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Short filmTranscript
00:00Your mother was a mistress, so what does that make you?
00:03Nathan slipped a custom wedding ring onto my finger and suddenly asked this question.
00:06Nathan, what are you talking about?
00:07So that makes you a mistress too, darling.
00:10I was utterly confused. He wore a dead serious expression.
00:13Be my secret lover instead.
00:15There's a new female secretary at the company.
00:18She's highly capable and beautiful, and I intend to marry her.
00:22What am I to you?
00:23You chose to be a mistress back then. Why can't you do the same?
00:26My mother is her own person, and I am mine.
00:28I'll never be someone's mistress.
00:30Is that so? Refuse, and we're done.
00:32Fine. Let's break up.
00:33I had sworn long ago that I would never become a mistress.
00:36Nathan knew nothing of that vow. He stroked my hair gently.
00:39Silly girl, don't be stubborn. How will you survive without me?
00:43Your mother was cyberbullied and ultimately chose to end her own life.
00:46Your father disowned you. Only by staying with me can you escape people's skiriks.
00:51I let out a soft laugh, as if he was the only one who could shield me from ridicule.
00:58I have an aunt who runs a huge business and wields immense power abroad.
01:02She came to me last week and asked if I'd like to go overseas with her.
01:06I turned her down back then, unable to bear leaving Nathan. But now, I sent her a message.
01:12Auntie, I've made up my mind. I'm going with you.
01:14She replied instantly.
01:16Wonderful. I'll send a private jet to pick you up in three days.
01:19I should have been happy, yet tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably.
01:23A sharp ache nod at my heart, like the sting of a venomous bug.
01:27I had planned to tell Nathan about my aunt as a pleasant surprise, but there was no longer any need.
01:32Seeing me cry, Nathan assumed I was heartbroken over our impending split.
01:35He reached out to wipe my tears.
01:37Look at you, crying just because I mentioned breaking up.
01:39If I really left you someday, you'd surely fall apart.
01:42You'll get nowhere throwing tantrums.
01:43Only by obeying me can you avoid being left hopeless again.
01:46I sniffled and said nothing.
01:47Nathan thought he had talked me round.
01:49He started the car engine, only to stop halfway.
01:51Oh, right. From today on, you'll have to sit in the back seat.
01:53That young lady said no one else can take the passenger seat from now on.
01:56And I gave her my word.
01:57I can't break a promise.
01:58You know I always keep my promises.
01:59I said I'd take care of you for life, and I still will.
02:01Even though I'm marrying someone else.
02:03You haven't heard yet, have you?
02:05We're getting our marriage certificate in three days.
02:11It took me ages to wear her down.
02:13I dare not upset her anymore.
02:15She's not as easy to soothe as you are.
02:17She calls herself a red rose.
02:19If you love her bloom, you have to accept the climate.
02:21I felt as if I'd truly been pricked by a rose thorn.
02:23A sharp, stinging pain shooting through my palm.
02:25I looked down and realized I'd scrape my hands on a sharp stud earring while unbuckling my seatbelt.
02:28Fresh blood welled up at once.
02:29Nathan sought too and exclaimed sharply,
02:31Why are you so clumsy?
02:32I thought he was worried about me, about to tell him it was nothing.
02:35This physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart.
02:38But his next words dragged me straight back into despair.
02:40She's a clean freak.
02:41If she finds her favorite jewelry stained with your blood, she'll be furious.
02:44So my blood was dirty in his eyes.
02:45Dizzy with pain, I stared at him numbly for a long time.
02:48Let it slide this time.
02:49I'll cover for you.
02:50Don't touch your things from now on.
02:51He pulled out a disinfectant wipe and carefully polished the earring spotless.
02:54My palm was still bleeding, the blood trickling down onto my leg.
02:56After wrapping the earring in a clean tissue and tucking it carefully into the car's front compartment.
02:59What are you still sitting there for? Didn't you hear me? Get in the back seat.
03:02No need. I'll get a taxi instead.
03:05Fine by me?
03:06There's a company banquet tonight, and I'm taking her to pick out a gown.
03:10Head home by yourself.
03:11I walked to the platform, stoked to the bone.
03:13Everyone looked at me like I was a fool.
03:15And fool I indeed was.
03:17Even now, my mind kept replaying all the kindness Nathan had once shown me.
03:21The truth about my mother being a mistress came to light when I turned 18.
03:24She drove the legal wife and her unborn child to their deaths,
03:27thinking she could take their place.
03:29But after his wife had passed away, the man finally came to his senses and cut all ties with my
03:34mother completely.
03:35In the end, my mother gave birth to me alone.
03:37The scandal blew up 18 years later, when the man posted a public letter of remorse online.
03:42While netizens condemned him, they dug up my mother's past as well.
03:46Once her story was exposed, I was dragged into the spotlight too.
03:49Even after my mother ended her life amid relentless cyberbullying,
03:53women who had suffered at the hands of mistresses still refused to leave me alone.
03:57My schoolmates were relatively mild.
03:59They would simply point fingers at me and curse that mistresses deserved a terrible end.
04:04Every day, a crowd waited at the school gate to pelt me with rotten eggs and vegetable scraps.
04:08A mistresses' daughter will grow up to be just like her!
04:10This torment went on for more than half a year,
04:12until Nathan stepped forward and pulled me out of that dark life.
04:15Who says a mistresses' daughter is bound to become a mistress in future?
04:19He grabbed one of the women and asked,
04:20What does your daughter do for a living?
04:22She works as an accountant at a big company.
04:25And what about you?
04:26The woman faltered and fell silent.
04:28Another woman spoke up for her.
04:30She cooks for workers at a construction site.
04:31There you go.
04:33Your daughter turned out nothing like you.
04:35After that, my life slowly returned to normal.
04:38Soon after, Nathan began to pursue me.
04:41He held an umbrella for me on rainy days,
04:43and shielded me from the sun when it was bright.
04:44Sometimes, in the cafeteria,
04:46classmates would spitefully dump leftover food and soup onto my seat.
04:49He would always step forward to rebuke them.
04:51Did any of you get to choose your parents before you were born?
04:53No one could find a word to say.
04:55The students hung their heads in shame.
04:57To be honest, I had never wanted to fall in love before I met him.
05:00My mother's story had left me with deep, psychological scars.
05:03He was like a ray of light,
05:04gradually chasing away all the darkness within me.
05:07You know, standing in the pouring rain,
05:08I could not make sense of it all.
05:10How could someone who had once been so kind,
05:12change into the person he was today?
05:14Suddenly, everything went back,
05:16and I collapsed to the ground.
05:17I woke up after dark,
05:19lying in a hospital bed with an IV drip inserted in the back of my hand.
05:22You've been too emotionally roped, the doctor said.
05:24Calm down and get plenty of rest.
05:26I will.
05:27Right then, my phone rang.
05:29It was Nathan.
05:30After hesitating for a long while, I answered.
05:33Scarlett's gown got stained.
05:34Go fetch the starry night dress I had made for you,
05:37and bring it over for her to wear.
05:38So her name was Scarlett.
05:40The starry nightgown had been custom designed just for me by a fashion designer,
05:44meant to be worn at our wedding night party.
05:46Once, Nathan would not let anyone so much as touch it,
05:49claiming it would sully our love.
05:50Now he asked me to hand it over to another woman so casually.
05:53It no longer mattered, I suppose.
05:55Nathan, I'm hooked up to an IV right now.
05:56You're perfectly fine.
05:57Why are you getting an IV?
05:58Don't throw a tantrum at a time like this or you'll regret it.
06:00Very well.
06:01I would do this one last thing for him to repay him back then.
06:05I asked the nurse to pull out the needle before the drip finished.
06:07Braving the heavy rain once more,
06:09I took a taxi home to get the gown and hurried to deliver it to him.
06:12Scarlett's waiting for you at the entrance to thank you.
06:15Behave yourself.
06:17And ended the call.
06:18But the woman named Scarlett gave me no thanks,
06:20only a sharp slap.
06:22Caught completely off guard, I froze in shock,
06:24stumbling half a circle on the spot,
06:26and the gown slipped from my hands, falling to the ground.
06:28Scarlett immediately burst into tears,
06:30putting on a hurt.
06:32Sister, you could have just said no.
06:35Why ruin the dress like this?
06:37Breno Nathan walked over.
06:39Scarlett turned to him accusingly.
06:41Nathan, is this the obedient, sensible girl you told me about?
06:45The one who gave me any trouble?
06:46Nathan glanced at the gown on the floor
06:48and thought he had figured everything out.
06:50He slapped me hard across the face again.
06:52I've clearly spoiled you rotten.
06:54Apologize to Scarlett at once.
06:55Nathan, you're far too judgmental.
06:58Do you even know how I got this slap mark on my left cheek?
07:00Scarlett made no attempt to hide the truth.
07:03She tugged at Nathan's sleeve coquettishly.
07:04I hit her.
07:05Nathan, you won't blame me, will you?
07:07I lost my temper and struck her.
07:09Because she threw the gown on the ground.
07:12You know I've always had a bad temper.
07:13Nathan wrapped an arm around her waist without hesitation.
07:16I don't blame you.
07:17You did the right thing.
07:18Scarlett shot me a triumphant smile.
07:20Once those three days were over,
07:22I would vanish from their world entirely.
07:24I'm sorry, Miss Scarlett.
07:26I shouldn't have dropped your gown.
07:28An apology has to be sincere.
07:30What should I do to prove my sincerity?
07:32Admit in front of everyone
07:33that you want to be Nathan's mistress.
07:35I have no desire to be a mistress.
07:38Nathan and I are already through.
07:40I took off the ring meant for our wedding
07:41right before her eyes.
07:43Take this back.
07:44We're done for good.
07:46Nathan froze.
07:47He made no move to catch it
07:48and the ring clattered to the ground.
07:51I say you do.
07:53And that's that.
07:54Scarlett grabbed me by the arm
07:55and dragged me into the hotel lobby.
07:57Everyone, come look.
07:59This woman is desperate to be someone's mistress.
08:01Isn't this young master Nathan's girlfriend?
08:03We broke up.
08:04My girlfriend now is Scarlett,
08:06the company's new secretary.
08:08One woman stepped forward and sneered.
08:11I always said a mistress' daughter
08:13would turn out the same.
08:14It's a shame you once stood up for her.
08:15She even slapped herself twice.
08:17Scarlett leaned into Nathan's arms as she spoke.
08:21I noticed his expression turned distinctly awkward,
08:24yet he echoed her words all the same.
08:26You're right, darling.
08:28I was on the verge of defending myself
08:29when someone hurled a glass of wine straight in my face.
08:32What a disgrace to all women!
08:33Are there no other men left
08:34that you have to steal someone else's?
08:36Choking badly,
08:37I could not utter a single word
08:38and broke into a violent cross.
08:40Others followed suit,
08:41dousing my face with another drink.
08:43May all mistresses rot!
08:45I was tormented and humiliated
08:48as if I were the other one.
08:49While Scarlett,
08:50the real homewrecker,
08:51nestled safely in Nathan's arms.
08:54Here it was,
08:55the nightmare I had feared
08:56had finally come true.
08:58My mother endured the exact same treatment
09:00before she died.
09:01Overwhelmed by shame,
09:02she had climbed to the hotel rooftop
09:03and jumped to her death.
09:05That was why I had ended things
09:06with Nathan without hesitation.
09:07I had dreaded this very night,
09:09yet it had arrived anyway,
09:10framed upon false charges.
09:12The darkness I had once escaped
09:13thanks to Nathan
09:14closed in around me once more.
09:16The ray of sunshine
09:17that once lit my path
09:18now shone on someone else.
09:20I saw Nathan laughing,
09:21laughter even bringing tears to his eyes.
09:24How joyful he must be.
09:25Nathan,
09:26why were you the one
09:27who pulled me out of despair
09:28and now the one
09:29who cast me right back into it?
09:31Suddenly,
09:32I burst through the crowd
09:33like a mad woman.
09:34Just as my mother once did,
09:35I took the elevator
09:36all the way to the hotel rooftop.
09:38Perhaps the memory of my mother
09:39crossed his mind too.
09:40Nathan chased after me,
09:41his face filled with panic
09:43as he shouted,
09:43Rose, don't!
09:44But I did not leap off
09:45the building like her.
09:46I climbed upward,
09:48step by step,
09:49onto the rope ladder
09:49lowered from a helicopter.
09:51The private jet sent by my aunt
09:53arrived ahead of schedule.
09:55I felt drowsy
09:56the moment I boarded the plane
09:57and when I woke up,
09:59I was already abroad,
10:00lying in a hospital bed,
10:01once again,
10:02with an IV line in my hand.
10:04I knew I was seriously ill,
10:06broken both physically
10:07and mentally.
10:08My aunt stormed outside
10:09and cursed bitterly.
10:11Then she turned back
10:12to comfort me.
10:12It's alright.
10:13I've hired the top
10:14medical team for you.
10:16She sat beside my bed
10:17and began peeling
10:18an apple for me.
10:20Everything will get better.
10:22For the next 18 years,
10:24I lived a peaceful
10:24and untroubled life.
10:26It was not until
10:27I ran into Nathan
10:28by chance
10:28on a street in London
10:29that ripples stirred
10:31in my world once again.
10:32By then,
10:33I had a son and a daughter
10:34while he remained
10:35all alone.
10:36I did not recognize him
10:37at first.
10:38He had changed
10:39beyond recognition.
10:40Nothing like
10:41the handsome man
10:42I remembered.
10:43Wrapped in a faded
10:44old black coat,
10:45he called out my name
10:46amid the fine drizzle
10:47and I finally knew
10:48who he was.
10:49Long time no see.
10:53Long time no see.
10:55Can we talk?
11:00After getting
11:00my husband's permission,
11:02we found a small cafe
11:03and sat down.
11:07Scarlet and I split up.
11:09Do you know?
11:10I've spent 18 years
11:11searching for you.
11:12I sold my company
11:14and traveled across
11:15more than 80 countries.
11:17I've lived in
11:18constant remorse.
11:21I'm so sorry, Rose.
11:24It's all in the past,
11:26just a memory,
11:26Mr. Ashfield.
11:27How can you call it
11:28just a memory?
11:29It was a love
11:30etched deep in my heart.
11:32I could not help
11:33but let out a laugh.
11:34So this was what
11:35he called love.
11:36Truly peculiar.
11:39If there's nothing else,
11:40I should take my leave.
11:42My husband is waiting for me.
11:45Wait!
11:45There is more I want to say.
11:47Have you been happy
11:48all those years?
11:49As you can see,
11:50my husband and I
11:51live a wonderful life.
11:53That's good.
11:54That's really good.
11:57As for me,
11:58I've suffered
11:59every single day.
12:00Then Nathan began
12:01to reveal what had happened.
12:02The moment he saw Rose
12:03climb onto the ladder,
12:05he knew she was
12:06leaving him for good.
12:07A dull, gnawing pain
12:08spread across his chest
12:09for no reason.
12:10As the aircraft took off,
12:12he found himself
12:12chasing after it
12:14instinctively.
12:14Scarlet stepped forward
12:15to block his way.
12:18Why bother chasing her?
12:19Let that woman go.
12:21There's no need
12:21to chase after a woman
12:22who chooses to be
12:23a mistress of her own
12:24free will.
12:27She never chose
12:28to be a mistress
12:28of her own will.
12:29We were the ones
12:30forcing her
12:31into that position.
12:32Even then,
12:33she refused
12:35and chose to leave
12:36this place for good.
12:37You're snapping at me
12:38just for her?
12:39Scarlet had never seen
12:40him lose his temper before.
12:41Do you still love her?
12:43Yes.
12:44I've never stopped
12:45loving her.
12:45What about me?
12:46What am I to you?
12:47I was blind to the truth.
12:49Only now do I realize
12:51why you stayed
12:51by my side
12:52and insisted on framing her.
12:53You simply took pleasure
12:55in bullying her.
12:56Her own mother
12:57was a mistress.
12:58How can you be sure
12:59she wouldn't follow
13:00the same path?
13:01That's not true!
13:02I just think a woman
13:04like her
13:05isn't good enough
13:06for you!
13:08Not true?
13:09Then what do you
13:10call all of this?
13:12Nathan pulled up
13:13confidential files
13:14on his phone.
13:14Back in junior high,
13:16Scarlet spread rumors
13:16about other girls
13:17at school.
13:18She bullied others
13:19simply because
13:20those girls
13:20were prettier than her.
13:21She took the lead
13:22in ostracizing girls
13:23who were more
13:24outstanding than her.
13:25Back in high school,
13:26Scarlet had bullied
13:27a female classmate,
13:28falsely accusing
13:29the girl's elder sister
13:30of theft.
13:31But in fact,
13:32Scarlet was the real thief.
13:33In college,
13:34she picked on
13:35a poor young man,
13:36claiming he had refused
13:37to help an elderly woman.
13:38In truth,
13:40the old lady
13:40had never wanted
13:41any assistance at all.
13:42After graduation,
13:43she set about
13:44breaking up
13:44well-loved couples.
13:46She then labeled
13:46those women
13:47as mistresses.
13:48Scarlet never cared
13:49about the facts.
13:50She only needed
13:51an excuse
13:51to torment others.
13:53Regrettably,
13:54Nathan had not
13:54come across
13:55these records sooner.
13:56By the time
13:56he found them,
13:57Rose was already
13:58being brutalized.
13:59His mind and heart
14:00waged a fierce battle
14:02within him,
14:02leaving him frozen
14:03and powerless to act.
14:05Everyone thought
14:05he was laughing
14:06until tears streamed
14:07down his face,
14:08but he was actually
14:09weeping in agony.
14:10The tears would not stop.
14:12Every piece of evidence
14:13felt like a blade
14:14carving deeper
14:15into his conscience,
14:16reminding him
14:17that the person
14:18who had suffered most
14:19was the woman
14:19he should have protected.
14:21He dared not look at Rose,
14:22too ashamed to face her.
14:24He could only keep
14:25his eyes on Scarlet,
14:26and the more he stared,
14:27the uglier she appeared
14:28in his sight.
14:29No, I wasn't bullying anyone!
14:30I was standing up
14:32for what's right!
14:33But Nathan paid
14:34no heed to her excuses.
14:36He pressed on relentlessly.
14:38You approached me
14:39on purpose, didn't you?
14:40Your real target
14:41was her, not me.
14:42You took a woman
14:43of unwavering integrity
14:44and turned her
14:46into a pariah
14:46branded as a mistress!
14:47It gave you thrill
14:48and a twisted sense
14:49of accomplishment,
14:50didn't it?
14:51Scarlet,
14:52you are no red rose.
14:54You are a beautiful
14:56yet deadly poison.
14:58Nathan, I really didn't!
15:00I came to you
15:01because I love you!
15:03Scarlet stepped forward
15:04and reached for his sleeve.
15:06In the past,
15:07whenever she overstepped
15:08the line,
15:08a little coquetry
15:09or feigned willfulness
15:10would always win
15:11his forgiveness.
15:12This time,
15:12Nathan stepped back.
15:15Don't sail the word love.
15:19You accuse me
15:20of ruining love?
15:21What about you?
15:22You're no different!
15:28You're right.
15:31That's why
15:32I have to make amends.
15:33The next day,
15:34he set out
15:34to trace the helicopter
15:36and find where Rose
15:37had gone.
15:37Yet,
15:38no matter how hard
15:39he tried,
15:39he found not a single clue.
15:41Life without her
15:42felt utterly alien.
15:43The white roses
15:44in his study
15:45had long wilted.
15:46He ran out of stomach medicine
15:48before he even remembered
15:49to restock it.
15:50When he came home late,
15:51no one would call
15:52to remind him
15:52to drive safely.
15:54After business trips,
15:55there was no warm embrace
15:56waiting for him.
15:57No one said
15:58they missed him.
15:59It was as if his life
16:00after traveling
16:01across 13 countries
16:02in a single year,
16:03he made up his mind
16:04and sold his company.
16:05With the proceeds,
16:06he embarked on a global journey
16:07to find her.
16:08They had been just a week
16:10away from their wedding.
16:11How could he have let
16:12Rose slip away?
16:13His white rose.
16:14Their story had all begun
16:15with a single white rose.
16:18It was an ordinary morning.
16:19Nathan got up early
16:20as usual to recite.
16:21Then a girl walked past him
16:23holding a white rose
16:24and everything changed.
16:26He began to notice her,
16:27to learn about her.
16:28Time and again,
16:29he saw others picking on her
16:30because of her mother
16:31and eventually,
16:32he could no longer
16:33stand idly by and spoke.
16:35In truth,
16:36his words alone
16:37were not enough
16:38to drive the woman away.
16:39It was Rose herself
16:40who endured everything he says.
16:42Rose herself is the true son.
16:44We kept humiliating her,
16:46yet she never argued back.
16:47Her mother would have flown
16:48into a rage long ago.
16:49She's nothing like her.
16:50It's pitiful having a mother
16:51like that and a father
16:52who won't own up to her.
16:53Recalling those words now,
16:55Nathan burned with self-loathing.
16:57He had once thought
16:58the very same way.
16:59How had he come to blindly believe
17:01a daughter would follow
17:02in her mother's footsteps?
17:03He was a fool,
17:05blinded by prejudice.
17:06He raised his hand
17:07and slapped himself hard,
17:08twice,
17:09across the face.
17:10The sharp sound echoed around him.
17:12But it could never be as painful
17:13as the regret
17:14tearing through his heart.
17:15Three years slipped by,
17:17yet there was still
17:17no trace of Rose.
17:19Scarlet clung to him relentlessly,
17:21pressing him to marry her.
17:22Nathan, you bastard!
17:24You promised to marry me!
17:27Funny.
17:28I also promised to marry Rose.
17:30Did that promise ever hold true?
17:32Enraged,
17:33Scarlet posted online
17:34to defame him.
17:35In response,
17:36Nathan laid out
17:36the whole story
17:37in full detail.
17:38It was like history
17:39repeating itself,
17:40yet with a twist.
17:41He laid bare
17:42the truth of the affair,
17:43exposing Scarlet
17:44for who she was
17:45and even her mother.
17:46People learned
17:46that Scarlet's mother
17:47had also been a mistress
17:48and that she too
17:49was an illegitimate child
17:51disowned by her father.
17:52It proved that
17:53a daughter born to a mistress
17:54could choose her own path.
17:56She might follow
17:57in her mother's footsteps
17:58or she might not.
17:59Everything came down
18:00to one's own choices.
18:02Scarlet was soon engulfed
18:03by online backlash.
18:05The women who had
18:05once tormented Rose,
18:07overcome with shame,
18:08turned their cruelty
18:09fully upon her.
18:10In the end,
18:11Scarlet met the same fate
18:12as Rose's mother.
18:14She jumped from a rooftop.
18:15Nathan felt no joy
18:16at this outcome.
18:17He realized anew
18:18how terribly he had erred.
18:20Scarlet was guilty,
18:21but his own sins
18:22ran just as deep.
18:23He shuddered at the thought,
18:25grateful beyond words
18:26that Rose had escaped
18:27such a tragic end.
18:28Had she perished that day,
18:30not even an eternity in hell
18:32could have atoned
18:32for his wrongs.
18:33By this point,
18:34his remorse had reached
18:35its breaking point.
18:36He devoted himself entirely
18:38to searching for Rose,
18:39putting aside everything else.
18:40He traveled all around the globe,
18:42yet she was as elusive
18:43as if she had vanished
18:44to the moon.
18:45Just as he was on the verge
18:46of giving up,
18:47a stranger told him
18:48he had spotted her in Paris.
18:49But by the time
18:50he arrived there,
18:51word came that she had
18:52moved on to Berlin.
18:53So he chased after her
18:55again and again,
18:56only to miss her
18:57time and time once more.
18:59Eighteen long years passed
19:01before their paths
19:02finally crossed
19:03on a street in London.
19:04He counted himself lucky
19:05that they had granted him
19:06a chance to confess his name.
19:08Still,
19:08when he saw her walking
19:09hand in hand
19:10with a poised,
19:11handsome man,
19:12jealousy nodded him closely.
19:14That should have been
19:15him beside her.
19:16She was his white rose.
19:18How had she bloomed
19:18in another man's garden?
19:20Rose.
19:22Gazing at the woman
19:23he had yearned for
19:24day and night,
19:25he felt as if trapped
19:26in a dream.
19:26When she replied,
19:28emotion welled up
19:28so strongly
19:29he could barely speak.
19:30After so many twists
19:31and turns
19:32and countless
19:32unspoken words,
19:34Long time no see.
19:36Long time no see.
19:38The woman he'd spent
19:39half his life searching for
19:41seemed to want
19:41nothing to do with him.
19:43The sharp drop
19:43from hope to disappointment
19:45was a pain
19:45few could truly understand.
19:47What stung even more
19:48was the way
19:48she addressed him
19:49as Mr. Nathan.
19:50They had once shared
19:51so many intimate ways
19:52to call each other,
19:53yet she'd chosen
19:54the coldest,
19:55most distant form
19:56of address.
19:57Those three words
19:58squeezed his heart
19:59so tight
20:00he could barely breathe.
20:01Still,
20:02as she looked at him,
20:03he let go of the hurt.
20:04She deserved
20:04a happy marriage
20:05and someone
20:06who cherished her fully.
20:0718 years had passed
20:08and his mistakes
20:09could never be undone.
20:10He had only himself
20:11to blame for waking up
20:12far too late.
20:13After listening to Nathan
20:14ramble on and on,
20:16my heart remained
20:16utterly calm.
20:17All those troubles
20:18belonged to a distant past,
20:20long buried beneath
20:21the happiness
20:21I now held dear.
20:23When he finally fell silent,
20:25I asked politely,
20:27Have you finished?
20:28I cared far more
20:29about my husband
20:30than these old stories.
20:31Even a few hours apart
20:32had left me missing him
20:33and my eyes kept drifting
20:34toward the street outside.
20:36Nathan noticed
20:36my restlessness.
20:37Every time my gaze
20:38drifted toward
20:39where my husband waited,
20:40his expression darkened
20:41and he tried to draw
20:42my attention back
20:42with questions.
20:43Do you live in London
20:44permanently?
20:45No.
20:46Where is your home then?
20:47Could you tell me?
20:48I can't.
20:50How long will you stay here?
20:51Will we meet again?
20:53I have nothing to say.
20:55My patience was wearing thin.
20:57At last,
20:57he stopped trying
20:58to keep me there.
20:59Go to your husband.
21:01I hope our paths
21:02cross again someday.
21:03I let out a quiet sigh
21:05of relief
21:05and stood to leave.
21:07Just as I was about
21:07to step away,
21:08he called out once more.
21:10Rose,
21:11do you still remember?
21:14I once said you were
21:15my white rose?
21:17Yes.
21:18You will always be
21:19my white rose.
21:20I never truly loved
21:22the red rose.
21:22I was only briefly dazzled
21:24by her gaudy charm.
21:25He spoke as if
21:26taking it over.
21:26I said nothing,
21:27nearly nodded
21:28as the queen,
21:29then turned to the queen.
21:30As we brushed past each other,
21:31his hoarse,
21:32trembled voice
21:33stopped me again.
21:33Could you call me
21:34darling one last time?
21:35I just want to hear it.
21:37I refused.
21:38I was another man's wife now,
21:40and that endearing name
21:41no longer belonged between us.
21:43Nathan froze,
21:44hurt etched across his face.
21:46After a long moment,
21:47he murmured softly,
21:49Then may I call you darling?
21:50That is your choice.
21:51It has nothing to do with me.
21:53With that,
21:53I turned and walked away,
21:54thinking he would let me go.
21:55Yet, after a long pause,
21:57a loud, broken cry of darling
21:58ran out behind me.
21:59Darling!
22:00Darling, I miss you
22:01more than words can say!
22:03If there's a next life,
22:04I'll never hurt you
22:05like that again!
22:06I offered him a faint smile,
22:07then kept walking
22:08without another glance.
22:09My husband came forward
22:10at once
22:11and laced his fingers
22:13through mine,
22:13just as he had
22:14before we entered the cafe.
22:15We stepped back
22:16onto the street
22:17where we'd run into Nathan.
22:18The rain still fell,
22:19leaving the London pavements
22:20damp and gray,
22:21yet my heart was filled
22:22with warm sunshine.
22:24We spent the next month
22:25wandering around London,
22:26never crossing paths
22:27with Nathan again.
22:28But the day before
22:29we were set to leave,
22:30a shocking piece of news spread.
22:32Half a month prior,
22:33a man had spent
22:34his last savings
22:35to buy a tiny cafe
22:37on the corner
22:37of Carnaby Street.
22:38He passed away suddenly there
22:40the night before.
22:41The name flashed
22:42through my mind
22:43in an instant,
22:44and cold sweat
22:45broke out all over me.
22:46My husband squeezed
22:47my hand firmly,
22:48and we headed straight
22:49for the cafe.
22:50It was indeed Nathan.
22:52Officers were still
22:53clearing the scene,
22:54and his body
22:55had already been taken away.
22:56We waited for a week
22:57for the autopsy report,
22:59which stated he died
23:00from long-term alcohol abuse
23:02complicated by gastric cancer.
23:04My legs went weak.
23:05He had always suffered
23:06from a bad stomach.
23:07Back when we were together,
23:08I would simmer
23:09nourishing soup for him
23:10every week
23:11and remind him
23:12to take his medicine on time.
23:14All these years alone,
23:15he had clearly
23:16neglected himself completely.
23:18He had no friends in London,
23:19so my husband and I
23:20took charge
23:21of his funeral arrangements
23:22and notified his family.
23:23While sorting through
23:24his belongings,
23:25I found a diary
23:26meant for me.
23:27Its pages were filled
23:28from cover to cover
23:29with his thoughts
23:30and feelings
23:31during his years
23:32searching the world for me.
23:33He wrote,
23:34What rose left me
23:35was never just
23:36a fleeting romance.
23:38She is the most beautiful
23:39white rose in my life.
23:41It will never fade away.
23:43After our reunion,
23:44I kept telling myself,
23:46she lives a happy life now
23:47and I must not disturb her.
23:49Yet the urge
23:50gnaws at me relentlessly.
23:52When I saw the man
23:53she calls her husband,
23:54rage welled up inside me
23:55and I even harbor
23:57a murderer's thoughts.
23:58But I held back.
23:59I knew it would break
24:00my darling's heart.
24:01My days are numbered.
24:02This cafe,
24:03where we met again,
24:05shall be my final
24:06resting place.
24:07Buying this shop
24:07and passing away here
24:09is the best ending
24:10I could ask for.
24:11Eighteen days
24:12since we parted,
24:13my longing for her
24:14grows stronger still.
24:16I ache to hold her
24:17in my arms,
24:18yet I dare not.
24:19Thirty days have passed.
24:20My body is failing me,
24:22but I feel at peace.
24:23I will draw my last breath
24:25in a place linked
24:26to my darling.
24:27I will never
24:28let her down again.
24:29I found this ring
24:30in the rain.
24:31If you are still in London
24:32when I am gone,
24:33please take it.
24:34My love,
24:35my soul will linger
24:36within this ring
24:37and watch over you always.
24:39The diary ended there.
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