On Graduation Day, I Received a Cry for Help from Ten Years Ahead Chapter 08

On Graduation Day, I Received a Cry for Help from Ten Years Ahead Chapter 08

I knew they would find this place sooner or later.

My mother could guess that I had gone to my father. In the past, she had used tears and lies to keep me by her side. Whenever visitation day came near, she would take me away and make me believe my father no longer wanted me.

Later, I heard that after Ethan went back that night, Sophia made trouble until morning. Her morning sickness was so severe that she could barely stand, yet she still argued with him until dawn, accusing him of only having me in his heart and not caring about her or their child.

Out of options, Ethan took her back to Los Angeles that same night.

Other people told me these things later. I never asked on purpose. I only heard scraps now and then from people we both knew.

During that period, I met Alexander Reed. He was a Columbia Business School alumnus, two years ahead of me, and he had already made a name for himself in the industry. The first time we met was at a business school networking event. He was onstage giving a talk, and I sat below listening. His thinking was clear, his rhythm steady, and he had the grounded reliability of someone people trusted without needing to be convinced.

Later, we gradually became familiar. He gave me academic advice, told me which courses were worth taking, and helped me figure out which professors fit my research direction. He also introduced me to projects and investors at work. With his help, I made a decent amount of money.

But he always knew where the boundaries were. He never crossed the line, and he never made me feel as if I owed him something. Being around him felt easy. That ease was completely different from what I had felt with Ethan.

With Ethan, I always had to manage his emotions and protect his pride. I also had to play along with the poor–student identity he claimed to maintain. With Alexander, I did not have to shrink

myself or manage his ego. We met each other as equals.

One day, my father called me. He talked around the subject for a long time before finally getting to the point. He hoped I would consider a strategic marriage alliance to stabilize cooperation

between the two families.

“I’ve had people look into Alexander. His family, background, and abilities are all suitable. If you

have no objection, I can sound out the Reeds first and see whether cooperation and an

engagement are possible.”

“I object.”

I interrupted him directly.

My father paused.

I said, “Dad, the two companies can discuss cooperation, but my life cannot be used as currency again. I don’t want anyone arranging my future. My choices should be mine.”

The other end of the call went silent for a few seconds. Then my father laughed. He laughed freely, the sound loose in his chest.

“Good. Now that sounds like my daughter.”

My father never brought up an engagement again. Alexander and I also continued our connection without becoming overly intimate. Neither of us rushed to define anything.

For an entire year, Ethan seemed to disappear from my life. I did not look for him, and he never appeared. I thought the matter had ended there.

Until one afternoon, after class, I returned to my apartment and saw someone standing outside my door.

HALL

He was much thinner than he had been a year earlier. He also looked far more exhausted. The custom suit on him no longer seemed as sharp as it once had.

When Ethan saw me, he swallowed. His voice was terribly hoarse.

“Liv.”

I said nothing. I only stood there and looked at him.

“I was wrong.”

His voice shook.

“I really was wrong. I regret it, Liv. This whole year, I’ve regretted it every day.“”

Ethan stood there, his eyes filled with belated remorse.

“I wanted to come find you countless times this year. But after Sophia got pregnant, she kept suspecting I would come after you. She hid my passport and spare IDs. She checked my flight

records. When I went to the DMV for a replacement ID, she found out and cried and screamed.”

“She burns through money, and she can’t produce any real results at the company either. My parents are very unhappy with her. But what could do? She was pregnant. I couldn’t just ignore

her.”