Chapter 5 Love Cannot Be Forced

Myah ran a hot bath for Adeline and then went to the kitchen to prepare some food for her friend. Having no appetite, Adeline looked down at the ring on her finger and said in a hoarse voice, "Myah, I divorced Brendan."

"What? Divorced?" Myah was so surprised that she almost bit her tongue. She asked, "Did he force you? And the nerve of him to kick you out of the house! What a jerk! How could he do this to you? I'll go find him and avenge you!"

"Don't bother." Adeline hurriedly put her hand on Myah's shoulder and forced a helpless smile. "I've already signed the divorce settlement. We have nothing to do with each other now."

Myah still couldn't believe what she was hearing. She asked, "Really?"

"Yeah." Adeline nodded and continued, "Tiffany's also back. She's the one Brendan likes. They can finally be together. There's no need for me to keep staying by his side."

"But you..." Myah started to say something but stopped on second thought.

She and Adeline had known each other forever. When they were students, they always went home together after class.

Adeline was beautiful and amiable.

Myah still remembered that day when she had something urgent to do after class, and she couldn't go home with Adeline. On her way home alone, Adeline was held up by several school bullies and almost got raped.

It was Brendan who suddenly appeared and saved her.

Since then, Adeline had been in love with him.

For many years, Adeline secretly loved Brendan, even though she didn't know his name.

Myah had been saying to her, "Addie, just give up. You have met him only once. It's very likely that you two will never see each other again. Are you going to spend your whole life waiting for him?"

But Adeline had just been smiling and answering firmly, "He will always be in my heart. I'll never forget what he looked like at that time. He was wearing a white shirt, and his beautiful eyes were framed with long, thick lashes. He is tall and handsome. I still believe he and I will meet again."

Myah had always thought that Adeline was being ridiculous.

Later, the Dawson family arranged for Adeline to marry someone. When Myah found out about it, Adeline had already gotten married to Brendan. The girls then had dinner together to talk about this. Adeline smiled the entire time like a crazy person. She said to Myah, "I'm married to the man of my dreams. I still can't believe it."

"But he doesn't really like you at all, Adeline. Wake up. Do you really think that you two will live happily ever after?"

"Why not? It's said that absolute sincerity can move a heart of stone. God has brought him to me, and I have to try and make him like me. I'll be really good to him, and one day, he'll realize that we're meant to be together." Adeline tilted her head, her eyes full of yearning for happiness.

When Adeline and Brendan got married, they simply went to the city hall. There were no cakes, flowers or wedding pictures because there wasn't a wedding ceremony to begin with. However, when Adeline passed by a jewelry store one day, she still spent all her money on a pair of rings with small diamond studs.

She solemnly handed one of them to Brendan.

The rings were simple with only itty-bitty diamonds. They looked nowhere near proper wedding rings. Even though Brendan had never worn his, Adeline had always worn hers on her finger.

Every time Myah saw the ring on Adeline's finger, she made fun of her. But Adeline just said expectantly, "I believe that Brendan will buy me a ring one day."

But it turned out to be her own wishful thinking.

"Don't worry about me, Myah. Now I know that love cannot be forced and that a marriage without love will not last long," Adeline said, shrugging.

Looking at the tired Adeline and the forced smile on her face, Myah couldn't help feeling sorry for her. Adeline was no longer that girl with so much hope in her eyes.

"Have you really made up your mind?"

"Yes, I have," Adeline nodded firmly.

"Then good for you." Myah put her arm around Adeline's shoulder and chirped, "It's not a big deal. Your ex-husband's an ass anyway. It's not your loss. You will start a new life without him. He doesn't know how great you are, and he will regret it sooner or later. To celebrate your newfound freedom, let's go to the bar and have a good time."