551: [Bonus chapter]It's sad

[Bonus chapter]It's sad

[PRESENT TIME]2

Heaven had always known Ivy was different than her first impression. At first glance, Ivy was already intimidating. But if one knew Ivy's achievements and who she was, they would surely revere her with high regard. However, if one got too close like Heaven had, then they would know Ivy was very simple. 

This, though, exceeded Heaven's expectation of Ivy's simplicity. 

"You fell in love with him because he rushed you to the hospital?" Heaven asked, just to make sure she wasn't hearing things wrong. 

"No, not because of that." Ivy defended.

"Then, if not that, what?"

"He took care of me."

"???"

"Mr. Zhang is already busy as he was and during those times, I wasn't really on good terms with the Wei family. That is why I want to prove to them I can do it on my own," she explained quietly, sensing this slight shame at the look dominating Heaven's face. "He's the only person who was there for me. He'd bring me food and sometimes, he would nod off in the ward while I ate."

Her lips pressed as she cast her eyes down, smiling subtly at the thought. "Sometimes, he would stay longer. And during those times, chatting with him is inevitable. I fell for him because he's kind and caring, and he's funny too. It's not an instant thing, but a gradual one."

"..." Heaven opened and closed her mouth, but her voice wouldn't come out of her throat. How should she start?

From what she heard, Ivy just slowly fell in love with Dane. Dane's kindness during those hard times for her opened up a path to her heart. But her constant interaction with him solidified those small feelings in her heart. 

"I tried to suppress them, though." Ivy hummed, leaning her back against the bench. "I mean, when I had to manage our international branch, I confessed my feelings for him. He rejected me, as expected. However, I told him that if I return and I still have these feelings for him, then I'd pursue him."

She cocked her head back, eyes falling on Heaven. "Obviously, when I saw him the first time when I returned to the country, I knew for sure my feelings for him were the same. So, there's that."

"Weren't you loved before?" Heaven blurted out, making Ivy's brows elevate. "How can you fall so hard on someone who only showed you kindness?"

"I know, right?" Ivy let out a short chuckle, peeling her gaze from her friend to the vast greenery ahead. "Sometimes I also admit I shouldn't like Mr. Zhang this deeply. But I just don't understand myself. I like him even when it's just me who is in love. My feelings for him contradict the character I have and what I know about myself. It's not like it's a big issue, though. For me, as long as I give my all, then I don't have any regrets."

She pressed her lips while the corner of her mouth curled up. "That's right. I don't want to live in regrets and reach a point where I wonder, what if I tried hard?"

Heaven glanced at her friend and sighed. She already knew Ivy was in love, but now, there was no shadow of a doubt, that Ivy was more in love than she thought she was. 

"I want to judge you and call you a simpleton," she murmured, looking away from Ivy. "But at the same time, I don't have the heart to do that. My only wish at this second is that you hit your head and realize you should stop. Now, I sort of understand Mr. Zhang's reason for rejecting you."

"Hmm?" Ivy turned her attention back to Heaven, brows furrowed. 

"I'm sorry to say this, but if I were Mr. Zhang, I'd assume what you're feeling isn't love. More like a recreation of a childhood trauma." Heaven shrugged indifferently. "I'm not saying you were abused as a kid, but people tend to reflect our childhood experience in relationships."

She looked back at Ivy squarely and sighed. "This is just my opinion, and you can agree or disagree with me. But from what I see it, you didn't like Mr. Zhang. What you liked was the thought of someone taking care of you, regardless of their own problems and situations. You liked the idea of being prioritized, the attention, the intimacy you subconsciously crave."

"Everyone wants to be prioritized, to be given attention, and for intimacy. But it should be done out of love, not out of pity, Ivy," she continued, offering Ivy a smile. "I think you did your best and should reconsider. Holding on to someone who isn't willing to give those to you, you might unknowingly close the doors for those who could show you the true love you deserve."

"..." 

"Trust me. I'm not an expert, but for me, love can only be truly understood once it's reciprocated." Heaven's smile stretched wider, appreciating her husband more while spewing all those things. "It's not bad to love, but you should also know when to let go. Dane Zhang isn't the last man on earth, but well, as your friend, I'd still support you if you still have some tricks up your sleeve."

She shrugged. "But once you finish all those tricks and Dane still hasn't responded, I'm going to bite his ear off."

"Haha." Ivy chuckled, keeping her attention to her friend. "Thanks, Heaven. I appreciate your honesty."

"Well, I'm your friend. What do you expect?"

"I'm trying." Ivy slowly looked away from her, eyes softening as she gazed ahead. "Give me some time to prepare my heart. I'm close to giving up, anyway. It's tiring being trapped in this one-sided love that made me wonder how nice would it be to have someone like me in my life."

She smiled, but there was a trace of sadness flickering in her eyes. "Though giving up also meant allowing my heart to fall apart after keeping it together for years. It's sad."

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