10
I called the police.
After so long, Rachel was no longer the hopeful, lively person I once knew. She now seemed drained, as though everything had faded away.
I had expected that without me, the annoying person in her life, Rachel would be sad for a few days, then go on living happily with Clint.
But to my surprise, I still seemed to hold some significance in her life.
Not that I cared.
The police arrived quickly.
“This young lady has mistaken me for someone else and has been persistently bothering me,” I said, showing my ID. “My name is Alex, I’ve always been called this.”
“No, you are Arland, not this ‘Alex‘! We grew up together; I can’t be mistaken,” Rachel said, Jooking at my ID but still refusing to believe it.
“And do you have any proof?” I asked.
Rachel fell silent.
I knew she had no proof. Not even a childhood photo of mine. I had already personally visited. her mother and gotten back all the old pictures.
Before leaving, I burned every photo clean, not leaving a single trace.
I couldn’t help but laugh lightly. “See, you have no evidence, and you’re just claiming that I’m someone you know. Who would believe you?”
Rachel’s face turned somber, her head lowered, and two tears fell. After a while, she spoke.
“Arland, I know you resent me.”
“But it’s okay. I’ll make it up to you, bit by bit.”
“The house… I’ll rebuild it and make sure it looks exactly the same as before.”
“When you’re free, I’ll take you to see it.”
I didn’t want to hear any more of her empty words. I asked the police to stop her, then returned to the hotel.
I explained to Linda why I had left so abruptly, then opened the app to buy a flight ticket for the next available plane.
The next morning at 8 AM, I opened the door, and sure enough, Rachel was waiting there.
Her clothes were wrinkled, her makeup had smudged, and there were dark circles under her eyes. Clearly, she hadn’t slept all night.
Seeing me, the woman stood up straight against the wall, and there was a new gleam in her eyes. “Arland, you’re awake.”
“I told you, I’m not Arland,” I said, my tone flat. “Instead of wasting your time following me, why don’t you go find the real one?”
I walked past her and headed out.
But Rachel followed me again. “By noon at the latest, Clint and his mother will personally come to apologize to you.”
Even hiding in a small city, they still couldn’t escape Rachel’s revenge.
With their savings running low, they had resorted to cutting corners and even borrowing
online loans to ends meet.
I ignored her words and went to the lobby to meet my colleagues.
Rachel kept her distance but still followed me.
“Who is that woman to you? She’s so pretty, and she seems to like you a lot,” Linda asked.
I glanced down at my phone and casually replied, “I don’t know her.”
Before boarding, my ticket had an issue, and I couldn’t take the flight.
I wasn’t bothered by it at all.
From what I knew about Rachel, she wouldn’t let me leave without causing a stir.
I asked Linda and the others to go ahead, while I stayed behind to handle things.
Pulling my suitcase, I scanned the airport lobby and quickly spotted Rachel.
Despite the chilly spring weather, she was dressed in a beige coat, her long hair flowing smoothly, her features sharp and bright. She stood out in the crowd with her curvy figure.
She looked at me with longing.
I gestured for her to come over with a finger.
Rachel’s face lit up with a smile as she hurried towards me.
“Arland.”
“My flight ticket… you tampered with it, didn’t you?”
It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.
Rachel admitted without hesitation, “Yes, I did it I couldn’t let you leave so easily.”
I looked at her coldly: “Do you know why I want to leave?”
“Because you and Vivian are dead to me.”
“Because you two, to me, are even less important than strangers.”
Rachel’s face grew anxious. “Arland, I know I was wrong. I’ll do everything I can to make it up to you. Please, give me a chance.”
Her tone was humble, nothing like the proud, arrogant woman she once was.
“No. It’s not Clint’s influence on you,” I said. “You just thought that I cared so much about you two, that I was so sentimental, that I would never leave.”
“Also, because besides you two, I have no one left.”
“Fortunately, you two were ruthless enough to make me suffer day and night, until I
completely stripped myself of feelings for you.”
Rachel’s face slowly lost color, but her eyes were bloodshot.
She parted her lips to speak “Arland…”
“Don’t call me that. It only makes me feel disgusted.”
Rachel almost helplessly averted her gaze. “Vivian is on her way here. Can you at least meet her before you leave?”
“No need,” I said coldly. “I just want to leave as soon as possible, to get as far away from both. of you as I can.”
I returned to the hotel.
But Vivian had already arrived.
She was holding a stack of documents, and when she saw me, her eyes turned red.
“Arland, I’ve gotten everything back that I gave to Clint. It’ll be transferred to your name as soon as you sign it.”
Her hand holding the documents trembled slightly.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me right away. I just ask… give me a chance to make it up to
you.”
But no matter how sincere she sounded, I remained indifferent. There wasn’t a single sign of
emotion on my face.
I had truly let them go.
Even though the process of letting go had torn me apart, nearly cost me my life.
“No need,” I looked at them, “I won’t forgive you, and I won’t take revenge.”
“Vivian, Rachel.”
Say this only once,”
“Don’t try to make up for anything. I don’t need it.”
“And don’t come and bother me again.”
Vivian’s pale lips moved, but she didn’t say anything.
She knew me.
If I had lost control and yelled at her or smashed something in anger, there would still be a chance for their relationship to be salvaged.
But since I remained calm, not even a word of blame, she understood.
I would never turn back.
