The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)

"Just because I knew the truth, I was afraid that Desmond would ask about Marissa's death. The thing I was most scared of was that I couldn't keep the truth from him, so I left the Fang family and hid. You didn't know what Marissa did for Desmond. She had to stick needles all over her body, and I helped her cover it up. I was heartbroken to see someone dying so early because of love. I used to think that I knew love, but I knew that I didn't understand anything the moment I saw Marissa."

Bettany sat down next to Mango. She even poured a cup of water for them and took a sip of water to soothe her throat.

"I thought I loved Jigsaw when I was with him, but I felt that I was abandoned when he left us for his business. I even thought that he loved his work more than he loved us, but now I think about it carefully, I may not love him as much as I thought 0 did. Although I was sad when he died, I could still live without him. I felt my heart was numb until I met Marissa. This child was young, but her persistence to sacrifice fo love really made me respect her. Her love for Desmond was pure and sincere. However, I couldn't save her when I rushed over. I don't have the power to bring her back to life, so I could only watch her slowly die for the sake of the person that she loved. I felt so powerless for the first time in my life."

Bettany's voice sounded like she was crying.

Mango felt very uncomfortable.

She had thought of many possibilities of what the truth could be. She even wondered if Professor Fang had been so cruel that he didn't even stop Isla. She only realized now that although that Marissa looked soft and weak, she was someone that should be respected.

Mango didn't know what to say, neither did she know how to face Desmond.

Bettany patted her on the shoulder and whispered, "Marissa's death impacted me greatly. After I met your mother and I listened to her experience, I think I want to live well. I will do everything I want to do for the rest of my life. I will treat the people around me well. You are lucky and happy because you have Nathaniel by your side and the both of you love each other. Everything is insignificant in the face of death. If possible, I think Marissa also wants to grow old together with Desmond. However, she couldn't do it. You should cherish your life now and lead a good life with Nathaniel. Don't make my disciple worry about you so much."

Mango nodded her head as she listened and her heart was very heavy.

"Don't worry. I will cherish my current life and I will treat Desmond well."

Mango didn't dare to let Desmond know the truth. After all, the truth was too cruel.

When she got up and opened the door to go out, she found that Desmond was already standing in the corridor with tears all over his face. "Desmond, you..."

"I was going to ask about the cause of Marissa's death, but I didn't expect it to be because of me."

Desmond's heart ached so much that he was about to suffocate.

How could Marissa do that for him?

His days were numbered and he, shouldn't exist in this world. Why did she have to sacrifice her life to save him?

The love Marissa had given him was enough to make him smile. Why didn't she let him die? Why did she have to die for him?

She did not know that leaving him alone in the world was much more terrible than death.

Mango couldn't help but feel uncomfortable when she saw Desmond's current state.

"Desmond, Marissa did it for you. Don't let her down." "Don't worry, I won't kill myself. I might have done that if her parents weren't around, but I don't think like that now. I am not lonely because Marissa has always been in my heart. She had sacrificed her life for me, so how can I not cherish it? I will do my filial duty for her, and I will live happily with her love. What Marissa wanted most in her life was to travel all over the world, but unfortunately, she has no chance and no time to do so. I will go to a new place every year in Marissa's place. I hope you'll let me go on a holiday. It will not take too long. One month is all I need."

What else could Mango say to Desmond's request?

"Okay, I promise you."

"Thank you, Madam."

Desmond turned around and left after finishing his words.

Mango knew that Haniya might not have a chance anymore when she looked at his desolate figure.

No matter how excellent she was, it was impossible for her to compete with someone who was dead. Moreover, Marissa sacrificed her life for Desmond.

Bettany stood behind Mango at some point and said in a low voice, "He still knew about it in the end." "It's not a big deal. Marissa has done so much for him. He should know."

Mango's words made Bettany sigh and say, "I hope that we are right, and that Marissa will rest in peace in heaven."

"Will you come back to Ocean City with us?"

Bettany almost failed to catch up with Mango's sudden change of topic.

"Of course, I want to see my disciple! Will you let me take him away if I don't go to Ocean City?"

"That won't do! Wisdom must stay in Ye Family. I won't control him if he grows up, but he must stay with us now since he's still young. Plus, my mother needs you to cure her, so it's best for you to go back to Ocean City with us."

Bettany suddenly wrinkled her nose.

"Why do I feel that this doesn't sound right? Shouldn't you be begging me to go back?"

Mango smiled immediately.

"Well, can I beg you to come back to Ocean City with us?"

Bettany said proudly, "I don't have money and I don't have a place to live there."

"You can live in our house. There are many rooms for you. You can rest assured that I will give you a salary every month for teaching Wisdom. What do you think?"

"Well, do you really think I'm a beggar? I don't want your money and I'm not having any financial difficulties either. I have already thought about it. I want to build a hospital after returning to Ocean City, but I need your help with the documentation."

"No problem."

Mango could not help but heave a sigh of relief after Bettany agreed. She was really afraid that Bettany wouldn't follow her back.

After Desmond left the house, he went to a corner where no one was around and cried to his heart's content.

A man shouldn't cry so easily, but he couldn't help it at this moment.

He remembered that he had a hard time when he was a child. It was Marissa who came to sit beside him and gave him delicious food. She said with a smile, "You can share half of the pain with me, and you will be much more relaxed."

"How do we share them?"

Desmond felt that this little girl was really interesting. The pain was all over his body, so how could he share it with her?

If it really could be shared, he would like to give all of it to someone else.

Marissa, however, stretched out her arm and said with a smile, "You can hit me. Hit me if your body hurts, then I will be in pain too. You will feel relieved by then. Isn't that sharing half of it with me?" Desmond felt that there was something wrong with the little girl.

Later, he knew that this little girl was Professor Fang's daughter, who had tortured his parents. He really wanted to hit her and even strangle her, but she smiled all the time and she did not resist his rude behaviour at all.

Perhaps it was from that moment that Desmond felt that she was his angel, who had arrived to accompany him.

It was also from that day that they became friends and lovers.

Desmond remembered that Marissa had been with him for so many years and all she cared about was him. He felt even worse when he thought of that.

Professor Fang ruined his parents and his whole life, but Marissa made it up to him by sacrificing her own life.

He didn't want her to do that at all!

He didn't want it!

He just wanted Marissa to be healthy. He just wanted her to stand in front of him and get him to tell her stories. He would massage her back and wash her feet every day. He could still remember her laughter now. It was so crisp and pleasant, but it could no longer be heard.

Desmond cried for a long time and his eyes were red. Then, he finally stood up while he was crying and picked up the phone to call Mrs. Fang and Professor Fang.

He asked instantly, "Did you know the cause of Marissa's death?"

Professor Fang fell silent.

Mrs. Fang was crying.

Although they didn't say anything, Desmond had already understood.

They knew.

Perhaps it was too late by the time they knew it, but that didn't change the truth. That was why Mrs. Fang hated him so much and why she treated him that way. Desmond's tears flowed down again.

"You are my parents and I am your son from today onwards. I will take care of you in your old age and I will do everything that Marissa would do for you. I won't object even if you want me to stay single for the rest of my life. I swear that unless I die, I will only have one wife for the rest of my life, which is Marissa. I will never regret it and I will never remarry."

Mrs. Fang cried and fainted again after she heard what Desmond said.

Desmond adjusted his mood after he hung the phone. He saw Haniya standing behind him as soon as he turned around.

He knew that Haniya was interested in him, but at this moment, he didn't even look at her before he left.

"Really? Is it true that you won't get married for the rest of your life?"

Haniya's voice was trembling and there was a glimmer of tears in her eyes.

Desmond paused and said, "Don't waste your time on me. I can't let anyone into my heart anymore."

"Desmond..."

Haniya wanted to grab him, but he dodged it.

"Bettany said that you need to rest. You shouldn't get out of bed and shouldn't come here. Go home quickly. Madam is still waiting for you to get well and take care of her."

After that, Desmond eft without looking at Haniya again.

Haniya finally couldn't help but cry.

Did her love story, which had not yet begun, just ended like this?

She squatted down and hugged herself as she cried sadly. At that moment, she did not notice that there was a figure quietly approaching her.