Five Years Later, Fate Arrives

In my fifth year driving nights for a ride-hail service, I finally saved enough for a home down payment with my boyfriend.

Near dawn after my last fare, a young woman got in and immediately burst into tears.

Dont go home. Just drive anywhere.

She then sent me twenty thousand dollars on Venmo.

Sorry if I scared you. I just feel pathetic. Consider it payment for some peace and quiet. Just drive.

Staring at the screen, my eyes burned. I nodded. With this money, Nathan wouldnt have to work himself to death or live on plain noodles anymore.

From the back seat, she sobbed, Three years together, and hes always been perfect. But I found a note in his phone. He bought a river-view penthouse under a strangers name. When I asked, he dodged. Is he hiding another woman?

My heart clenched, but before I could speak, her phone rang.

A mans gentle voice answered, Baby, stop the tantrum. Its under my assistants name, decorated in French style for your proposal surprise next month. Didnt expect you to find out early. Its snowing; send your location, Im coming.

I slammed the brakes. Ice flooded my veins.

The voice belonged to my boyfriend of seven years. Half an hour ago, hed texted:

[Something came up at work. Dont wait up.]

After the call ended, the girl in the back seat clearly calmed down.

She pulled out two tissues, wiped her tears, sniffled, and her voice already carried the spoiled softness of someone used to being cherished.

I really made a fool of myself just now.

Hes always like this. Hes obviously preparing a surprise, but he refuses to say a word and scares me half to death.

My hands were slick with sweat around the steering wheel.

I could not have mistaken that voice.

Seven years.

Even if Nathan only said a few words, I would know him instantly.

And just thirty minutes earlier, he had told me a project had suddenly gone wrong and that he had to stay at the office all night.

I had even worried he would ruin his health from overworking and replied:

[Dont keep eating instant noodles. Ill bring you porridge tomorrow.]

Thinking about it now, I felt like a joke.

The girl in the back seat lowered her head and played with her phone, continuing on her own.

Ive felt like something was off with him lately. He wouldnt let me see his phone, and he was acting all mysterious. I really thought he was keeping someone on the side.

She laughed at herself.

Thank God it was a misunderstanding. Otherwise, Id go insane.

My throat tightened. After a long while, I forced out a soft, Mm.

As if making casual conversation, she suddenly asked, Driver, are you still out this late to support your family?

I stared at the road ahead and said quietly, Im saving for my wedding.

She paused, then her tone gained a trace of unconscious superiority.

Your boyfriend is way too relaxed about you. He actually lets you drive alone this late?

If I go out at night by myself, mine gets so nervous. Like tonight, I ran out on my own and he almost blew up my phone. Theres no way hed let me work outside this late.

The more she spoke, the stiffer my hands became.

For five years, I worked at a bakery during the day and drove at night.

At my busiest, I slept only three or four hours a day.

I took orders during storms. I drove through snow. I was harassed by drunk passengers, reported unfairly, and cheated out of fares.

Once, at two in the morning, after my last ride, two drunk men followed me down an alley.

I was terrified and called Nathan. He only said, Call the police first. Be careful. I cant leave right now.

Another time, I fell off my e-bike rushing to an order. My knee was covered in blood.

I sent him a photo, and he replied, Go to a pharmacy and clean it up. Dont make me worry.

Back then, I still made excuses for him.

He was busy. He couldnt get away. That was normal.

I even felt bad for him. Men had pressure too. I shouldnt trouble him with everything.

So I worked harder, took more orders, earned more money, and poured most of my income into our life.

Rent, utilities, the expenses he said were caused by tight cash flow on the project. If I could help, I helped.

I always thought we were enduring hardship together.

It turned out I was the only one enduring it.

The car was quiet for a while.

Then the girl in the back seat smiled, sounding much lighter.

But he really is good to me.

Hes busy with work, sure. But when it comes to me, Im always his first priority.

I said nothing.

Before long, a black luxury car stopped by the road.

The girls eyes lit up. She immediately opened the door, ran over, and threw herself into the mans arms.

The man caught her, then wrapped her inside his coat, lowering his head to tuck her scarf properly around her neck.

His movements were natural. Familiar.

As if he had done it countless times.

Through the rearview mirror, I saw him clearly.

That face belonged to Nathan.

I had been with him for seven years. We lived in the cheapest shared apartment, ate the cheapest takeout, and only went to the movies on discount days.

But I had never seen him wear a coat that expensive. I had never seen him drive a car like that.

He always said he was just starting out.

Always said the project was tight.

Always said, Someday.

But now, under the streetlamp, he held another woman, shielded her from the wind, opened the car door for her, and even his eyes looked softer than they had ever looked at me.

That was the kind of preference I had waited seven years for and never received.

Before Olivia Hart got into the car, she came back and tapped on my window.

I rolled it down. She smiled and waved her phone.

Thanks for tonight. I was in a bad mood and made you drive around for so long. Take this as a thank-you.

The payment notification rang a second later.

It was a huge amount.

Her mood had clearly improved. Even her voice sounded light.

Oh, by the way, that apartment is almost done. Once we officially move in, Im definitely replacing the whole floor-to-ceiling window wall with the style I like. At night, with warm lights on and the river view outside, itll be so cozy.

My head buzzed.

Because just last week, Nathan had leaned against my old sofa and told me, When we can finally afford a place, it has to have a river view, floor-to-ceiling windows, and warm lights you like.

At the time, I had leaned against him and seriously imagined that future.

So it was never our future.

Olivia waved goodbye with a smile and got into the car.

When Nathan closed the door for her, he finally looked up at me.

The moment our eyes met, brief shock flashed through his gaze.

But the next second, he acted as if he didnt know me. Calmly, he walked around to the drivers side, got in, and drove away.

My phone lit up soon after.

A message from Nathan.

[Dont make a scene.]

[And dont show up in front of her.]

[Well talk about this later.]

I stared at those three lines and felt cold all over.

After I caught everything, his first reaction was not to explain. Not to feel guilty.

It was to tell me not to make a scene. Not to frighten another woman.

I was just about to start the car and leave when someone knocked on my window again.

I looked up.

Nathan had come back.

He opened the passenger door and got in without asking.

The first thing he said after sitting down was not an explanation.

He looked at me, frowning.

Why did you get this ride tonight?

My heart sank all the way down.

I had thought that at a moment like this, he would at least feel guilty for a second. Maybe say sorry.

But reality was that he cared more about whether the situation had slipped out of his control.

I looked at him, my voice hoarse.

Thats what youre asking me?

Im asking you, he said in a low voice. How did you get her ride?

I laughed.

The app assigned it. Was I supposed to get your approval first?

Nathan, how long have you been lying to me?

He was silent for a few seconds, as if calculating.

Then he finally stopped pretending.

Ava, there are things I didnt plan to let you know this early.

So its all true. I stared at him. The apartment is real. The car is real. That woman is real.

Yes.

He answered cleanly.

That single yes shattered the last bit of hope I had left.

You stopped being the ordinary office worker I thought you were a long time ago, didnt you?

He leaned back in the seat, face unreadable.

Several years ago. I used the Hart familys resources to enter a new circle. My projects changed. My life changed.

My eyes reddened.

If you stopped planning a future with me that long ago, why drag me along? Why watch me save every dollar for a down payment?

He lowered his eyes, his tone calm.

I didnt plan for things to become like this.

What does that mean?

Youve always been stable. Easy. He said, You dont cause trouble, and you dont force me to make decisions. I just hadnt figured out how to deal with it yet.

I stared at him as if I hadnt understood.

Deal with me?

He looked at me and added one more sentence.

Anyway, youve always been willing to wait.

Willing to wait.

Those words pierced right through me.

So all the delays, all the neglect, all the promises had never been because he couldnt bear to let me go.

It was because I was too easy to fool.

Then what am I? I asked.

Nathan was silent for a moment, then answered directly.

At this point in my life, I cant give up everything in front of me. Olivia can give me resources, status, and respectability. You cant.

So the answer was decided long ago.

I stared at him, trembling all over.

What about our seven years?

He looked ahead, his voice faint.

Love has never been the only standard for making decisions.

When he said that, I suddenly understood.

In his heart, those seven years were worthless.

All my companionship, my patience, the hard days I survived, all of it was just an unpresentable past to him.

And he hadnt returned to my car to apologize.

He came to clean up the mess.

Sure enough, he spoke again the next second.

Ava, I wont mistreat you.

I can give you money. I can arrange another place for you to live. You wont have to work this hard anymore. You can do whatever you want.

Then he turned to look at me.

The condition is that you behave. Dont make trouble in front of Olivia.

Listening to him, I suddenly laughed.

So he wanted to buy off my seven years with money.

I raised my hand and slapped him hard.

The sound cracked through the car.

His face turned to the side. A few seconds later, he looked back at me, his expression fully darkened.

Calm down.

Calm down? I stared at him. Nathan, you lied to me for seven years, and now you want me to calm down?

He suppressed his anger.

Making this bigger helps no one. Online or in real life, nobody will stand with you.

I reached for my phone, wanting to record what he was saying.

Nathan noticed and snatched it from my hand, slamming it hard against the car.

The screen cracked.

Something inside me sank with it.

I asked him, Does Olivia know about me?

His eyes flickered. Then he only said, She doesnt need to.

I shoved open the car door and got out.

Nathan followed and grabbed me.

Where are you going?

Let go of me!

During the struggle, everything in my bag spilled into the snow.

My savings book.

Receipts.

Account ledgers.

Utility bills.

Densely written across them was every dollar I had saved over five years.

Nathan looked down and saw them. For a moment, his face finally paused.

But just then, his phone rang.

The screen flashed Olivia.

Without hesitation, he let go of me and turned to answer.

Im here.

Its okay. Ill be right back.

Its cold outside. Get in the car first.

His back was to me. His voice was gentle and patient.

He sounded like a different person from the cold, calculating man who had just tried to pay me off.

Standing in the snow, I suddenly couldnt cry at all.

I crouched and picked up the receipts one by one, the paper already wet from the snow.

Not long after, someone in the driver group chat posted a link.

The title read:

Late-night female driver harasses wealthy boyfriend, loses control emotionally.

I opened it, and my face went pale inch by inch.

In the video, there was only footage of me rushing toward Nathan, grabbing him, breaking down and questioning him.

All the parts where he admitted lying, told me not to make a scene, and tried to pay me off had been cut.

The secretly filmed clip spread fast.

By the time I returned to my rental room, my phone had not stopped buzzing.

People were talking in the driver group chat. Private messages kept coming. Unknown numbers kept calling.

Just the few lines showing in my notification bar were already filthy enough.

[Are designated drivers all this messy?]

[She doesnt look like a decent woman.]

[Failed at climbing the social ladder, huh?]

Before long, Olivia posted an update too.

The picture was a photo of her and Nathan together. The caption was short.

[Sometimes kindness only teaches people to push further.]

She didnt name me.

But everyone knew who she meant.

Olivia already had plenty of followers, and soon the public opinion turned completely against me.

My driver account was exposed. My ride history was dug up. Even the bakery where I worked during the day was identified.

More and more hatred surged toward me.

I called Nathan.

Once. Twice. Three times.

He never picked up.

I sent him messages.

[Come out and tell the truth.]

[Tell them you lied to me.]

After a long time, he finally replied.

[Endure it for now. Dont escalate the conflict.]

That was all.

Looking at those words, I gave up completely.

He would not clarify anything for me.

He would only let me bear it all, so another womans dignity could remain intact.

At that exact moment, my mother called.

Her voice was shaking as soon as she spoke.

Ava, what is going on online? Are you someones mistress?

No! I shot to my feet. Mom, Im not. Im the one who was lied to.

But she couldnt listen. She only cried and said, Your father saw those things and got so angry his chest hurt. Hes been taken to the hospital!

My mind went blank.

When I rushed to the hospital, Dad was already lying in a bed. The doctor said his emotions had fluctuated too violently and his heart couldnt take it.

I had just reached the door when Mom turned, saw me, and slapped me across the face.

Your fathers health was already bad. How could you cause something like this?

We cared about our reputation our whole lives. I never thought wed grow old and still be pointed at because of you.

Holding my face, I burst into tears.

All these years, I had been afraid they would worry, so I never dared tell them how hard my life really was.

They complained that I had dated so many years without marrying, but behind my back, they still lived frugally and secretly gave me money.

They were afraid I would suffer outside.

But in the end, what I brought them was this kind of humiliation.

I was about to explain when hurried footsteps came from the end of the corridor.

Nathan had arrived.

After entering, he didnt look at my father in the hospital bed.

He grabbed me and dragged me out of the room.

In the corridor, he lowered his voice and demanded, Why do you have to make this bigger?

I stared at him, finding it absurd.

Even now, all he cared about was the impact.

I made this bigger? I sneered. Wasnt the secret video posted by someone on your side? Didnt Olivias post confirm everything against me? My dad is lying in there now, and youre asking me why I made this bigger?

Nathan frowned.

Olivia is in a terrible state because of last night. If you keep provoking her, things will only get worse.

Shes in a terrible state? I asked. Then what is my dad?

His face darkened little by little.

The Hart family has many partnerships with this hospital. Your fathers follow-up specialists, medication channels, hospitalization arrangements, none of that is something you can solve just because you want to.

Ava, dont be stubborn. If you insist on fighting head-on now, your family will be the ones who suffer.

My whole body stiffened.

At that moment, my mother also came out of the room.

She had clearly heard the latter half. Her face turned pale. She grabbed my hand, her voice trembling.

Ava, dont be stubborn save your father first

At that moment, the last thing holding me upright was torn open.

With red eyes, I looked at Nathan.

What exactly do you want me to do?

He said only one sentence.

Apologize.

I thought he meant privately.

Only when I was taken there did I realize I had still thought too well of them.

It wasnt a hospital room. It wasnt an ordinary lounge.

It was a rest hall temporarily arranged like an interview set.

Lights, cameras, livestream equipment. Everything had been prepared in advance.

Olivia sat in the center. The moment she saw me, her eyes reddened.

Miss Reed, why do you have to do this?

Nathan and I have been together for three years. Our relationship has always been stable. You knew we were about to get engaged, so why did you deliberately cause trouble in front of me?

The moment she opened her mouth, she placed herself in the role of victim.

People around her immediately chimed in.

Look what shes done to Olivia.

She ruined a perfectly good relationship.

Some people will do anything to climb up.

Every camera pointed at me.

I turned to look at Nathan.

He stood to the side and did not stop them.

His silence was consent.

I asked him, Are you really going this far?

He avoided my eyes and said only, Your father is still waiting for results at the hospital.

I looked at him and suddenly felt that for seven years, I had loved a stranger I had never truly known.

My throat was blocked so badly it hurt, but I still forced my mouth open.

I crossed the line.

I harassed him.

I tried to destroy your relationship.

Every word felt like peeling my own skin off.

Even so, Olivia was still not satisfied.

She clutched her chest and said softly, Now, whenever I see her standing, I think of last night.

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

Then Nathan spoke.

Kneel.

For a second, I thought I had misheard.

I raised my head and looked at him, my mind completely blank.

His voice grew colder.

Ava Reed. Dont make me say it again.

I slowly clenched my hands.

In the end, I knelt.

The sound of my knees hitting the tile was loud.

It felt like my last scrap of dignity shattering.

The cameras instantly turned fully toward me.

Olivia looked down at me, finally showing a hint of satisfaction, but she still refused to stop.

Bow your head to the floor.

I lowered my head.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

My forehead struck the floor hard. Soon the skin split, and blood ran down my brow.

Only when Olivia finally said, Thats enough, did Nathan have the cameras removed.

But just then, my phone suddenly vibrated wildly.

It was the hospital.

Miss Reed, your fathers condition is critical. Please come quickly.

My head roared. I ran out like I had gone mad.

When I stumbled back to the hospital, the hallway outside the room was already chaos.

My mother sat collapsed on the floor, crying so hard she was nearly fainting.

On the bed, my fathers face had been covered with a white sheet.

I rushed over and lifted the sheet.

When I saw his gray, cold face, my mouth opened, but no sound came out.

A nurse hurriedly explained, During the resuscitation, the doctor on duty was temporarily transferred. The new doctor was delayed getting here.

I jerked my head up.

The next second, my mother collapsed too.

Family member down!

Quick, get her into emergency!

The corridor filled with footsteps and crying.

I knelt beside my fathers body and watched my mother get wheeled into emergency. It felt as if everything inside me had been hollowed out.

And in the middle of that chaos, I saw someone standing not far away.