A Trip to the Sea

Three days ago. Leo Scott's female assistant, Vivian Lincoln, said she wanted to go on a self-driving trip to the Sea. He immediately began making preparations and invited several friends to join. This time, he didn't make excuses to stop me from going, as he had before. But throughout the trip, he kept finding faults with me. Just because I spent an extra fifteen minutes putting on makeup before we left. He shouted at me in front of everyone. "Viola, you're almost thirty, yet you keep wearing makeup daily to look younger, wasting everyone's time—it's truly frustrating!" After saying that, he left with the others in the car. Watching their car disappear into the distance, I didn't cry or throw a tantrum like before. Instead, I calmly took out my phone and called my father. "Dad, I'll be home next week. Please arrange the marriage alliance with the Luke family." There was a long silence on the other end of the line before my father finally spoke. In the end, he let out a heavy sigh, said nothing, and simply replied, "Okay." In fact, my father had never really believed in Leo Scott. He always said Leo Scott was too young, too impulsive, and couldn't offer me stability. But at that time, I was completely absorbed in the relationship and unwilling to listen to anything else. That absorption lasted for six years. I stood before the mirror, looking at the bruises beneath my eyes. No matter how expensive the concealer, it couldn't hide this exhaustion. Only three days ago, Leo Scott suddenly told me he was going on a self-driving trip to the Sea. To be able to go with him, I stayed up several nights in a row to finish the work I had on hand. I never imagined that over just fifteen minutes, he would simply leave me behind. A similar thing happened a year ago. At that time, Vivian Lincoln was delayed because of putting on makeup, which caused everyone to miss an important connecting flight. Leo Scott did not say a single word of blame. He immediately rebooked the tickets, bought gifts, and personally apologized to the partners. Seeing Vivian Lincoln's guilty expression, he spoke gently, "Don't cry. Such beautiful makeup would be a shame to ruin with tears." As I recalled this, I went to the computer and submitted my resignation. That evening, Vivian Lincoln's Circle of friends was updated right on time. The photo showed the deep blue Sea—the place Leo and I had long promised to visit together. For some reason, I clicked on the live photo. From the photo came Vivian's voice: "Leo, Viola was only fifteen minutes late. Why did you just leave?" Leo clicked his tongue lightly, his tone full of impatience. "Viola is always beating around the bush, asking me if I want to get married. It's so annoying!" "This morning, I went through her suitcase and actually found a ring." "I'm still so young; I don't want to be bound by marriage." "Viola will become an old hag." No sooner had he finished speaking than a burst of laughter spread around us.