He knelt before me, begging for forgiveness, but his belated affection was worthless as weeds.
I looked at him with undisguised disdain. “I never had the chance to tell you—every day you cheated, I felt nothing but disgust.”
Now he could work for me, since I was living in a big house with my parents and had full custody of the children.
Compared to anyone else, he should at least be familiar with the job and give it his best effort.
Life after the divorce was unexpectedly joyful. My days were filled with taking the kids to school, caring for my parents, and enjoying the simple routines of everyday life.
On weekends, I accompanied the children to painting, piano, horseback riding, rollerblading, and ballet lessons.
Honestly, during my marriage, I was always wound tight, afraid I wouldn’t be a good enough mother or daughter-in-law. I lived with more stress than I ever felt studying for university entrance exams.
Now, I had plenty of time to stroll in the breeze, wander through bustling markets, and walk to the park that shimmered like a mirage.
Watching young couples flirt and laugh, I felt a new sense of fullness and beauty in life.
One day, the sun was bright and the breeze gentle. After picking up Xiao Jie and Xiao Mei from their riding lesson, I saw their new instructor.
He was tall, with clear, handsome features, a bright smile, and eyes that sparkled with kindness. He radiated warmth and vitality.
At first sight, my heart fluttered. A seed of affection sprouted inside me.
I approached him quietly and asked, with a touch of absurd humor, “Would you be friends with me? I have two children and I’m much older than you.”
He smiled, eyes crinkling like the curve of a crescent moon. He didn’t say yes or no.
With money and time to spare, of course, I wanted to live a different kind of life.
In the world of adults, I no longer place excessive expectations on anyone, nor do I overestimate any relationship.
When I lower my expectations, I find that every encounter in life is a gift.
Even this one, standing before me.
After walking a few steps, I heard his voice behind me: “I’ll think about it.”
Heh, let him think. Whether he agrees or not doesn’t matter.
What matters is gratitude—gratitude for the encounter, gratitude for the gift, and gratitude that, even after experiencing ugliness, I still believe in beauty.
Chapter 10
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