Chapter 11

After dinner, I said goodbye to Iris.
Half-jokingly, she pointed to the Porsche and asked me, "Wouldn't you like a car to commute to work? Are you sure you don't want it?"
I laughed, "The research institute arranged an apartment for me, just across the street from the institute. Why would I need a car?"
She pouted, "Well, let me know if you need anything."
I had just joined the research institute for two days when Simon showed up again.
He found me in the cafeteria and sat opposite me, staring at the corner of my right eye for a long time.
After a moment, he softly asked, "Where's the birthmark?"
"Oh."
I casually answered, "When I fell off the cliff, my face got injured. Later, I had reconstructive surgery, so it looks different now."
His hand on the table suddenly started trembling.
He asked me, "Did it hurt?"
This was an extremely absurd question.
I put down my chopsticks, raised my head, and calmly looked at him, "Simon, regardless of the situation, this is not a question you should be asking."
"I remember very clearly what kind of pain I went through during the three years I was with you, even if you've forgotten. Abusers always easily forget the harm they have caused others."
I stared into Simon's eyes and kindly counted on my fingers for him.
"That time when I had a fever of thirty-nine degrees, Cecilia happened to be overseas and missed your call, you got angry and took it out on me, saying that you can only feel comfortable by holding me when I have a fever."
"When we went out together, your friend forced me to drink, and I ended up vomiting blood. You made me take a taxi to the hospital by myself because there was no one to sign the consent form for my treatment. So when I had a gastroscopy, I had to do it without anesthesia."
"Cecilia was targeted with a smear campaign by Jasmine, and you blamed me for it. You made me shave my head and publicly apologize to her as if it was my fault."
"You hid my passport and ID card just before a business trip, causing me to miss the opportunity to expand the project and lose a big customer."
"I could go on and on, Simon. But I think you get the idea."
"It was said that I planned everything, insulted as a third-rate, and slapped twice."
"There have been many times that I have become accustomed, so even when undergoing wound repair surgery, it was not very painful."
With each word I spoke, his complexion grew pale.
In the end, the forever high and mighty, aloof Simon, shed tears in front of me.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I looked around.
Fortunately, the cafeteria was not crowded, and we were sitting in a corner where not many people could see.
"I'm sorry, Diana, at that time... I didn't see my true feelings."
He struggled to speak, "Jasmine, and those who kidnapped you, have been sentenced. My engagement with Cecilia will also be broken off. I know that she caused you trouble on set..."
I scoffed, "Is the real culprit really Jasmine or Cecilia?"
"In fact, you understand it very well, Simon. The distance between domestic and foreign is not an insurmountable barrier, especially with your financial means, it would be easy to go abroad for a visit or even move there to be with her for a few years. If you truly love Cecilia, there are countless ways to be with her, instead of finding female companions, stand-ins, as so-called stand-ins."
"You don't love her that much, and you can't endure loneliness, so you always need someone by your side. But you also have a high opinion of yourself and look down on these people who accompany you, so you go out of your way to humiliate them, achieving satisfaction in your own mind."
He stared at me blankly, speechless.
In the end, he could only say with teary eyes, "But Diana, I truly love you now."
"I know I have done many things that hurt you. Give me a chance, and I will love you wholeheartedly and make it up to you..."
I sighed, feeling that he was beyond redemption.
"You already have so much, yet you still waste it on a love-hate relationship that has no outcome."
"Don't you understand? I have never liked you, never had feelings for you. I chose to stay by your side because you did indeed help me financially."
"But all of this, after being implicated in that incident and falling off the cliff into the sea, I considered my debt repaid."
I stood up with the tray in my hand, and Simon grabbed my hand forcefully.
He rambled, "What more do you need? Just give me a chance, research funding, project investments, even... I will build a separate laboratory for you, you can establish your own reputation, free from constraints... how about it..."
He just can't take a hint.
"Don't be pathetic, Simon."
I lost my patience completely and forcefully threw his hand off.
The soup in the tray splattered, staining his precious suit.
I pursed my lips, coldly looking at him, "How much is the dry-cleaning? Have your assistant bring the receipt to the research institute, and I'll compensate you."
He was a mess, like a stray dog, and the light in his eyes completely dimmed.
But for me, there was no room for compromise.