The View After the Rain

Fifth year of long-distance with Adrian Chase.

My phone always kept the weather updated for two cities. The forecast showed a massive blizzard hitting Sterling City tomorrow. The last time we parted at the station, hed cried, promising me, Elara, when the first snow falls in Sterling City this year, lets get married, okay?

So, I immediately bought a red-eye flight ticket, flying to Sterling City overnight. Clutching my ID documents, I was bubbling with excitement and anticipation, eager to seal our marriage.

Amidst the swirling snow, I spotted Adrian Chase, impeccably dressed in a suit, through the display window of a bridal boutique. Before I could even feel a surge of joy, a playful figure flung herself into his arms. Adrian wrapped an arm around the womans waist, gently kissing her lips.

You look so beautiful in that wedding dress, Chanel, truly my fiance.

I love you far more than I ever loved Elara Thorne.

My heart seized up. My ID documents slipped from my trembling fingers, clattering to the ground. My boyfriend of ten years had cheated on me with my best friend.

Feathery snowflakes drifted down, catching on my eyelashes. Having lived in the south for so many years, I had never seen such a heavy snowfall. But I had no mind to admire it, my eyes glued to Adrian and Chanel through the glass window. One was the love of my youth. The other, my best friend, with whom I shared everything. The sight of them passionately kissing was a shock too intense to bear.

Chanel, gasping, her face flushed, reluctantly pulled away from Adrians lips. She daintily lifted the hem of the wedding dress, twirling in front of the mirror. Adrians eyes were brimming with so much love it threatened to spill over.

Miss Hall, your fianc personally designed this wedding dress for you, its truly exquisite, the most beautiful one weve ever had in our shop.

Love certainly suits you. Your five-year romance is finally blossoming into marriage.

Chanel turned to Adrian, her eyes sparkling. Adrian, I absolutely adore the first snow gift you gave me!

They say those who witness the first snow together grow old together. So, please take care of me for the rest of our lives!

I heard every word, yet couldnt comprehend any of it. When did my boyfriend become my best friends fianc? What was this about a five-year romance, as the assistant had said? My mind was a chaotic mess, the neon lights in my vision blurring. The next second, Adrian curved his lips into a smile, then suddenly knelt on one knee before Chanel.

My gaze followed his movement, finally settling on the engagement ring nestled in the red velvet box.

Oh! Chanel gasped, her hands lightly covering her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. Adrian reverently held up the ring. Chanel, I love you, so very much. Will you marry me?

I want to grow old with you, never to be separated, on this day of the first snow.

The shop assistants cheered, capturing the touching proposal on their phones. As I watched Adrian carefully slide the ring onto Chanels ring finger, my heart felt as though it was being shredded by a thousand needles, a bloody mess. Hot tears streamed down my face, rolling into my mouth. Inside, they seemed to be living out a romantic, blissful fairy tale. My thousand-mile journey for a surprise had turned into a terrifying shock.

It turned out Adrians first-snow promise could also be for another woman. It turned out Chanel, who always seemed so kind to me, could shamelessly monopolize my boyfriend behind my back. My fingers dug hard into the wall. How I yearned to rush in and confront them, to strip them of all their dignity. But my legs felt like lead, unable to move forward.

Adrian embraced Chanel, asking the assistant lazily, Do you have other wedding dress styles here?

Yes, we can show you pictures and expedite the making.

No need to see them. Just pick two and send them to me.

Two minutes later, I received a message from Adrian. He sent me three pictures of wedding dresses.

Baby, feeling utterly drained from overtime, but looking at these wedding dress pictures and imagining you in them, I feel completely recharged.

Take a look, pick whichever one you like, and Ill take you to buy it later.

My tears, no longer held back, streamed down, hitting the snowdrifts and melting small holes. The contrast between love and indifference was so stark. Adrian had personally designed Chanels wedding dress, bringing her to the shop to try it on the day of the first snow. He had lied, claiming he was working late, but in reality, he was proposing to Chanel behind my back. Even the wedding dress pictures he sent me were just a casual selection from the assistant, meant to placate me. If he had bothered to look closely, he would have known that the designs had patterns and small details I disliked. But he chose to be perfunctory. If I hadnt seen it with my own eyes, the moment I received his message, I truly would have been moved to tears.

Inside the shop, Adrian knelt down, holding Chanels foot with one hand, gently rubbing her chafed heel with the other. She sighed, Adrian, when are you going to break up with Elara?

Do you think if she finds out about us, she and I wont be friends anymore?

Adrian paused. Soon. Next time I see her, Ill tell her were breaking up.

Mainly, my parents really like her. Ill just use her as a shield for a while. After all, her family did us a favor back then.

I couldnt bear to listen any longer, stumbling through the snow and running away in a daze. Like a ghost, I wandered aimlessly down the street. My gaze was drawn to a small coffee shop. Its name was Chanel & Adrians Love. My heart felt as though it had been struck by something heavy.

I pushed open the door. The assistant recommended a signature item. This is a coffee flavor created by our owner and her fianc; everyone loves it.

Their five-year story is as romantic as a novel. We even have a display wall in our shop! I followed the assistants gesture. The white wall was covered with intimate photos of Adrian and Chanel. Standing before the photo wall, reading the small captions, the color slowly drained from my face.

March 5th. I collapsed at my desk due to menstrual cramps. Colleagues took me to the hospital, and Adrian ordered white porridge for me via delivery. On that same day, he, who claimed to be away on a business trip, took Chanel to a wild concert.

April 17th, our anniversary. I bought a train ticket, preparing to come see him. He said, Baby, this project is too important; I cant get away. For our future little family, lets skip this anniversary, okay? So I canceled my ticket. In reality, that day he took Chanel to take beautiful couple photos.

April 29th. I found out I was pregnant. Helpless, I was both thrilled and anxious. I desperately wanted to see him. Adrian, were having a baby. Can you come here? His face was grim. Elara, we can have babies later. Now isnt the right time.

Lets work hard, earn more money, and then welcome a baby, okay? Seeing his tired face, I nodded. On the day of the procedure, I lay trembling in the hospital. His phone was unreachable. Later, he told me he was in an emergency meeting. Now, looking at the photos, I knew. Chanels hand had a slight red scratch from a stray cat. In the photo, Adrian was diligently applying medicine to her wound. He said, I wont let Chanel get hurt again. Chanels barely noticeable injury caused him immense distress, yet he left me, having miscarried, alone on the operating table.

I felt like I had never known this Adrian Chase. The Adrian in Sterling City, who, over the phone, told me, a thousand miles away, that his future plans always included me. The Adrian who, in every moment I needed him most, lied to me, shamelessly staying by Chanels side.

Seeing my tear-filled eyes, the assistant mistakenly thought I was moved by her bosses love story. Our boss came all the way from Aurora City to Sterling City to open this shop, just so she could see her beloved every day.

They just opened in January, and Mr. Chase has been coming to help every day, afraid our Director Hall would get tired. He even supervised her three meals a day, so gentle and thoughtful!

The coffee in my hand clattered to the floor. The sound of shattered hope and despair echoed in my mind.

In January, for an entire month, I felt like I was walking through an abyss. At that time, I had just resigned from my previous job and started at a new company. As a result, my interpersonal relationships were a mess. My boss constantly undermined me, and endless overtime drained all my energy. Colleagues relentlessly sabotaged me, almost driving me insane; I lost ten pounds in three days. I could only call Adrian late at night, sobbing hysterically.

In those moments, I yearned for him to be by my side, to give me a hug, a concrete word of comfort and support. But he told me hed been pulled into a huge project, and it would be at least two months before he could break away to see me. In the video, his eyes were red with concern; usually so strong, his voice caught when he called my name. Elara, if only we were together, I wouldnt have to watch you cry through a screen, unable to do anything but feel my heart tear.

Quit your job, come to Sterling City, Ill take care of you. With you here, I wont fear anything.

Tears streamed down my face. I pressed my phone to my chest, as if that would bring him closer. When I looked at him, I nodded and shook my head. No, I cant be a clinging vine, dependent on you.

Adrian, trust me, I can handle everything and establish myself in the new company!

He smiled, reassured, sending me kisses and hugs through the screen. I, Adrian Chase, unconditionally believe our great warrior Elara will surely impress everyone!

Distance was an issue, but we deeply loved each other. He called me punctually every day to make me laugh, sending me money to buy small gifts. I couldnt believe that during that hellish month, he was also busy renovating a coffee shop with Chanel. Striving for a future where they could see each other every day. Adrian, his love could actually be split into two.

Under the stunned gaze of the assistant, I walked out of the coffee shop. The next second, my mother called. Her voice on the other end was filled with excitement.

Darling, have you seen Adrian? Have you two gotten married yet? She knew I was planning to marry Adrian. In a moment of distraction, my foot slipped, and I landed squarely on the nearby steps. Sharp pain shot through my body, leaving me a messy heap. An overwhelming sense of grievance washed over me. I couldnt hold back anymore and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Mom, Adrian and I cant get married. He stopped loving me a long time ago.

He cheated on me. Five years. He lied to me for five whole years. Does he really have no heart?

My mother, hearing my breakdown, was anxious but helpless. She said, Darling, people change. Seventeen-year-old Adrian loved you genuinely and purely, but twenty-seven-year-old Adrian isnt the same man who once favored only you in the whole world.

Tears silently fell into the snow. In my first year of high school, I transferred to Adrians class. In the new semester, I struggled to keep up, my grades steadily dropping. I secretly cried over my report card. Adrian, my deskmate, wiped away my tears with a tissue. Dont cry. Ill tutor you; I promise your grades will soar! A semester later, I had made incredible progress. From being at the bottom, I, like him, consistently ranked among the top three in the class.

My reliance on him truly shifted when he witnessed my alcoholic father beating me. In that alley, he recklessly pulled my abusive father away, grabbing my wrist and running. The teenagers embrace was warm, his heart beating faster and faster in his chest. Elara Thorne, I will protect you. Trust me.

I clutched his school uniform tightly. Promise me, Adrian, dont lie to me.