Hearing her denial,Astrid finally let out a breath of relief.“That’s good,I was really afraid you liked him too.People always say you clung to Santino,that you’re a terrible woman…but I don’t believe it.You’re clearly kind and capable.If I had to compare myself with you,I’d never stand a chance.”
Aurelia found her words almost funny.“Of course not.Santino is loyal.He’ll give you all his heart.”
But Astrid’s expression dimmed.“I don’t know…sometimes I feel like Santino doesn’t really love me.When we walk together,he often just stares at his phone or at the red string on his wrist.Even when I call him,he doesn’t answer.”
The red string.Aurelia’s heart gave a quiet tremor.
That red string was the one she had prayed for during Santino’s college entrance exams,bowing step by step in the pouring rain until she finally obtained it.
Later,Santino had indeed ranked first in the exams.
She had always believed that once he began to hate her,he would have discarded it,since she had never seen him wear it again.But as it turned out,not only had he not thrown it away,he had been wearing it all along.