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Chapter 7

To my surprise, Jason, who had been out of my life for quite some time, was waiting for me downstairs at the office.

As I walked out, he approached me.

“Isabella, could you go see Alex? He’s in the hospital now…”

“Is that my concern?” I replied with an indifferent tone, “I ended things with him, just as you all wanted. What more could you possibly want?”

Jason was left speechless, struggling to find the words. “I used to think Alex didn’t truly care for you, but after your breakup, I realized he does love you.”

I let out a cold, mocking laugh.

He continued, “What do you think about Alex setting off fireworks for Vivian? If you mind, I…” I replied indifferently, “I just watched it. What else could I do?”

“What? You really don’t mind?”

What boring questions.

Irolled my eyes at him, stepped around him, and walked away.

Jason hurried after me. “Isabella, I’m begging you, just go to the hospital and take a look at Alex. “You know he has a stomach condition. He drank too much at a business dinner yesterday and now he’s in the hospital with a stomach bleed, and he’s been calling out your name.”

It was utterly laughable.

“Aren’t you the one who thought Vivian was the perfect match for him? This is your chance to play matchmaker.”

Leaving those words hanging, I walked to the curb and hailed a taxi to go home.

Jason was trying to set Alex up with Vivian before our breakup.

I had no idea what he was getting at now.

I paid no attention to any news about Alex.

I didn’t answer calls from anyone except family.

Two days later, Alex showed up at my doorstep, looking worn out.

I ignored the intense gaze he fixed on me and took out my keys to unlock the door.

“Bella, can you spare some time? I want to talk to you properly.”

His face was pale, and he looked extremely weak, barely able to muster any energy. There was a hint of pleading in his eyes as he looked at me.

“What more is there to talk about?”

As he got my response, hope flickered in his eyes.

Then, I followed him to the riverside.

I gazed into the distance, a gentle breeze playing with the strands of my hair.

I asked with confusion, “Why did you bring me here?”

No sooner had I finished speaking than a burst of radiant fireworks lit up the sky, instantly brightening the dimly lit riverbank.

I stared at the fireworks in the sky with mixed feelings.

“I’m sorry, Bella. I apologize for what I did before. These fireworks are for you, exclusively yours.” Alex’s eyes were filled with deep affection, tender as he looked at me.

The boom of the fireworks echoed with his sincere words around me.

I was taken aback and asked, “Aren’t you afraid Vivian will be upset when she finds out?”

“What does it have to do with her? Bella, I’ve said it before. I only see her as a sister.”

“Is that so?” I looked at the fireworks with an indifferent expression, feeling no joy. “But she’s

always been your first choice. Whenever she has a problem, you are the one she turns to. You’d choose her over me without hesitation.”

I turned back to him and asked earnestly, “Do you truly understand what love is?”

This time, he was the one taken aback.

I shook my head helplessly. “Alex, what you’ve done here is meaningless. I’m not upset because you set off fireworks for her or because you lied to me for her sake.

“When you truly understand what love means, you’ll naturally understand what I’m thinking.” What I wanted was to be the one and only, not a second choice. Unfortunately, he still didn’t grasp this truth.