Fated love: the unwanted bride

Jasmine Yale was reminded of that morning when she left the country, amidst the crisp air and morning dew, her family looked so harmonious and peaceful.

Indeed, things should have followed this normal trajectory.

Sylvan Cheney and Yolanda Fern were childhood sweethearts and in love for many years.

It was time for them to get married.

Jasmine Yale cherished the love shared between two childhood friends who had been in love since they were young till they became old together.

After all, Sylvan Cheney had raised her for twelve years.

He wanted to get married, and she wished him all the best.

If it weren’t for him, she would have died of hunger on the streets long ago.

She still remembered the moment when she bit into a lollipop and laughed at him as if it were yesterday.

A blink of an eye, and actually, fifteen years had passed.

Time flew by so quickly, she didn’t know what to feel about someone she knew for fifteen years getting married.

Sylvan Cheney was a bold stroke in her life. She didn’t even know how many years she would need to erase those twelve years.

The girls in the bathroom left one after another.

Only Jasmine Yale stayed where she was.

Water drops clung to her hair and dripped down her cheeks.

She wished happiness and stability upon the person she had once loved in her youth.

He and Yolanda Fern were quite suitable.

Although she had spent twelve years with Sylvan Cheney, she had never been a part of his life.

For those twelve years, she was only aware of Yolanda Fern’s existence, but had never met her.

She didn’t even know how many relatives he had at home.

She had never met his father and didn’t know how his mother had passed away.

Was it because she was too carefree, or had he hidden too much from her?

She felt like an outsider hovering on the outskirts of his heart and he never intended to invite her in.

From now on, they would drift further and further apart.

She had tried over and over again to get closer, but his heart was not open to her.

Jasmine Yale left the restroom, showing no ripple of emotion in her eyes.

When she got off work, she went to the mall.

She had saved some money recently. Picking out a gift for him should be okay.

She had always wanted to give him a gift, even if it’s not for his engagement.

She had no way to repay him for caring for her for twelve years.

She wasn’t sure whether the news of Sylvan Cheney’s engagement was true or not, but preparing a gift and sending it anonymously was always a good idea.

If it weren’t for the incident three years ago, she knew in her heart that Sylvan Cheney had treated her well.

When she cried, he would indulge her; when she acted like a spoiled child, he would pamper her; when she was wilful, he would tolerate her.

But he couldn’t give her the love she craved.

She had come to realize this over the past three years.

Even if that incident hadn’t happened, she wasn’t worthy of him and she was reaching beyond her league.

He was a high-ranking individual, while she was nothing, as insignificant as dust.

She walked to the watch counter –

The watches were all exquisite but she remembered he had a very valuable watch of his own; he probably wouldn’t wear the one she was going to give him.

She considered the ties, but giving a tie to a man carries a special meaning. She shouldn’t give one.

Jasmine Yale wandered, looking at pens and wallets.

“Miss, are you buying a gift for your boyfriend?” a saleswoman asked her with a smile.

Jasmine Yale shook her head: “No, just a friend.”

“If you’re not satisfied with these, how about buying a lighter? Does he smoke?”

The saleswoman led her to the lighters’ counter.

Jasmine Yale nodded: “Yes.”

“Then take a look at these models. These branded lighters are custom made and can be engraved.”