Chapter 7
Though everyone knew i was just make believe, seeing Tiffany’s excitement, they all bought wishing bottles. When it came to Edwin’s or he bough every remaining bottle.
His friends couldn’t help teasing him.
*Dude, how are you going to fill all those bottles? Give me a few!”
“Yeah, Edwin, you’ve already got everything. Greedy much with all these wishes?”
Edwin smiled, turning to look at Sylvia with tenderness flooding his eyes. “I could give up everything else, but I want Sylvia to have it all.”
This comment drew immediate hoots and hollers from the group. “Classic Edwin! Living up to your reputation as the ultimate wife pyr
Most people would blush or feel embarrassed by such teasing, but Sylvia, at the center of attention, just stared at the cart full of wishing bottles without saying a word.
Seeing her seriously writing her wish, Edwin curiously leaned over. But after glimpsing just one character, Sylvia quickly hid the paper. “If you feek. it won’t come true.”
Hearing this, he didn’t insist further. He gently ruffled her hair.
“Sylvia, whatever you wished for, I’m sure it’ll come true.”
She smiled without responding, though inwardly she completely agreed with him.
Yes, her wish would definitely come true.
As she slipped the paper into the bottle, Sylvia checked it one last time. It contained a single line:
“Sylvia Ellery and Edwin Wexford never meet again in this life!”
By the time Edwin had finished writing all his wishes, the meteor shower was nearly over.
Just as they were about to leave, they heard a cry. Looking back, they saw Tiffany sitting on the ground, her eyes red with tears.
“I think I twisted my ankle. It hurts so much…”
Hearing this, everyone rushed over. Edwin couldn’t maintain his composure any longer. He pushed through the crowd, scooped her up on his back. and headed down the mountain.
Sylvia didn’t try to stop him. While everyone crowded around Tiffany, she quietly walked back up the mountain and found the vendor who had hung their bottles. Paid him another sum of money.
“Could you please take down the wishing bottles we just hung up?”
Shortly after, Sylvia returned to the mountaintop with the retrieved bottles. Finding a place to sit, she opened Edwin’s bottles one by one.
“May Tiffany always find joy and contentment, year after year.”
“May Tiffany’s life be filled with happiness and success, with everything she hopes for.”
“May Tiffany be blessed with good health and fortune, and may everyone she meets be kind–hearted.”
“May the girl I truly love, Tiffany Ellery, have a lifetime of happiness, joy, and peace.”
All ninety–nine wishing bottles, ninety–nine slips of paper–every single one named Tiffany. Not one wish mentioned Sylvia.
Tears stung her eyes. Eventually, she abandoned the scattered bottles and headed down the mountain.
As soon as she reached the bottom, she spotted Edwin pacing frantically. When he saw her, he rushed over and pulled her into a tight embrace, his
21:03
Money Heals What Love Destroys
3.8%
Chapter 7
voice shaking with relief.
“Sylvia, where did you exactly go? I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Jesus, I was worried sick. Thank God you’re okay. Don’t ever disappear on me like that again!”
Seeing his apparent concern, his friends crowded around them, some teasing, others smoothing things over. “Dude, we told you there’s only one frail down. We knew she’d be fine! Look at you falling apart over nothing!”
“Sylvia, no joke–this tough guy was literally about to cry when he couldn’t find you!”
Their comments seemed designed to prove how much Edwin cared for her. But looking past the crowd, Sylvia locked eyes with Tiffany standing at the back.
Her ankle was freshly bandaged. Though calmer now, as she listened to the conversation, a self–satisfied look crept into her eyes.
That smirk at the corner of her mouth said it all–she understood Edwin’s true feelings;
Everyone thinks he loves you, but we both know I’m the one he really cares about.
A wave of humiliation washed over Sylvia, but she pushed it down.
It didn’t matter. This whole charade would be over soon.
