- 4.
The days that followed, Mark came home late
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every night.
“Didn’t I tell you to get to bed already? The
company recently signed a big contract. I’m
going to be busy for a while.”
The jacket smelled like the familiar perfume,
but it wasn’t mine.
My throat was dry and it was hard to swallow.
I just couldn’t sleep.
The sweet aroma of perfume was too strong.
I coughed.
“Do you have a cold?”
I think so. I nodded.
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Mark touched my forehead. I had a fever.
“I told you not to work so hard. You never
listen. Now you are going to suffer.”
Mark said, going to the living room to find the
medicine cabinet and a glass of water.
“I will take care of you later. You are like Lily.
Isn’t that great?”
The medicine was bitter.
I took big gulps of water and forced it down,
but my eyes were still red.
Mark used to gently hug and comfort me
when I was sick.
I looked at Mark and his dark eyes were full
<
of impatience.
I couldn’t sleep even after taking my
medicine.
I turned towards Mark in the dark.
Mark was far away from me, facing away
from me and not looking back.
The weekend was the day Mark and I would
eat together.
I had booked Mark’s favorite Jiangnan
restaurant, but my hands shook when I saw
Mark and Lily together.
“Sarah, Lily said she wanted to try this
restaurant, so I brought her along.”
<
Lily was standing in front of me, restrained
and not sitting like Mark.
“Sister, can I eat with you? I’ve heard that this
restaurant is delicious. I couldn’t get a table.
You are so good at it.”
Lily was putting on the same innocent look. I
felt like I was suffocating.
I didn’t want to say anything to Lily. I looked
at Mark and didn’t want to deal with this
anymore.
“So, my stepsister is coming to have a date
with her sister and brother–in–law?”
Maybe I was too sharp, so the two were
stunned.
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Mark was the first to react. He thought he
was embarrassing himself in front of Lily. He
was angry.
“What are you saying, Sarah? Lily is your
sister. We are just eating a meal together.”
“We can eat anywhere. Why here?”
“Or do you not know how to book a table? I
can book it for you.”
I took out my phone.
“Sister… I…” Lily looked scared at Mark.
“Sarah!”
I looked up from the phone and looked at the
<
two across from me.
Lily was pathetic and envious. I looked away. I
cared about Mark.
I had a rare temper. Mark sighed.
“Sarah is still so bossy.”
Mark then put food in my bowl and talked to
me about the company’s recent collaboration
projects.
It was like he wanted to apologize. No matter
how much Lily wanted to be noticed, Mark
didn’t say a word to her.
Lily bit her lip. She couldn’t sit anymore, so
she ran away crying.
<
Mark’s hands paused. He continued to put my
favorite spicy pork ribs into my bowl.
I ate by myself. I didn’t care if Lily was going
to complain to Ben.
When I first entered the workplace, Mark was
not happy that I was spending all my time at
work and demanded that I take one day every
weekend to spend with him.
On that day, Mark would stick by my side
from morning until night.
He would turn off his phone and even post to
social media ahead of time, telling everyone
not to bother him on that day.
But this time, Mark brought Lily.
I thought Mark would have an affair. I wanted
to ask Mark to confirm whether he liked Lily.
At that time, Mark held my hand tightly,
looking anxious.
He said I was thinking too much, and Lily was
just my stepsister.
I can still remember the anger in his eyes.
Now, I looked at him.
Mark, are you sure you still love me?
