My grudge in the Autumn for this Love-Hate Relationship novel

In the sixth year after my divorce, I met my ex-wife Patricia in a cake shop.
When the clerk saw her, he smiled kindly. Professor Angelo! buying strawberry cake for your husband again? Same as always, right? Ive already packed it for you.
Patricia nodded.
When she saw the two mango cakes I had packed, she told the clerk, Put his order together with mine.
I politely refused and took out my phone to scan the code first. But she quickly swiped her card before I could.
This cake is 85 dollars a piece. You used to save for a long time before you were willing to buy even one. Im a university professor after all, my finances are a bit better than yours. Dont worry about it.
I still wouldnt accept it.
Then, she glanced at my clothes and sighed. Rob, its been so many years. Are you still holding a grudge?
I gave a small smile. Youre overthinking it.
At that, I rubbed touched the wedding ring on my ring finger.
I already have a new wife and a child. I had no need to hold grudges against another woman.

Patricia moved too fast and paid the bill for me. I didnt want to accept it and insisted on paying myself.
The clerk then gave an apologetic smile. Sir, Im really sorry. This lady has already paid for you. If you want maybe you can transfer the money to her?
I turned around and spoke politely, Please open your payment code. Ill pay you back.
Patricia sighed helplessly and handed me the cake bag. Rob, take it. It'll be your birthday in three more days. Let these two cakes be my gift to you.
Patricias voice was sincere. Yet, I didn't comment on that and simply opened my payment code.
Scan my payment code. I dont want to owe anyone.
Besides, it was only two pieces of cake. Just afternoon tea for my daughter and me.
Seeing I was stubborn, Patricia stayed silent for a long time before finally taking out her phone. Youre still the same as before, Rob.
I didnt reply and lowered my head to get the money transferred.
Patricia stopped me. Rob, you really dont need to be so serious.
Her eyes moved over my worn, faded jacket. She hesitated. I dont need this. It's just a little more than 150 dollars. You might as well use it to buy yourself some clothes.
I froze for a moment. Then I understood something before laughing out loud.
Earlier today, when I was doing volunteer work, I had given my jacket to a little boy who was caught in the rain. But since it was autumn and the weather was getting colder, I borrowed a random security guards jacket on my way home.
Patricia probably thought that I was still poor now.
Without much explanation, I simply said, Thank you, before finally leaving.
But someone grabbed my arm from behind.
Let me drive you home.
I stiffened and shook off her hand. No need. Your husband will misunderstand.
Patricia tried to grab my hand again but froze halfway.
She knew. Her husband, the eight years younger guy, gets jealous easily.
Rob Patricia still held onto me. Should we add each others contact information?
I lowered my head and stayed silent.
When we divorced six years ago, things were very ugly. We deleted and blocked all contact details and even swore wed never deal with each other again.
I shook my head. Forget it.
Rob, you dont need to hold a grudge. So many years have passed. I just hope you can live a little better
She said she wanted to add my contact so she could transfer me some money. Think of it as compensation for back then.
I suddenly felt like laughing.
Back then, I made a huge scene and even threw away my dignity.

Back then, I didnt even get a single cent of compensation after our divorce.
Now I need nothing from her anymore. Yet she came to me and said she wanted to give me compensation herself.
Baby, I called you just now. Why didnt you answer me? Who are you talking to?
While I was still stunned, a young man wearing a light-apricot hoodie bounced over and grabbed Patricias arm.
When he saw that I was there, his smile froze for a second before quickly returning. Robert, its you! We havent seen each other for so many years. How about we have a meal together?
I didn't even have the chance to react, but Tobias grabbed my arm enthusiastically.
Robert, weve been looking for you for the past six years. There was never any news from you. Even your old coworkers thought you went abroad. Where have you been? he talked loudly.
I looked quietly at the young guy in front of me, he had changed a lot I almost couldnt recognize him.
Tobias Wilbur was much simpler back then. He had dark skin, simple clothes and eyes like a frightened fawn. He was a poor student. After six years under Patricias careful care, he had already grown into a bright, shining sunflower.
I gave a distant but polite smile. I did go abroad.
Really? Tobias stared with wide, surprised eyes. But Robert, I went to look for you several times back then. They all said that after the divorce you went back to the countryside
Tobias seemed to say whatever came to his mind, but before he finished, Patricia cut him off. Enough. Dont talk about the past.
Patricia affectionately ruffled his hair. Eat the little cake I bought you. If you dont eat it soon, itll melt.
Tobias ate the cake while continue speaking in between chews. Robert, it was truly difficult to find you until today. Let us treat you to a meal, okay?
As for what happened back then, well, I know you hate us. But you were very good to me. You sponsored my four years of university studies. Without you, I wouldnt be who I am today Tobias looked very sincere, as if refusing would make me seem ungrateful.
So, I looked down at my watch and saw that it was still early. Alright, but I only have an hour and a half.
Patricia and Tobias chose the restaurant. On the way, the young man kept chattering nonstop and even fed Patricia cake by mouth.
Because I was there, Patricia felt awkward. She grabbed his restless hand. Behave a little, won't you? Rob is watching.
Tobias playfully stuck out his tongue. Sorry, Robert. Weve been married for a few years now and were used to acting like this. Sometimes we cant even stop ourselves from kissing on the street. Sorry if it makes you uncomfortable.
I calmly watched the flash of provocation and pride in his eyes and simply smiled. Its fine. After all, when you were in university, you already couldnt control yourself at my house with her. I got used to it.
The atmosphere instantly froze. Tobias and Patricia both looked slightly embarrassed. I, however, stayed calm and kept walking.
Before reaching the restaurant, we passed a fireworks shop. Tobiass interest was instantly stirred. He insisted on dragging Patricia inside.
Baby, didnt you say you were going to set off fireworks across the whole city for my birthday in three days? I want to choose the style first Robert, you dont mind, right?
I smiled. I dont mind.
But Patricia gave me a meaningful look, then turned to pick a firework. This one, Tears of the Sea.
I froze. Memories I had almost forgotten rushed back all at once.
Patricia once loved me very much. We dated for four years and were married for six.

Everyone Patricia she was famous in our circle for spoiling her husband.
As a university professor, she never went to social dinners. When male students asked for her contact information, she would coldly refuse. Among the many academic books she published, there was one special book called "Confessing Your Love". She wrote it especially for me.
The whole Sky University praised our beautiful love story. Even on my birthday every year, she would set off fireworks across the entire city.
But one day, while I was cleaning the bookshelf, I accidentally found an intimate photo hidden inside Patricias book.
The boy in the photo was very young. He wore very short shorts and was sitting on her lap, smiling at the camera. I recognized him instantly. That boy was no one else but Tobias, the poor student whose study I personally sponsored for three years. He's the one who always declared that I was his real brother. He was also a student in Patricias class.
Back then, on a rainy day, he was surrounded by some gangsters in a dead-end alley and I saved him. I brought him home, let him shower and gave him clean clothes.
When he saw Patricia, he was scared. I laughed and comforted him, Dont be afraid. Professor Angelo wont eat you.
Later, Tobias slowly became braver. He even started going carefully to the study to ask Patricia questions. Seeing them getting along so well, I couldnt help feeling happy.
Until later on, I found their intimate photos on Patricias computer.
After I found them, I rushed into the study in a furious state.
And there they were, the teacher and student supposedly discussing questions, but actually entangled with each other in front of the desk.
I lost all dignity and manners. I screamed like a madman. I questioned Patricia, asking why she cheated right under my nose.
Yet, Patricia protected the man beside her instead. She covered him behind her back. While looking at me with cold and angry eyes, she shouted Get out! Robert, youre shameless. Were not even finished yet.
Yes, women can be cruel and heartless. When they love you, they can give you their life. But once they stop loving you, they can strip off your skin.
I smashed everything I could grab in every room.
I couldnt believe what was happening. On the one hand was the woman I had loved for almost ten years. While the other, was a poor student I had supported for three years and treated like a younger brother.
Yet they were making love right under my eyes, while I was cooking, openly in the study. They used the excuse of discussing academic topics to do such shameful things.
I shook violently, my eyes red, unable to accept any of it.
Robert, youre acting like a lunatic! Patricia looked at me with disgust and stubbornly kept Tobias behind her. Youd better calm down. If you dare hurt Toby even a little, I wont forgive you.
Tobias hid behind her. The red marks on his neck still had not faded. He cried and hiccupped.
Robert, Im sorry. Im in the wrong on this. I know this is immoral, but I still fell in love with Professor Angelo He continued, Please, I dont want any official title. Please, let me stay with Professor Angelo, okay?
I was shocked. Do you understand youre becoming the home-wrecker in someone elses marriage?!
I dont care! Tobias shouted back loudly, as if fighting for his freedom. Our attraction is mutual, Robert. Even if you never saved me, I had already fallen for Professor Angelo at school. And she felt the same

Looking at Tobias's stubborn yet brave expression, I suddenly remembered the rainy night when I brought him home.
Ever since I saved him from that alley, the same gangsters kept targeting me. For a long period, I didnt dare walk down that road again. Only after reporting it to the police was the whole matter finally resolved.
I never regretted saving Tobias. But on that night, I hated myself for being so kind. Why did I give another man a chance to get close to my wife?
Ten years. Those were my ten years.
I refused to accept the truth. I let myself fall apart, hair messy and clothes dirty and I kept asking them like a madman when their relationship started.
Thinking back now, I was really foolish. Everything had already happenedwhat was the point of asking? But at that time, I was full of anger, full of the rage of being betrayed.
After putting on her clothes, Patricia said confidently, as if she was comforting me. Rob, stop causing trouble. Tobias needs to focus on his studies. He wont fight you for anything and he doesnt want a title. Mr. Angelo will still be you.
She then added, From now on, you dont need to sponsor Tobias anymore. Ill take care of his sponsorship.
Tobias never came to the house again. But the places where they had dates only increased. Cafs, restaurants, libraries, even hotels
I began watching them like a madman. Patricia never worked on Saturdays, but ever since she got close to Tobias, she went to the university every Saturday.
I followed them by taxi like a stalker. At the bottom of the teaching building, I saw them kissing passionately.
They couldnt control themselves and got into the car. It was the same car I bought for Patricia as her birthday gift. Soon, the car began to shake in a steady rhythm.
That time, I rushed up and smashed the car. I embarrassed them both completely. Yet, Patricia was determined to protect him. She treated me like a lunatic and had the security guards throw me out.
After that, for a long time, I acted like some shameful human being. I held banners and caused a scene at the university where Patricia worked. I even went to Tobiass class.
I wished the whole world would know he was a home-wrecker. He was the poor student I sponsored, the one I treated like a younger brother. I had been so good to him and now I hated him just as much.
There were so many women in the worldwhy did he choose to covet my wife? I wanted to tell everyone that he was an ungrateful traitor. And Patricia was the worst liar in the world.
My relationship with Patricia became more and more ugly and broken. She was afraid things would get too big, afraid I would damage Tobiass reputation and studies, so she hired bodyguards to keep me locked up.
I even hurt myself many times. That feeling of being abandoned by the whole world made me suffer silently with no one to talk to. I desperately needed some way to let out my pain.
In the past, whenever I got even a small injury, Patricia would wrinkle her eyebrows with worry. But she became more and more impatient.
Even when she saw long wounds across my body, she only shouted at me with disgust, Enough! If you want to die, go die somewhere else. Why are you using self-harm to get sympathy?
Robert, I never thought about divorcing you. As long as you kept turning a blind eye like before, I could let you stay and be Mr. Angelo for the rest of your life.
But now I don't think you can handle that anymore.
Later on, I took sleeping pills and was sent to the hospital, but I didnt die.
After waking up, I finally thought things through and I signed the divorce agreement.

In the blink of an eye, six years had already passed.
When I came back to my senses, Tobias had already picked out the fireworks for his birthday.
I want this one! Tears of the Sea! Baby, I want the same fireworks you used for Robert back then. The kind that explode in the sky and show words. I want you to write: Tobias, I love you
Patricia smiled gently and agreed to everything.
Soon, they chose a restaurant near Sky University to eat at.
Robert, this place is really good. Patricia and I come here all the time. You probably havent eaten here in years, right? Tobias held the menu excitedly as he recommending dishes.
I simply smiled lightly. Im tired of Western food after living abroad. You two can choose whatever you want.
I heard that after Tobias graduated, he didnt find a job.
So Patricia used her connections to keep him working at the university. Everyone praised them as a model couple. I just lowered my head and smiled. Peoples words are nice to hear, but you should never take them seriously.
Tobias glanced at my clothes with a complicated look. Robert, what job are you working on now?
I paused, then answered honestly, Im not working at the moment.
Tobias looked as if he had expected that answer. He sighed, What happened back then was our fault. If you dont have a job, my wife and I can help. I heard Sky University is hiring security guards. I think youd be pretty suitable
Patricia frowned. Tobias!
What? Did I say something wrong? Tobias looked innocent. I just want to help. Its clear Robert hasnt been doing well these past years.
Seeing that I didnt deny it, Patricia didnt say much. She only turned to me and said, Toby just talks carelessly, Rob. Dont take it to heart.
I gave a half-smile. Thanks, but my situation isnt something you need to worry about.
Right then, my wife Samantha Reich called me.
Robby, I just picked up our daughter from school. Where are you? Didnt you say you wanted hotpot? Ill bring little Anne and meet you.
I answered softly, Okay. Im at the Italian restaurant across Sky University.
After I hung up, both of them stared at me suspiciously. Rob, didnt you say you had no family in this city? Who just called you?
I smiled. My wife.
Both of them froze. Tobias even stood up in shock. Robert, you got married?
Patricias face suddenly turned pale. Robert, you dont need to pretend. If youre single, just say it. Why lie?