In the living room, five-year-old Sophia ran to Andrew holding a newspaper, "Dad, your girlfriend is in the news again."
On the sofa, Andrew's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he remained silent. This period, his ex-girlfriend had found a way to constantly be a topic for discussion. Which didn't surprise him anymore.
Sophia's expression was somewhat off as she looked at the picture of the handsome man and the beautiful woman in the newspaper. If she didn't know any better, she would have believed they were a perfect match. But she wished she would come back to be with her father someday.
"Governor Alex of Texas will marry the heiress of William's Group." Sophia read out the headline then threw the newspaper at Andrew's face, "Dad, this time, your ex-girlfriend not only made a fool out of you but she had finally chosen your friend over you. Poor dad, it's so sad to see you like this. In one day, you were betrayed by two people you consider family. Wow! what should I address her as when we meet in social functions?"
"Shut up." Andrew coldly cut Sophia off, looking at the newspaper on the coffee table. His icy eyes seemed to pierce a hole through the newspaper. That damn woman, who disappeared for years has now reappeared as someone else's fiancée!
He turned back and looked at his daughter's lovely little face. His heart ached again. Back then, he hurt the woman he loved for Sophia. However, he didn't regret it—at least his woman was still alive...
The sound of a phone ringing broke the silence in the empty hall. Andrew picked up the phone.
'Andrew, aren't you coming back? Alex is getting married.' On the other end of the phone, James excited voice confirmed the news.
His friend was excited, but to Andrew, he sounded like he was plunged into an icy despair.
'Andrew, if you're still there, say something. I feel like I am talking to myself.' James displeased voice urgently came through the phone after a long silence.
After a moment, Andrew coldly uttered a word, "Understood." After hanging up, he grabbed his phone, stood up, and headed for the second floor.
Seeing the call had ended, James couldn't help but wonder what could have gone wrong? Weren't they the closest of friends? Now that one of them was getting married, Andrew's reaction was not what he had expected.
Remembering how withdrawn Andrew had been for the past few years, James couldn't help but wonder. Could it be that Andrew was dumped by a woman, and now he was upset seeing others in love and happy? To think that a man as perfect as Andrew would also be dumped by a woman!
On the second floor, Andrew opened a door. Over the years, every item in this room were personally arranged by him, allowing no one else in—not even Sophia. During his most vulnerable moments, he would retreat into this room, staring all night at the portrait of the woman on the wall. They were once lovers, but he had nothing to prove they were once together not even a picture. The portrait on the wall was a painting.
His hand gently caressed the woman's face from the painting. A pained voice sounded, "Vivian, what should I do with you?"
The focus in Andrew's eyes slowly faded as painful yet beautiful memories slowly came to mind...