Chapter 18 Dinner Invitation
I was so mad I almost laughed. Was this really the Daniel I’d known for nineteen years? He couldn’t tell right from wrong. What a jerk!
What did I say to upset Zoe? When did I ever make her look at my face? What else could they blame me for?
A nasty woman with a clueless guy—hope they last forever.
"Daniel, I don’t even know what to say to you. Think it over. I’m too tired to talk. Please leave my home. Thanks for visiting, but I can’t handle it. Just go!"
Daniel angrily dragged Zoe out, leaving me standing alone in the big living room.
Before leaving, Zoe glanced back at me, her smug look almost funny.
She acted recklessly because she was favored.
But I never wanted to compete with Zoe or fight over Daniel. I never insisted on marrying him, so where did Zoe’s smugness come from?
After they left, I crawled back into bed, pulled the covers over myself, and cried silently.
Daniel had changed; his sense of right and wrong now revolved around Zoe.
He was no longer the sunny boy I once liked!
I swore again that I must quit Daniel!
Two days later, Lillian and Amelia came to visit, and only then did Helen reluctantly let me go out for a walk.
As soon as I stepped out, Helen followed, listing a bunch of precautions. I grabbed Lillian and Amelia and rushed down the stairs, heading towards the beautiful blue sky and white clouds, with Helen’s helpless laughter and scolding behind us.
We returned at dusk, with a picturesque sunset and a clear blue sky.
Our two families lived in a duplex, each with a small garden.
The garden wasn’t large, but Helen and Emma had planted some hardy flowers, which grew lushly, dividing the garden into two worlds.
I didn’t know they were inside, and they didn’t know I was outside; neither of us could see the other.
I sat outside the fence of Daniel’s garden, admiring the twilight and getting ready to take some beautiful photos for my phone wallpaper.
Emma and Daniel’s conversation drifted into my ears, and I couldn’t avoid it in time.
"Why do you look so down?" Emma asked.
"Nothing, Zoe and her mom went back to her grandma’s for lunch."
"How did I end up with such a useless son? Zoe leaves, and you act like you’ve lost your soul. Why don’t you go hang out with Jane?"
"No, Jane’s been in a bad mood lately. I don’t want to get on her bad side," Daniel replied.
Emma said, "Isn’t that your own fault? Jane never used to be moody. Think about the things you’ve done; each one hurt her deeply. Daniel, I’m not trying to interfere with your life choices, but you should think carefully. I don’t think Zoe is as reliable as Jane; she’s very calculating. You’ll suffer in the future."
"Mom, can you stop badmouthing Zoe? She’s the one I love. I know what she’s like, and I’ve already promised my life to her. If you really care about me, you should get along with her. After all, you are the most important person in my life. I will marry no one but her."
"How old are you to talk about a lifetime commitment? Just because you won’t marry anyone but her doesn’t mean she won’t marry anyone but you. Don’t think too highly of yourself. If you get deceived, there will be no place to cry. Daniel, I’m telling you, if you miss out on Jane, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life."
"Alright, this is getting pointless," Daniel said, sounding irritated. "I'll say it one last time: Jane is just like a sister to me. I will never like her. I'm going inside; you handle it yourself."
I squatted outside the fence, crying and thinking I really needed to stop eavesdropping.
I thought I was tough enough, but hearing Daniel say he’d never like me and would only marry Zoe, my tears still fell.
I thought, 'Daniel, if you don't want me, then I don't want you either!'
I kept telling myself over and over that I must quit Daniel!
I hadn't seen Daniel for days, and I was enjoying my vacation, everything calm and serene.
On Saturday afternoon, Daniel suddenly knocked on my door. Honestly, I didn't want to see him because the last incident was still fresh in my memory. But Helen quickly opened the door and asked Daniel what he wanted.
Daniel craned his neck to look inside. I was lounging on the couch, watching TV and laughing.
In the past, no matter how happy I was, I never dared to laugh out loud or lie on the couch carelessly. Because Daniel liked gentle girls, I tried to mold myself into a lady just so he’d notice me.
Now, I had nothing to do with Daniel, so I no longer cared about his preferences. I became more relaxed, being myself.
Daniel seemed to frown slightly as he looked at me, but quickly relaxed and smiled, saying he wanted to take me out for barbecue.
Helen hesitated but eventually let him in, telling us to talk it out ourselves.
"A new barbecue place opened on Bit Avenue, and it's really good. Get dressed, my treat."
I lazily shook my head, "It's hot, I don't want to go."
In the past, if Daniel had asked me out, I would have been ecstatic, always trying to please him.
But after everything that happened, I wanted to stay away from Daniel as much as possible.
Besides, in the past year, whenever I was with Daniel, something bad would happen. He was practically my bad luck charm.
I had just recovered from a fall, so I didn't want to end up in the hospital again.
No matter how much Daniel persuaded, I firmly refused.
"Come on, do me a favor, consider it my apology for last time."
"You didn't offend me, why apologize?" I asked.
"That day, it was Zoe's fault. She's shy, so I'm apologizing on her behalf. Words are empty, but barbecue is proof. My apology is sincere."
Since being with Zoe, Daniel had changed a lot. He used to be as quiet as a mute, never saying such playful things.
Zoe had quite the ability to change Daniel.
"Oh, that incident? I forgot about it. Never mind, I can't accept it."
"Jane, we've grown up together. I know you better than you know yourself. I can tell when you're lying. You're still mad at me and won't forgive me. I know the difference between right and wrong. Don't think I’m playing favorites. Zoe is timid and delicate, so I can't bear to see her upset. But right is right, and wrong is wrong. So, if you really forgive me, come have barbecue with me."
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