Love After a Steamy Affair

She took a few steps forward and saw that the row of words carved on the thick tree was still there. Serenity thought they would have faded over time.

“You still remember this place?” A man’s clear and hoarse voice entered her ears.

This place was their shared memory.

“I’m just taking a walk.” She lowered her eyes, her long black eyelashes covering her eyelids.

He didn’t come here on purpose, nor did he come to see the pomegranate tree, nor did he miss the past.

John took two steps forward and stood next to her. He looked at the tree full of fruits. “In the three years after you left, no one ate these pomegranates. So 1 had Mrs. Walter pick the fruits and give them away.”

In the entire Rivers residence, she was the only one who liked to eat pomegranates. Moreover, this particular flavor of pomegranates was unique to Willow Town.

Serenity remained silent.

John plucked two fruits from the tree branch that was bending downwards and handed them to her. She looked at the big red pomegranates in his hand and pursed her lips tightly which turned pale because she used too much force.

Since she didn’t reach out to take it, John stuffed them into her hand. “Try them. They might taste like Willow Town.”

At the mention of Willow Town, her eyes became a little blurry. She clenched the things in her hands and turned to leave without saying a word.

Looking at her back view under the setting sun, John’s eyes dimmed. He turned to look at the pomegranate tree that was dyed orange by the setting sun and smiled sadly.

He raised his hand and caressed the tree trunk, stroking the names carved in perpetuity. The words on the tree trunk did not become blurry with the passage of time. Instead, they became clearer.

That was because in the past three years, every time it was her birthday, he would come here to engrave the words again.

Every time he did, he would say in his heart, ‘Serene, wait for me to get you back.’

Serenity walked along the bluestone path and returned to the living room. Selena and Helena had already ended the video chat.

Helena saw that she was holding two bright red pomegranate fruits in her hands. She smiled and said, “You’re still the same as before. You like to eat these things. In the past, you and John planted…” Realizing that she had said something wrong, she paused for a moment. “After dinner, I’ll get Mrs. Walter to pick some for you to take back and eat.”

“That’s what I liked to eat in the past.” She hadn’t eaten this thing for a long time, and she couldn’t even remember its taste.

“Madam, it’s time to eat,” Mrs. Walters came out from the kitchen.

“I’ll go get the others.” Serenity placed the pomegranates into the fruit plate and went to the bathroom to wash her hands. Then, she went to the chess room.

Gabriel and Benjamin were still playing chess. The battle on the chessboard was intense. It seemed that Gabriel had the upper hand so Benjamin had to think for a long time before he made a move.

“Where did you go?” Gabriel held her cold hand.

“I went to pick pomegranates.” She smiled calmly. “It’s time to eat..”