulled out a bank card.
With my head throbbing,I spoke bluntly:
“We’re done.I don’t need your compensation.”
“Stay away.I'm married now and have a family.”
Eleanor froze.
“Kids?”
Her voice broke.
Her beautiful eyes,once vibrant,were hollow.
“You have kids already.That’s great.Can I…be their godmother?”
“James,please,let me be their godmother!”
I stared,stunned,as Eleanor,hysterical,burst into tears,collapsing.
A tall figure stormed over,yanking her up.
“Eleanor,are you insane?What nonsense!”
Charles gripped her arm so tightly that it left a bruise,then,seeing me,suppressed his rage:
“Our kids are at home in Coastal City.”
“You’re drunk. We should leave now.”
He dragged the lifeless Eleanor away.
The reunion ended sourly.
Oddly,old faces kept popping up unexpectedly.
Accompanying my wife for a prenatal checkup,I spotted a familiar figure with a child in the hallway.
Margaret looked up,paused,then smiled:
“Professor James,fancy meeting you here.”
Perhaps because we were both victims of that runaway wedding,Margaret was warm,urging her son to call me uncle.
I froze.
In my previous life, Margaret and Charles didn't have any children, so they treated Nathan and Claire as if they were their own.
Eleanor had once mentioned that Margaret couldn't have children.
In this life, since she was free from Charles, she had a child.Could it be…
Too private to ask,I just smiled,praising her son’s charm.
Seeing I was with my pregnant wife,Margaret sighed:
“Fate’s funny.Good thing those lovebirds paired up,or we’d have been the unlucky ones.”
Puzzled,I looked at her.She raised an eyebrow:
“You don’t know?”
“Eleanor cut ties with her family to elope with Charles.His mom was so furious,she beat Eleanor into the hospital,calling her a seductress who cost her son his secure job.”
