Chapter 240 Happiness Should Outweigh Sadness
In Pearl's mind, she always tried not to bother others. Even if she couldn't always manage it, she did her best.
"You're not him, so you don't know what he's thinking," Janetta said. "These days, we have emotional and marital freedom. Don't hold yourself back. Having a kid isn't a big deal. In the end, it's about two people being together. If he doesn't mind, why should you? You're just overthinking, always worried about putting others at a disadvantage. They see it as a blessing!"
Pearl looked at Janetta. Their views on relationships were worlds apart. Janetta was carefree and genuine; if they broke up, she wouldn't feel guilty. But Pearl was different.
"I don't like him enough," Pearl admitted.
Janetta shrugged. "You two haven't even dated. Love can grow over time."
"What if I let him down?" Pearl pondered. "Matters of the heart should be taken seriously. You can't hurt others. Today, I might be with him out of gratitude, and tomorrow, I might leave him for someone else for the same reason. If I can't promise him a future, I shouldn't give him any hope."
Janetta sighed and shook her head. "Live in the moment. Thinking too far ahead is pointless. You shouldn't tie yourself down to one man for life. Peaceful breakups happen all the time. What's important is that you had something special."
Janetta's words made sense too, but everyone has their own reasoning. Pearl was the type who, when she liked someone, thought about the future. For instance, she liked Oscar and thought about marrying him and having kids.
The process was tough, and the ending wasn't great, but she had thought it through.
Janetta took her hand and placed it on her belly. "Pearl, think about it. Without Oscar, you have the chance for another relationship. Even if it's not Adrian, there will be another man. A child isn't a burden. A man who truly loves you will accept your child."
Janetta had helped her a lot over the years.
Pearl's mind was cluttered with too many thoughts, unable to let go and filled with many obsessions. Her gaze turned to Adrian outside, who had been standing at the door without leaving.
Looking back, she realized how few people had been truly kind to her in this lifetime.
"All these years, Adrian was abroad. You thought you first met at my art exhibition, but he had looked for you before; you just didn't know."
Pearl's gaze returned to Janetta's face. "Really?"
"Pearl, your eyes were always on Oscar. You never thought Adrian would come back to find you," Janetta teased her for being so fixated. "It's been a long time. Probably when you were in high school, he knew you had a near-death experience and was worried, so he flew back overnight, but you two didn't meet."
Pearl asked again, "Why? If he came back to find me, why didn't he meet me?"
Janetta tapped her forehead. "You're clueless. It's because you only had eyes for Oscar!"
Pearl had never known these things. She hadn't even realized Adrian liked her, let alone anything else.
"Pearl, sometimes I admire your devotion, but other times I think you know nothing about love," Janetta scolded her. "He knew you had fallen for someone else and didn't have the courage to show up before you. He wouldn't even confess his feelings. Love requires great courage, just like you with Oscar. You liked him for so many years but never let Oscar know."
Pearl suddenly realized, "So Adrian knew all along."
She had never said anything, but Adrian understood everything.
Janetta looked at her and smiled. "Not everyone can stay true to their initial intentions, Pearl. You should be content."
Pearl fell into deep thought. 'What did I have to be discontented about?'
The two talked for a while before Janetta came out. Adrian was still standing at the door. Seeing Janetta, he asked, "Is she feeling better?"
"Your mind is all on Pearl," Janetta said. "She's much better, don't worry. She can think things through. In her marriage with Oscar, Pearl had already foreseen the outcome. She hopes for the best, that they can grow old together, but dreams are meant to be awakened."
Adrian remained silent, but a trace of sorrow appeared on his face. Over the years, Pearl must have had a hard time too.
Janetta walked over and grabbed the railing of the corridor. "I spoke well on your behalf."
She took a deep breath and looked out the window. "Of course, I want her to be happy. And since you like her so much and can make her happy, I hope she can break free from Oscar. Life isn't that long, and it's rare to find someone who loves you deeply. If you two can have a good outcome, that would be the best."
Adrian looked at Janetta. "Thank you."
Janetta smiled at him. "No need to thank me. Don't forget, I'm Pearl's best friend. I will always look out for her."
For this, Adrian was very grateful to her. "If I have time, I must treat you to a meal."
Janetta waved her hand. "Just don't let me down."
After a while, Adrian walked into the ward. For some reason, he felt a bit uneasy since they had said all the heartfelt words.
He had laid his heart bare for Pearl to see, and now he felt even more embarrassed.
Pearl was lying down, not asleep, with her hand on her belly, looking at Adrian. She was just thinking about how she should decide.
Adrian was the first to speak, "Are you feeling better?"
"I'm much better."
"That's good," Adrian sat down.
"Aren't you busy? You've been here with me for a long time," Pearl asked again.
Adrian replied, "I can stay with you."
"Don't let it interfere with your important matters."
"To me, you are the most important matter," Adrian said, looking at her.
Pearl was momentarily speechless and didn't dare to meet his gaze. She looked away and said, "I just found out about this. Janetta said that in high school, you came back to find me. You knew back then, didn't you?"
Adrian confessed to her, "I only dared to look at you secretly, not openly stand in front of you."
"You saw, didn't you?" Pearl said, "When you were secretly looking at me, my eyes were on Oscar."
Adrian pressed his lips together and lowered his head.
Pearl turned back and saw the desolate look in Adrian's eyes. At that moment, she didn't feel very good either. She could understand Adrian and naturally empathize with him. "Don't look at me secretly anymore."
Upon hearing this, Adrian raised his head.
Pearl smiled and said, "Now you know everything. What else can I hide from you? Actually, there's a saying that's true: people should do what makes them happy. If it makes you happy, do more of it. If it doesn't, stay away from it. The same goes for feelings; joy must surpass sorrow."
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