Be took a few steps back. Then she muttered in a small voice that I almost didn''t hear her, "Mark...."


    Mark turned to her, his eyes eying her from head to toe like she was dirt trapped under his feet. "Besides, Why are you here?"


    "Grandma Doris'' birthday. I''m here-" she stuttered and Mark saved her the stress by interrupting her.


    "You know she doesn''t like you. It''s why she didn''t invite you to her this party. If she finds out you sneaked in, she''s going to be very angry. You know that so you better leave."


    Be cried resentfully, "No, I''m going to marry you in the future. We will soon. wed and be man and wife, I''m her future granddaughter-inw. Shel won''t be angry that I came to celebrate her birthday with her."


    Mark looked stunned, he remained silent as he looked at Be. Then he slowly spoke up, "What are you talking about? Grandma would never allow me to marry you. She dislikes you, how much more obvious does she need to make it?"


    Be sobbed, "Why can Sydney marry you and I can not? Besides, I was your rightful wife. We were in love and you were going to marry me originally, but that bitch, Sydney, took the chance that was supposed to be mine. She greedily took my ce in your life?"


    How far can this girl lie and pretend? I wondered briefly.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Mark shook his head, saying coldly, "Yes, Be. You once had the chance to marry me and be my wife but you missed it. You threw it away."


    "What do you mean I threw it away? I was sick!" Her voice rose a little, "What could I have done? Have us have our wedding in a fucking hospital room?"


    Mark scoffed and shook his head then he looked away from her.


    When he didn''t say anything, Be spoke up again, "So what does me carrying your child means now? Is this some kind of surrogacy?" Her


    shoulders shook as her sobs got louder.


    "Be, this child was unexpected. We didn''t n it. You know that. You insisted on keeping it and I let you. It doesn''t mean I have to get married to you and it would not change my Grandma''s mind about you. Be shook her head, "How can you say this to me, Mark? How can you?! I told you what the doctor said. I have a heart condition, I can''t have an abortion!" Be choked up.


    Mark looked at her indifferently and said, with his brows raised, "Is that so? Your body is weak and you might not be able to carry a child in your womb again. Yes, Be, I remember very vividly." "You... you jerk!" Be erupted then she ran out of the garden, crying.


    I blinked and took a deep breath. Woah That was a lot. I mean I expected it but I didn''t think things would get this way this fast.


    But still, I wanted to smack myself for eavesdropping. I should have left immediately when I realized that it was them. Instead I had ended up overhearing an intimate argument between the very people I was trying to avoid.


    I slowly backed away, nning to leave quietly a d just make my way to Doris through the crowd. As long as Mark remained here, and Be was somewhere crying her heart out, I only had to watch out for Dora


    As I moved past the delicately trimmed shrubs and turned the bend there, I came to an abrupt stop before I collided with Mark. There he was before me, his arms folded across his chest. He had a smirk on his face as he took me


    1. in.


    He raised his gaze to mine. "A thief?" He chuckled, "What did you steal?"


    Embarrassed that he might have caught me eavesdropping on his conversation with Be, I raised the gift in my hand and foolishly


    stammered, "This is a birthday gift for Doris. I didn''t steal a thing I quickly stepped by him, "Now if you would excuse me, I want to go in search of the birthday girl."


    The moment I turned my back and walked away, I quickened my steps, my gaze darting here and there in search of Grandma.


    I groaned inwardly when I felt someone fall into step with me. It was Mark. Just as he was about to say something, Doris spotted us.


    She grinned widely as she waved at me, "Sydney,e here." She pulled me in for a hug.


    "Happy birthday, Doris," I hugged her back.


    "Yeah, thank you. We''ll get to thatter. You''re just on time." Then her gaze swept past me and she gestured to something behind me. "This is Lucas. The handsome guy I was telling you about."


    Oh..


    Grandma literally turned me to face the man behind me. When I steadied. myself and looked up, my heart skipped a bit.


    There he was, his pockets dug in his pant''s pocket and that familiar smile. that I loved so much on his lips. But as his eyes took me in, his smile also. faltered and his eyes widened.


    It seemed neither of us could utter a word as we stared at each other. How did the name not even ring a bell when Doris had mentioned it?


    Right before me, hale and hearty, stood my only teenage crush who suddenly disappeared years ago.