"Have you ever thought about what marriage really is?" Henry Sullivan asked as he looked at her.
Ivy Miller pursed her lips, "Marriage... is just two people who don’t find each other annoying deciding to live together."
Hearing this, Henry couldn’t help but laugh.
Ivy replied, "What are you laughing at? I wasn’t wrong, was I? Even though it doesn’t sound nice, there’s truth in it."
"Marriage is a responsibility; in marriage, everyone has to be responsible for their partner.
Divorce, or going separate ways, is something only immature people say.
Maybe you’re still young and haven’t experienced much yet.
Wait three or five more years, and you’ll understand that marriage isn’t an easy knot to untie.
Once the bond of marriage is undone, many strings are broken as well.
It’s not so easy for one family to become two.
Whether it’s a man or a woman, getting remarried leaves a shadow in the heart.
If we can both stay loyal in our marriage, then we should try to maintain it till the end.
So, don’t always make those boring assumptions.
Let me ask you the same, if your ex-boyfriend came back, would you choose him again? How would you respond."
Suddenly, Ivy felt that what he said made a lot of sense.
Indeed, this question is like someone always asking a child if they prefer their dad or mom.
She tilted her head and smiled, "I wouldn’t go back, I don’t like him anymore.
But your situation is different, your problem is that you’re still in love."
"How is it different? The nature is the same. No matter how I feel about Isla Linton right now, I know my status.
I won’t betray my marriage or love; I have my own principles."
Ivy raised her eyebrows, deciding not to bother with this annoying topic anymore.
He didn’t know why Isla left him.
If one day Isla regains her memory, or if he learns the truth.
He’s bound to change his mind then.
She laid her words out first, so even if she gets abandoned in the future, she can walk away with some dignity.
Hmm, thinking , she realized she was quite a smart woman.
The two of them sat by the river for a long time before heading back to her place.
Henry Sullivan handed a house key to Ivy Miller, "If you have time these days, start moving your stuff over there.
Put all your things in the basement; it’s spacious and enough for you." Googlᴇ search 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩
"Uncle, do you still think these things are embarrassing?"
"Moving out isn’t really something to be proud of."
Ivy thought this man was either stubborn or psychologically peculiar. The things men usually like, she didn’t, how strange.
They went out for dinner; Ivy treated Henry to hot pot.
They drank a few bottles of beer, and after dinner, they returned home, where Ivy lay down on the bed, a bit tipsy.
Henry went to the bathroom to shower and, when he came out, nudged the already sleeping Ivy.
Ivy waved her hand, "Don’t move, let me sleep a while."
"You’re all sweaty, wash up first."
"Serves you right for drinking so much," he said, pulling her into the bathroom, where she reluctantly showered with a bitter face.
As soon as she stepped out of the bathroom, Henry scooped her up in his arms.
Not anticipating it, she screamed but then realized it was her husband.
He laid her on the bed, kissing her tenderly.
After more than two months without touching her, the spark was instant and intense.
Ivy felt that after such a long time, doing this was indeed like drought meeting rain.
They fooled around until midnight, and her headache from the alcohol faded.
She suddenly realized that such exercise could really sober her up, how magical.
Ivy didn’t know when she fell asleep, but when she woke up, it was broad daylight, and she was the only one in bed.
She got up and saw a note on the bedside table, "Breakfast is ready, have some after you wash up, don’t starve."
Smiling, Ivy climbed out of bed and walked into the living room, indeed finding breakfast on the table.
She bit her lip and looked down at the note in her hand again.
Anyone who didn’t know might think he just went to work and would be back soon.
But she knew very well that she wouldn’t see him for the next six months.
Thinking about this, she felt a faint disappointment in her heart.
She sighed lightly, feeling a bit stifled. After washing up and eating breakfast, she called Henry Sullivan.
"Uncle, why didn’t you wake me when you left?"
"You were so tired last night, I thought I’d let you sleep more."
"But my husband is leaving me, I should’ve gotten up to say goodbye."
Henry couldn’t help but smile, "I’m not going to die; no need to be dramatic."
Ivy scratched her forehead, "I don’t know why, but since you’ve left, I feel uneasy."
Henry understood this feeling. The last time she left the base, he had felt the same.
"Don’t be uneasy. When I return, I’ll apply for reassignment to come back as soon as possible."
"Nothing, just calling your name. Safe travels."
"Ha, alright. Try not to go to the bar too often, and cut down on the short skirts.
The world is full of oddballs now, and dressing like that draws too much attention from every man you pass."
"Alright, there’s nothing more to say, take care of yourself."
"Okay." Ivy nodded and ended the call.
Sitting in the room, she felt the place was empty, her heart uncomfortable. To shake off this feeling, she dialed Chloe Wilder’s number.
The call was picked up just before it was about to disconnect, Chloe’s cautious voice came through, "Hello?"
"Hell no, I’m not okay at all."
Chloe sighed with relief, "Oh thank goodness, it’s really you. I was worried I’d hear your husband’s voice on the other end."
"Yeah right, like my husband would call you."
"He showed up at my place asking for you; he scared the crap out of me, like I still have PTSD from it."
Ivy pouted, and Chloe murmured, "Weird, with me saying all this, why aren’t you laughing? Is your husband with you?"
"Then why the long face?"
"I’m just feeling guilty," Ivy thought, "Doesn’t this girl understand me? I still have secrets I’m keeping from Mr. Sullivan, feeling guilty."