Her boyfriend objected, âYou used to secretly pour it out before.
â
âThat was before.
Now I canât taste anything, so I obediently drink it.
It makes no difference to me how bitter it is,â the girl responded, her tone resolute.
Her boyfriend fell silent, his eyes briefly shadowed with sadness.
The girl playfully declared, âI win.
Honey, you lose.
â
The girlâs spirited demeanor captivated Nicole, who had never encountered someone so persistently positive before.
The couple engaged in a light-hearted conversation, seeming to Nicole like the happiest people on earth, untouched by adversity.
Their joy was contagious until Jarrod intervened.
âItâs our turn.
â
This snapped Nicole back to the reality of the situation.
The girl, still smiling, turned to Nicole and Jarrod.
âWish you a happy marriage.
â
Nicole felt a pang of sadness at this statement, having predicted what might unfold ahead of her and Jarrod.
But she kept her thoughts to herself, wishing the girl could retain her blissful ignorance forever.
After a pause, Nicole reached into her bag, pulled out a business card, and handed it to the girl.
âIf youâre planning to travel the world, start with Uchaesau.
Itâs beautiful there.
This card is for my former colleague who can show you around.
â
The girl accepted the card with gratitude.
âThank you, miss.
â
âItâs nothing,â Nicole replied warmly.
The process for the marriage registration proceeded smoothly.
When the official stamped the marriage certificates, Nicole felt as though the seal had been pressed upon her heart as well.
Overwhelmed, she realized she was now married, the reality setting in surreal waves.
Before Nicole could even grasp the marriage certificate, Jarrod snatched it away, stating assertively, âIâll keep it.
â
Jarrod then concealed the document in his pocket.
His look suggested he feared Nicole might snatch the certificate to file for divorce immediately.
Nicole remained silent, her spirits sinking further.
The acquisition of the marriage certificate did little to ease her concerns.
It merely postponed some of her immediate troubles, leaving her with a multitude of unresolved issues.
Stepping outside, Nicoleâs attention was drawn to the young couple sheâd met earlier.
The girl received a jubilant phone call, embracing her boyfriend passionately.
âHoney, we just won the first prize! Theyâre going to sponsor our world tour!â she exclaimed with glee.
âReally?â her boyfriend asked, caught up in the excitement.
âYes, really! Itâs sponsored by the Schultz Group, a major legitimate company,â she explained enthusiastically.
Nicole looked on, surprised by the news, and turned to Jarrod.
Jarrodâs response was a mix of pride and joy.
âShe says Iâm handsome and that makes me happy.
â