Joyce was unaware of what Natalie was planning. “Nat, do you have some tissue?”
“Here.” Natalie rummaged through her pure platinum purse and handed the entire packet to Joyce.
“Thanks,” she sniffled as she extracted a piece to dry her tears. “Nat, I’ve decided to give up,” she murmured, keeping her eyes fixed on her feet.
Natalie gaped at her. “Give up on your feelings toward Stanley?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Joyce took a deep breath, willing herself to suppress the inevitable tears by forcing a smile. “Because I’m tired. I’ve loved him for over ten years, and where has that gotten me? A bruised and battered soul with not much dignity left. I don’t think I can hold on any longer.”
Joyce spun around suddenly, gazing deep into Natalie’s eyes with her own bloodshot ones. “I can see it clearly now. Stanley would rather be with any other woman than me. He will never love me. That is why I’m giving up on him.”
Natalie opened her mouth intending to offer words of advice, but she could come up with none.
It was certainly a pity for Joyce to give up on Stanley after loving him for so many years.
But if Joyce were to continue hanging on, it would just be waiting in vain. For all she knew, Stanley might not change his mind.
If that happened, Joyce’s youth would just slip by, clinging on to some impossible dream.
Hence, Natalie decided that it would be wiser to remain silent.
Joyce would only hurt herself if she was determined to continue down her current path. However, the choice to let go might not necessarily be the right one, either.
“Have you really made up your mind?” Natalie looked deep into Joyce’s eyes.
They shimmered brightly for an instant. After a second or two, she gave a resolute nod. “Yes, I have.”
“That’s a step in the right direction.” Natalie nodded approvingly. “You have been out of touch with the outside world from living all these years with the fantasy of being with Stanley. There are plenty of eligible men out there, Joyce. Now’s the time to explore,” Natalie said with a pat of encouragement on Joyce’s shoulder.
Joyce chuckled. “You’re right. I can’t be letting my youth wither away hanging on to just one man. From now on, I will meet other men and find one who is even better than Stanley who will love me back. I refuse to accept the fact that I am that dependent on him and him alone.”
With a sudden movement, Joyce leaped to her feet and raised a glass of champagne. Natalie’s sense of foreboding came a little too late as Joyce yelled, “Stanley, I’m giving up on you! You’re out of my life!”
With the eyes of everybody in the vicinity on her, Joyce gulped down the entire glass, only realizing her recklessness a moment too late.
In the haste of which she had emptied her drink, Joyce’s face grew red as she choked a little.
Under the embarrassed eyes of the onlookers, Natalie stood up and quickly escorted her friend out of the room and into the restroom.
Stanley watched the two departing figures of Natalie and Joyce from a lounge on the second floor. His expressionless face was rigid and cold.
At that moment, a middle-aged man appeared, handing Stanley a glass of wine. “Stanley. That’s you, isn’t it? The Stanley that the lady was shouting about?”
Stanley took the glass with a smile. “Mr. Peter, you’re a humorous man. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t know that woman.”
“Is that so?” the man gaped in surprise.
Stanley clinked his glass against his companion’s. “That’s right. Perhaps it was the simple coincidence of someone else with the same name. Excuse me, but it’s getting late. See you at the surgery tomorrow. It will start on time, so please be punctual.”
At that, he drained his glass, stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets, and left Mr. Peter alone in the lounge.
As soon as he was alone out in the hallway, his pleasant smile melted away to reveal a scowl.
She’s giving up on me and kicking me out of her life?
Her affection was too lowly for me.
Stanley smirked scornfully.
Suddenly, a man of similar size to him appeared around the corner.
He was clad in a black jacket, over a tweed suit of the same color which looked dashing on him.
His handsome features bore no expression, however.
That man turned out to be Shane who had just finished meeting with Wilhelm.
He did not expect to run into Stanley on his way back to the dining hall.
