The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, yet it brought Meilin no peace. She sat on the edge of the bed, fingers tracing the edges of the photograph she had hidden beneath her pillow.
Every part of her mind screamed that it was a trap — that Li Chen was trying to destroy her again. But the image was too clear, too deliberate. Rui's smile, the woman's hand, their closeness — it all looked too real.
Downstairs, she heard Yanyan's cheerful chatter as Rui helped her tie her shoes for school. Their laughter filled the house, warm and pure, but Meilin couldn't bring herself to join them.
When Rui came upstairs, he stopped at the doorway, watching her silently. "You're miles away again," he said gently. "Are you sure everything's fine?"
She forced a smile. "Just thinking."
He stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You've been thinking too much lately. Did something happen?"
"No," she whispered, looking down. "Nothing happened."
Rui frowned slightly but didn't press. Instead, he took her hand and kissed her knuckles softly. "I don't know what's bothering you, but whatever it is, we'll handle it together."
Her heart twisted at his tenderness. Guilt sank deep into her chest. How could she even doubt him?
After he left for work, Meilin paced the room restlessly. The photo seemed to mock her every time she looked at it. Finally, she picked up her phone and called a familiar number.
"Lin Qiao," she said when her best friend answered, "I need your help."
"What's wrong?"
"I need you to find out if Rui met someone recently — a woman, maybe near the central restaurant."
There was a pause. "Meilin, are you sure you want to do this? You told me you trusted him."
"I do," Meilin whispered. "But I need to prove it — to myself."
"Alright," Lin Qiao sighed. "I'll check."
Hours later, Meilin sat in the living room, staring at the clock. Rain began to fall again, light and steady. Then her phone buzzed.
A message from Lin Qiao:
> "Checked. Rui had a lunch meeting with a client — Ms. Zhao, from a children's charity. Completely business. The photo was cropped to look wrong."
Relief flooded her body so fast she nearly cried. She slumped against the couch, laughing weakly through her tears.
> "He didn't lie…" she whispered. "Li Chen really is trying to break us again."
Just then, the door opened — Rui was home early, carrying a small box. "You didn't answer your phone," he said, smiling. "So I thought I'd bring you something."
He handed her the box. Inside was a silver bracelet, delicate and simple, engraved with the words: Forever starts again.
Her throat closed up. She couldn't even speak.
"Do you like it?" he asked softly.
Meilin nodded, tears threatening to fall. "It's beautiful."
He smiled and fastened it around her wrist. "Then wear it as a promise — no more doubts between us."
She looked into his eyes, filled with sincerity, warmth, and love.
And for the first time in days, her heart felt steady again.
But as Rui turned away, she noticed something — a faint scratch along his wrist, the same one that had been in the photo. Her heart skipped.
Relief faded into unease once more.
The seed of doubt, though smaller now, had not been erased. It
had only gone quiet — waiting for the right time to grow again.