Chapter 46
Chapter 46 Looking at Barbara’s happy face, I had a lot to say but couldn’t get the words out. After a while, I finally managed to say, “Congrats.” “Could you come with me for prenatal check-ups later? I haven’t been to the hospital since I found out I was pregnant. I heard we need to set up a medical record there.” Barbara excitedly discussed her pregnancy, but all I could think about were romantic scenes involving Norman and another woman. If I told Barbara the truth now, there could only be two possible outcomes. First, she’d be furious and heartbroken, choose to have an abortion and break up with Norman. Second, she’d choose to forgive Norman, either due to her feelings for him or because of the baby Either way, Barbara would get hurt, bad *Sure. Just let me know a day in advance.” I was a little upset and agreed casually before getting up to leave. “You rest up. I’ve got stuff to do.” Barbara didn’t want me to leave, “You’re leaving after just ten minutes?” “Barbara, don’t tell Norman about your pregnancy yet. Let’s get our friends together and surprise him, okay?” I thought for a moment then suggested. Without any hesitation, Barbara agreed, “Sure! I’ll set the time and let you know!” I made an “OK” gesture and quickly left Barbara’s home. Back in the car, it took me a while to calm down. Stella, Alicia, and Barbara are like sisters to me. They’re as important as my family. I can’t stand anyone hurting them. Just as I was about to leave, Norman’s car appeared not far away. He got out of the car with a white bag in his hand, looking somewhat hurried. “Norman!” I shouted.
Seeing me, Norman was surprised at first, then came over to greet me, “Irene, are you here for Barbara?” Norman was actually a decent guy. Although he’s not as well-off as Barbara, he’s a good fit for her and was very well-mannered.
“Yeah. Weren’t you at work? Why are you back?” I asked. “Isn’t it almost lunchtime? I was worried Barbara wouldn’t want to cook for herself, and takeout isn’t healthy, so I came back to make her something. Want to join us?” Norman lifted the bag in his hand, “I just bought some ingredients.” I was stunned. From Norman’s smiling face, I couldn’t detect any hint of insincerity. He seemed to genuinely care about Barbara. How could such a man be dating two women at the same time? I didn’t know what I was feeling. I forced a smile, shook my head and said, “Maybe next time. I have things to do. Goodbye.” “Alright.” Norman waved at me. As I drove away, I started to doubt if true love really exists in this world. I once firmly believed that Neil truly loved Bonnie, but I died too early in my past life and didn’t get the chance to see how their story ended. What happened after they got together? One year, two years, three years, ten years, twenty years later? Could Neil’s love for Bonnie last a lifetime? Was it possible that they were indeed deeply in love at first, but as time went by, they gradually lost the passion of love and became like most couples, strangers filled with contradictions? With these confused thoughts, I aimlessly drove around the streets and ended up at La Rencontre. Bonnie no longer worked there, so there was no point in me coming, but I still walked in and ordered a black coffee. Holding the warm coffee cup, I quietly looked at the busy street outside the window, replaying everything that had happened since I was reincarnated. It seemed like everything was as I expected, but I felt like I was slowly losing control. At this moment, a black Bentley pulled up outside the cafe. Neil got out of the car and made eye contact with me inside the cafe. He told his driver to leave first, then walked into the cafe. He also ordered a black coffee when he passed by the bar. Black coffee was Neil’s favorite. From the moment I met him to now, his taste has never changed. Whether studying or working, black coffee always helped him stay alert.
“What are you doing here drinking coffee?” Neil asked as he sat across from me. He was wearing a gray-white turtleneck sweater with a black long coat over it. He looked quite attractive. Since he walked in, several young female waitresses had been staring at him, some even secretly took pictures of him with their phones. “I just happened to pass by and felt like having a coffee, so I came in.” I replied indifferently. Neil gave a slight smile. The waitress brought him his black coffee. We just sat there, quietly drinking our coffee together. “If I hadn’t met you, I probably wouldn’t have liked such bitter coffee,” I said suddenly, filled with emotion. “Hmm?” Neil seemed to be waiting for me to continue. “Before I met you, I only liked sweets and fruit juice. But then I noticed that you seemed to really like black coffee, so I tried it. I thought if we had the same taste, we’d get closer and have more to talk about.” I recalled those innocent days, smiling, “I even imitated your dressing style, hoping it would make us a better match.” Neil looked calm. didn’t seem to have moved him. I sighed, “It took me ten years to realize that you can’t force feelings.” “Do you regrett? Neil asked. This was the first time we had such a conversation. “If you had chosen someone else, you might not have wasted these ten years.” “What’s there to regret?” I replied with a sense of relief, “During the process of liking you, I experienced happiness, anticipation, and the feeling that the whole world is exceptionally beautiful because of one person. In the end, I even learned how to let go. Isn’t that invaluable?” Suddenly, I thought of a question, “Do you feel the same way about the university girl you’re pursuing? That feeling of loving someone.” The harmonious atmosphere was instantly shattered by my question. Neil’s eyes cooled a bit, “No.” He shouldn’t have responded like that! I was baffled for a few seconds, but then it clicked. Maybe it’s just not time yet. As a player in this, Neil certainly couldn’t see things as clearly as I did from the sidelines.
I changed the subject, “Hey, your dad wants me to work at your company. I think it’s a good idea. Could you help me land a job there?” “You want to work at Whitmore Co.?” Neil frowned. “Yeah, is there a problem? Can’t I?” I asked deliberately. Either way, I didn’t give a hoot. I just thought Russel Dawson made a lot of sense. I indeed need to find something to keep myself occupied. 1/2 11:22 “What position do you want?” Neil didn’t reject outright but asked me instead. I pondered for a while, “Anything but a low-level drudge or a runaround would do. I need to learn something from the job, after all.”
