Every individual in the crowd carried generous gift bags, and their attitudes quickly transformed. Smiling widely, they moved closer and showered each other with praise.
“How fortunate for Elizabeth to have wedded a man who guarantees such a stable and prosperous life for her! As women, securing a marriage into a respected family is our ultimate success. If only Elizabeth’s mother were present to witness this moment, she would be at ease, knowing her daughter is in capable hands.”
“Elizabeth has always been both beautiful and intelligent. She’s truly lucky!”
“Do you remember when Elizabeth entered university? Even the local news arrived to cover her story.”
“Your grandmother mentioned over the phone that her medical expenses are astronomical each day. With such a devoted and capable son-in-law by her side, she doesn’t need to worry about her health. There’s surely a team looking after her.”
“This young man is quite handsome. He and Elizabeth together could pass for a couple straight out of a TV series.”
Elizabeth wasn’t surprised at how quickly the neighbors’ attitudes changed.
Known for their love of gossip and small talk, the neighbors had their peculiarities, yet they showed genuine affection. They always supported her and Gracie, often bringing discounted groceries.
With a soft smile, Elijah responded, “Actually, I’m the lucky one here.”
Looking into his deep eyes, Elizabeth saw her own reflection glistening back. For a brief moment, the illusion of true love between them seemed almost believable.
His acting had reached new levels; she was nearly convinced by his performance. It’s no mystery why so many end up falling for someone after spending so much time on set—the line between fiction and reality grew ever so thin.
Caught up in the illusion of their contractual relationship, she wasn’t immune to its effects.
An elderly lady tucked away her gift and gently nudged the woman beside her. “You know, it’s high time your daughter settled down. Early marriage has clearly worked wonders for Elizabeth.”
Pausing in her unpacking, the middle-aged woman’s voice was filled with frustration. “Please, don’t start with that! It’s enough to drive anyone crazy. My daughter is too particular—nothing seems to please her. She’s waiting for a fairy-tale prince, I suppose!”
At that moment, an image popped into Elizabeth’s mind. She pictured someone who walked with supreme confidence, head held high like a proud peacock, barely acknowledging others with a glance.
Lettie, the middle-aged woman’s daughter, was the same age as Elizabeth. As children, they were the only two girls in their building, and Lettie had always been in quiet competition with Elizabeth.
Lettie was never keen on studies; instead, she fixated on comparing their clothes, toys, and friends. Meanwhile, Elizabeth, who lived with Gracie, couldn’t afford many new clothes. Every time Lettie got a new dress, she made a point to show it off right in front of Elizabeth’s house.
As time passed, Elizabeth pursued higher education, while Lettie stayed in the town. Their paths diverged, and they eventually drifted apart.
Elizabeth had little interest in local gossip. After a brief exchange of polite small talk, she and Elijah went upstairs.
Shortly after they disappeared upstairs, Lettie returned on her electric scooter.
Seeing her mother outside, she approached eagerly. “Mom, did you see that incredibly extravagant car parked down the street? It looks like something straight out of a TV show, the kind driven by top CEOs. It must be worth tens of millions!”
Her mother gave her a skeptical look. “Dream on! A multimillion-dollar car in our poor area? Do you even realize how much ten million is? If we sold our apartment and every apartment around here, it still wouldn’t add up to that much!”
“You just don’t understand,” Lettie retorted with a flicker of irritation, which she quickly replaced with a smile.
She made up her mind to rise early the next day, hoping to experience what could be a real-life fairy-tale romance.
Her mother tapped Lettie on the forehead teasingly and said, “You’re exactly Elizabeth’s age, and look at her—married and happy. Her husband is not only tall and handsome but also generous enough to bring us gifts.
You’ve always tried to outdo her. When you were kids, it wasn’t in academics. Now you’re lagging in the marriage race too. What exactly are you competing for? You spend your days lost in fantasies. Aren’t you worried about being single at thirty?”
Catching sight of the gift box in her mother’s hand, Lettie peered inside, her expression one of mild shock. The vision of that luxury car still lingered in her mind.
She casually tossed the gift box back into the bag, dismissing it with a wave of her hand. “It’s just some food. Not worth much at all. When I marry a CEO who drives a luxury car, I’ll be handing out gold bracelets to the entire neighborhood.”
“Have you lost your mind, spouting such fantasies out loud?”
Lettie paid no attention to her mother’s scolding and rolled her scooter toward the parking shed.
