Eight Years a Substitute, Eight Boyfriends in Return

My boyfriend Robertson has an annual salary of $500,000. He said once he saved up $200,000, he'd marry me.

But I waited from age 25 to 33, and he still hadn't saved enough.

The first year, he said he'd just started working and expenses were high, so he couldn't save any money.

The second year, he said he needed to buy a new car, so he had no money to marry me.

All the way to the eighth year, he got completely drunk at a class reunion and asked me to pick him up.

At the door, I heard a burst of mocking laughter.

"If Elliot wanted to get married, forget $200,000even if it was two million, Robertson would cough it up, right?"

"Obviously! If Elliot hadn't gone abroad back then, where would Elia even fit in? Forget $200,000I bet if Robertson just played the victim card, she'd even pay him to marry her!"

Robertson's hoarse voice leaked through the crack in the door.

"Stop it. Elia's been with me for eight years after all. I will marry her eventually."

"It's just that I've already worn her out completely. She's not worth $200,000. At most, she's worth one day of my salarytwo thousand bucks."

With red-rimmed eyes, I called my mother, a top-tier matchmaker.

"Mom, that handsome billionaire you mentionedI'd like to meet him."

Someone teased, "Two thousand? Robertson really knows his stuffthat's exactly what the top girl at a nightclub charges for one night."

This remark triggered a wave of laughter.

"If you ask me, even two thousand is overpaying. A woman in her thirtieshow could she be worth the same price as a young, pretty girl?"

"It's only because Robertson is kind-hearted that he's willing to marry her at all."

The mockery inside the door continued.

"What's said tonight, don't let Elia..."

Behind me, I seemed to hear Robertson's slurred reprimand, but I couldn't process a single word. I covered my face and hurried away from the bar.

When I reached the entrance, an overwhelming wave of nausea surged up. I dry-heaved over a trash can.

Yet my mind masochistically replayed those overheard words again and again.

I couldn't believe that the person I'd loved for eight years had only ever seen me as a cheap substitute.

The night wind stung my eyes red. I couldn't remember how I hailed a cab or how I got into it.

A distinctive ringtone jolted me awake. I fumbled for my phone.

A new message popped up in my pinned chat.

"Babe, where are you? I feel terrible. Come pick me up."

Robertson was the picture of a rational elite in public, but in private with me, he'd act all clingy.

I used to fall for that act completely. Now I just stared blankly, thinking

It seems Robertson really does love her. Even for me, his first love's substitute, he's willing to invest so much effort into performing.

I didn't reply. Instead, I made a phone call.

Soon, a familiar voice answered irritably.

"Why are you suddenly calling me?"

The emotions I'd been suppressing for so long suddenly collapsed in the face of my closest person.

"Mom, you were right. Robertson never intended to marry me..."

"That guy you wanted to set me up withI'll meet him."

Before, when Robertson kept stalling on the wedding money, I hated nothing more than my mom's nagging about marriage.

Now, I desperately craved a new relationship to numb the pain of this one.

"You've finally come to your senses! Don't worryI'm a top matchmaker. This one's a rare catch. Robertson and all the rest can go to hell."

"But are you sure you've let go?"

I smiled faintly.

"Mom, you know I'm the most stubborn person alive. When I decided on Robertson, I could wait eight years for a promise. But once I've made up my mind to leave, I won't hesitate for a second."

Some walls only need to be hit once.

I hung up the phone and wiped away my tears.

When I got out of the car, aside from slightly red eyes, there wasn't a trace of vulnerability on my face.

In the early morning hours, half-asleep, a body carrying the faint scent of tequila wrapped around me.

The man mumbled pitifully, "I stood outside in the wind for so long. Why didn't you come pick me up?"

It was as if everything I'd heard last night was just a hallucination, and Robertson and I were still an ordinary, happy couple.

Until Robertson buried his head against my neck and murmured vaguely, "Elliot, you've finally come back..."

I shoved him away awkwardly and fled to the guest bedroom.

How pathetic you are, Elia, to be swayed by a little false tenderness.

I stared at my reflection in the mirrormy face that resembled Elliot'sand pinched my palm until it turned red.

The next morning, Robertson came out of the kitchen wearing an apron, carrying a plate of heart-shaped fried eggs.

When he saw me, the corner of his mouth curved upward.

"Elia, come have breakfast!"

On the bathroom counter sat a pair of couple's toothbrushesblue for me, pink for Robertsonnestled intimately together.

I remembered when I handed Robertson the pink toothbrush. He'd scowled but obediently accepted it anyway.

Eight years of affection carried too much weight. Little sweet reminders like this were scattered everywhere in this house.

I splashed water on my face and collected myself.

Sitting down at the table, I slowly stabbed the heart-shaped eggs on my plate into pieces.

"Robertson, let's break up."

The plate and fork collided with a harsh sound.

The smile on Robertson's face vanished instantly.

"Elia, that's not a funny joke."

I looked at him seriously and said it again.

Robertson, who'd never frowned even when facing the toughest cases, showed rare emotional leakage.

"You've been acting strange since yesterday. You didn't pick me up. You didn't wait for me to come home."

Robertson's superior features darkened with anger. His hand, veins bulging, gripped my shoulder tightly.

"Elia, what exactly are you trying to pull?"

I didn't want to admit I'd heard what he said yesterday. Those mocking words humiliated me.

I shook off Robertson's hand and went straight to the bedroom to grab the luggage I'd packed the night before.

"Robertson, I've waited for you for eight years. I don't want to wait anymore. It's that simple. Let's break up."

Robertson's pitch-black eyes stared at me unblinkingly. He laughed mockingly.

"Oh, I get it. You're upset because I don't have money?"

"You're practically menopausal, and you're still playing hard to get? Isn't it a bit late for that? Too badI'm not falling for it."

My heart stabbed with pain. He knew I was most sensitive about my age.

I didn't want to say another word. I shouldered my luggage and headed for the door.

"Elia, within a week, you'll come crawling back to me like a dog begging to get back together."

I closed the door, locking Robertson's confident voice inside.

Downstairs, I casually tossed my key into the trash can.

I wasn't some naive Natasha experiencing love for the first time. Since I'd decided to leave, I wouldn't give myself the chance to turn back and humiliate myself again.

Sitting in the car heading to the law firm, my mom's message arrived right on time.

"You actually know that blind dateUncle Stephen's youngest son, Nicholas. He's a young entrepreneur. Want to set up a time to meet?"

"Sure. I'll go meet him after work."

When I arrived at the firm, I submitted my prepared resignation letter.

My boss looked somewhat surprised.

"Elia, you're very capable. Why resign?"

I really liked the atmosphere at this firm, but unfortunately Robertson was a partner. I didn't want any further entanglement with him.

I smiled faintly without directly answering.

"Personal reasons. Before the resignation process is complete, please don't announce my departure."

When I left the office, there were cupcakes I loved on my desk, along with a cup of hot milk.

My colleague Natasha teased with a smile, "Attorney Robertson brought them. He said you didn't eat much breakfast."

Years ago I'd worked too hard and developed stomach problems. Robertson always remembered.

Worried that takeout wasn't clean, he'd personally cook three meals a day whenever he had time.

Nutritious and tasty, he'd spoiled my stomach until it became finicky.

A commotion pulled me from my memories.

"Everyone, quiet down. Let me introduce our new colleagueElliot. She just returned from abroad, an elite talent officially joining our firm today..."

Applause rang out enthusiastically, but I just stared blankly as Elliot intimately linked arms with Robertson, the two of them smiling at each other.

"What a handsome couple. They're so well-matched."

"I heard Attorney Robertson personally requested that Elliot be his assistant."

"You guys don't knowElliot is Attorney Robertson's first love. Attorney Robertson stayed single all these years because of her."

Natasha heard these comments and glanced at me awkwardly.

Using his career as an excuse, Robertson had never made our relationship public. Only Natasha in the entire company knew.

I handed her my breakfast and said flatly, "Want it?"

After receiving a negative answer, I threw the breakfast into the trash.

I felt in my pocketonly a half-melted chocolate remained.

Robertson had prepared this in case my blood sugar dropped.

I casually tossed it away and went downstairs to buy different breakfast.

While waiting for the elevator, Robertson pulled me into a deserted area.

He snatched the bread from my hand, frowning slightly.

"You have stomach problemsyou can't eat things that are hard and cold."

"Stop throwing a tantrum. I'll go buy you something else."

Before I could say "no need," Elliot walked over.

"Robertson!"

Robertson instinctively pushed me away, explaining to Elliot as if to avoid suspicion.

"Just an ordinary colleague. Not close..."

Watching the two of them walk away, I silently picked up the bread that had fallen on the floor. My long-dormant stomach condition came back with a vengeance.

I curled up against the wall, hurting so much tears came out, but this time there was no one to warm my stomach for me.

Gently brushing the dust off the wrapper, I ate the entire breakfast mixed with tears, one bite at a time.

By the time work ended, Robertson and Elliot still hadn't returned.

Colleagues teased with smiles, "Looks like we'll have good news from the firm soon."

When I heard these words this morning, my heart still ached.

Now, only a numb, dull pain remained.

I finished my handover work and said goodbye to Natasha.

She looked at me reluctantly.

"Elia, don't be sad. Robertson doesn't deserve you!"

I smiled and sent her a copy of my client list.

"Hope you become a top attorney soon!"

While waiting for the elevator, Elliot posted an ambiguous update on Twitter. Someone in the firm's gossip group shared it, and the long-dormant chat instantly exploded.

I didn't look closely because my blind date had already arrived downstairs.

I left the group and deleted Robertson's Twitter.

I walked toward the man holding flowers by the coffee shop.

"Hello, I'm Elia."

We were both in our thirties. Nicholas and I were going on this blind date with marriage in mind.

Compatible conditions, good conversation, and both sets of parents knew each other well.

After one date, just as Nicholas and I were about to make our relationship official, Robertson suddenly called. His voice carried the haze of alcohol and a fragile quality.

"Elia, I feel awful. Can you please come get me?"

Hearing that long-lost form of address, I momentarily spaced out.

Robertson was five years younger than me. When we first met, he was still quite shy.

"Elia, how do I revise this document?"

"Elia, you're amazingyou can win such difficult cases!"

"Elia, will you be my girlfriend?"

Seeing Nicholas's concerned expression, I snapped back to reality and coldly refused.

"No. I'm not available."

Robertson's voice sounded very weak.

"Don't hang up. I'm at HAPPY bar, locked in a really cold, dark place. My phone's dying. Only you can save me, Elia..."

"Bang"

The sound of something heavy hitting the floor. The call disconnected.

"Robertson!"

I gripped my phone tightly, but there was no further response.

Robertson had severe claustrophobia. Phone dead, no one around.

If I really was the only person Robertson could contact, if something really happened to him because of me...

I grabbed my bag and apologized to Nicholas.

"It's so latelet me drive you. I have a car. Your friend will be fine."

Nicholas showed no annoyance at being stood up. Instead, he gently comforted me.

In the car, I clutched my phone, afraid of missing Robertson's call for help.

There wasn't much traffic at night. We quickly arrived at HAPPY bar.

The moment the car stopped, I anxiously jumped out.

I called Robertson countless times. No one answered.

My heart sank to the bottom. I was just about to call the police when I heard a familiar voice from a private room.

"Robertson, will Elia really come?"

"Don't worry, Elliot. Elia is Robertson's most obedient dogguaranteed to come whenever called!"

I pushed open the door. The laughter and noise cut off abruptly.

When Robertson saw me, he smirked triumphantly.

"I knew you couldn't let me go!"

He waved the game card in front of him.

"Don't worryElliot just lost at Truth or Dare. I helped her call someone, and I didn't expect you'd actually be that free."

The worry from making countless unanswered calls, the heels of my feet rubbed raw from running frantically in high heelsall for one sentence: "I didn't expect you'd actually be that free."

Elliot covered her mouth and giggled.

"Sorry, I've been in a bad mood lately. Robertson wanted to cheer me up. Don't take it personally, Elia. You really do have a talent for making people laugh."

She leaned intimately on Robertson's shoulder.

"Thanks for coming on call like thatjust like a nanny. If you're willing, I can pay you market rate."

A wave of knowing laughter rippled through the room.

Robertson frowned slightly.

"She's not"

I cut off his words, lifted my head, and smiled at Elliot.

"Sure. A nanny's market rate is $6,000 a month. Eight years comes to $576,000 total. Transfer it to me."

Elliot's smile froze. Tears squeezed from her eyes.

The people who'd been jeering moments ago awkwardly shut their mouths.

Robertson pulled Elliot behind him protectively, his face iron-dark.

"Why are you making things difficult for Elliot over this little bit of money?"

He pulled out his phone and operated it a few times.

"Ding"

The money arrived. The notification that my resignation had been approved was also somehow already sitting in my inbox.

I laughed mockingly at myself. He'd rather pay out $500,000 to bail Elliot out than spend $200,000 on wedding money for me.

"Thank you, Attorney Robertson. I wish you both a happy marriage."

I hadn't walked far when Robertson chased after me.

"Elliot and I are innocent. Stop making a scene. Consider that $500,000 your wedding money. I'll get our marriage license with you tomorrow, okay?"

I dodged his hand and pointed at Nicholas waiting for me at the entrance.

"Attorney Robertson, please keep your distance. My boyfriend is right there."