Five Years of Broken Dreams

Chapter 9

Back home, Derek's family continued to stir up trouble, even trending on social media.

I didn't see these trending topics, likely because Alex had managed it, but I had told my assistant to keep me updated.

Once the business matters were settled, I treated Alex to dinner.

He surprised me with a bouquet of lisianthus. I was taken aback.

Alex noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"

I smiled and said, "It might sound silly, but for years, Derek sent me pink roses on anniversaries."

I had told him I loved lisianthus, but he always got it wrong.

Seeing that Alex, who I hadn't seen in ages, still remembered my preference made me realize it wasn't that Derek couldn't recall; he just didn't care enough.

He simply didn't want to make space for me in his heart.

That night, I drank more alcohol than I had in a long time.

Derek had always wanted kids, and after we married, he had set high expectations for me. It had been ages since I had alcohol.

After Alex dropped me off at my room, he seemed to whisper something in my ear, but I was too hazy to be sure if I heard right.

The issues in River City weren't fully resolved. My parents told me to stay in Singapore a few more days to unwind.

Since Alex wasn't busy, we decided to extend our stay.

He had studied there for two years after our marriage and knew the place well.

He took me to the university where he earned his master's, and we explored many unique markets, finding all sorts of interesting trinkets.

Each time, Alex paid. When I asked why he wouldn't let me pay, he said, "I can't let my sister spend money when we're out. People would laugh at me if they knew."

But I remembered that night when I was drunk, Alex didn't call me sister when he whispered in my ear.

We spent seven days in Singapore. Each day, we would sleep in late, then Alex would take me out to lunch, go shopping, enjoy the sea, and play until midnight before heading back.

During those seven days, I felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation and figured out many things.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't hurt. Every night, I would ask myself the question Alex posed to me, "Do you regret it?"

I knew exactly what he meant. A week later, I finally answered him.

"I don't regret it. No one could have predicted this. If I had the chance to do it all over, I'd make the same choice."

He gently stroked my hair, sighed, and said, "Okay, as long as you don't regret it."

Derek continued causing chaos at my company every day, still refusing to sign the divorce papers. I had no choice but to take it to court.

Derek's family was broke. After being thrown out, they could only squeeze into a small hotel room.

I heard Derek had beaten Chloe badly, leading to a miscarriage.

After that, he never visited her in the hospital again. Lacking funds, he even demanded she return the gifts he had given her.

Chloe was so furious that she lost it in the hospital and ended up being diagnosed with a mental illness, getting locked up.

My divorce case with Derek went to court two weeks later. Thanks to the strong evidence I provided, Derek was ordered to leave with nothing and pay me five million dollars.

That five million was what he had embezzled from my company after deducting his salary.

Once the court session ended, Derek went wild, yelling at me, "Lily, you don't need this money. Why are you doing this to me?"

I didn't look back as I walked away.

This whole mess finally reached its conclusion.

Alex was waiting for me outside the courthouse. Today was his birthday.

I knew he had a surprise planned for me.

At the birthday celebration, he proposed to me in front of everyone, but I didn't accept.

I took his ring and told him, "It takes time to heal a broken heart. I hope you can wait for me."

He held me tight and repeated his words from that night, "Lily, I've been waiting for you so long."