“But why? I’ve already promised Chris that I would go to the piano concert with him. He’ll be angry if I don’t go.” After I said that, I got around the bodyguard and headed for the exit. I had just taken two steps when I was stopped by the bodyguard again, and this time he was blocking the exit. Obviously, he was acting on the orders of Julia. I tried to shove him out of my way but to no avail.
“I don’t understand, Mrs. Lane. Why are you so against us?” If Julia was behaving this way all because of Monica’s mother, then it was unfair. Truly unfair to Christopher and me.
Julia’s eyes were downcast, and there was a sorrowful look on her face. It was as though she recalled a particularly bad memory. The air was heavy with tension as I watched her swirl the coffee in her cup.
I looked at the time again. The concert had begun, and Christopher did not return my calls. Come to think of it, Monica and the others are probably holding him back right now. Otherwise, he wouldn’t leave me here all by myself.
After a while, Julia lifted her head and said to me, “Monica grew up without her mother, and she turned out to be a strong woman. She never tells me anything, and she never begs me. Not even once. But this time, she begged me to give her a chance to give it another try. I couldn’t refuse her. And that’s why I came here.”
“What about Chris, Mrs. Lane? He’ll be sad for what you have done.” I shut my eyes, clenching my fists tightly.
“I can’t sit and do nothing, either. Whatever it is, I’ll support her. She asked for the chance to try again today, so I promised to help her this once, no matter the outcome. But, you cannot show up in front of Chris. Now that he has to choose a side, I won’t have you meddling by turning up in front of him.”
Julia tipped her head upwards to signal her entourage, and immediately a female personal assistant walked over to the café’s bar. After a brief exchange, someone changed the channel on the projector screen from light jazz music to the coverage of the piano concert. As I watched the broadcast, I spotted Christopher sitting in the VIP seat.
He was leaning on the couch as he listened to Monica playing on the piano. Although there was a smile on his face, I could tell that he was fuming inside.
Could it be that Monica asked Julia to stop me in order to get Christopher to attend her concert alone? It can’t be that simple. Why do I feel like something is wrong?
I struggled to tamp down my anxiousness as I paced around the table and looked at Christopher on the projector screen from time to time. He kept a smile on his face throughout the play, but he turned to look behind him from time to time. He was probably looking at the entrance, waiting for me to show up.
He was already upset when he was asked to attend the concert, and for me not to show up would further agitate him. After all, as his wife, I was pushing him into the hands of another woman.
I let out a sigh. After I had calmed down, I walked up to Julia and sat across from her. “Mrs. Lane, I did not know that you would lose your composure and come looking for me after what Mr. Martin said to you. As for the ten million, I have already taken it out. Since I’m married to Chris, I’m your daughter-in-law, and I should be calling you Mom. Mrs. Lane, I just want Christopher to be happy. If he’s happy, then I’m happy.”
“Don’t sugarcoat it. It doesn’t work on me, so just give it to me straight.”
“I’ll make it simple. I made the decision to leave Christopher when I thought I was dying. I’ve decided to stay by his side now that I’m very much alive. And I will stay by his side until my very last breath.”
Julia ignored me. At this moment, everyone’s focus was on the big screen when Monica stood up suddenly and said into the microphone, “I love you, Chris. I have loved you for many years. Now that we are here, I would like to ask you a question. Will you marry me, Christopher?”
