Who could understand his pain? Eleanore stood alone in the street, looking at the shadow of James dully.
Tearstains were still on her pale pink cheeks.
“
What happened next?” Ivan was so eager to know the ending. Isabella smiled at him with a mournful
expression on her face.
“
A few days later, James committed suicide.” Isabella suddenly stopped. Tears flooded her eyes. She leant
his head against the back of her chair and stared at the ceiling, trying to force them into retreat. The distress on
her face told Ivan and Catherine everything.
“
Are you alright?” Catherine asked concernedly. Isabella shook her head and smiled bitterly.
“
The news was too much for Eleanore. She blamed herself for causing the death of James. With remorse
and guilt, his fiancée wailed all days long. She was found dead in her house two days later.”
“
It’s not fair. They loved each other deeply. Why couldn’t they stay with each other happily forever?
Catherine murmured.
“
Don’t be so naïve. Nothing is ‘fair’ in this world,” Isabella scoffed at Catherine.
“
No, that’s not true. You’re too pessimistic,” Catherine tried to argue with Isabella.
Isabella smiled at Catherine gently and went on with her story.
“
Guanyin, the emotional deity, saw all these things happen. She was deeply touched by the sorrowful love
story between the young man and his fiancé. She burst into tears immediately when she saw Eleanore had
committed suicide. She couldn’t help crying and her tears turned into a drenching downpour and caused a
serious flood in China. Meanwhile, the cruel and selfish king, Albert, died in this disaster.”
“
It was indeed a blessing in disguise, wasn’t it?” said Catherine.
“
Yes, but th
e torrential r
ain which came down caused great damage to the land. The deity felt so regretful
for what she had done. Trying to repair the damage, she undid the ribbon on her head. The ribbon waved in the
wind. Suddenly, the dark sky turned into azure. The bright sun lit up the land. The deluge miraculously
disappeared. The tiny little ribbon instantly turned into the majestic Great Wall. The susceptible and gentle deity
was satisfied with her great work. She made a wish, “I hope all families and lovers can meet each other on the
Great Wall and will not be separated afterwards. This great wall will be the bridge to unite the whole China,
from the East to the West.”
“
The deity whispered to herself after making her first wish. ‘Eleanore, although you couldn’t marry the
man you loved, you’ll have another chance in a thousand years’ time. You’ll meet James again and marry him.
You have my word.’
Isabella stopped talking suddenly.
“
Then?” Catherine asked curiously.
“
This is the end of the story,” Isabella peacefully said.
“
No, this is not the end of the story, Isabella,” Ivan confidently shook his head.
“
You are the girl in the story. You are Eleanore. Am I right?” Ivan stared at Isabella and slowly spoke
every word.
“
What’re you talking about? Are you insane, Ivan?” Catherine asked confusingly.
“
I couldn’t make heads or tails of your story,” Catherine continued.
“
How did you know that, Ivan?” Isabella looked bewildered.
“
Your name, Isabella, means the vow of God,” said Ivan.
“
You’re so smart, Ivan. I didn’t expect you would know the answer,” Isabella laughed.
“
Hey! Can anyone tell me what’s going on?” Catherine shouted.
“
I don’t think you have to know, right, Ivan?” Isabella turned her head to Ivan and asked.
“
Ivan! Tell me! Otherwise… you know what the result will be,” Catherine tried to threaten Ivan.
“
You are smart, aren’t you? You will figure out the answer sooner or later,” Ivan smirked.
“
Ivan! You are so bad!” Catherine laughed and used her fingers to tickle Ivan’s waist.
While Catherine was still giggling, Ivan turned his head to Isabella and ignored Catherine. “So, where’s
James? Have you met him yet?”
“
I’m still waiting for him,” Isabella shrugged her shoulders and answered in a depressed tone.
“
Hey, someone is knocking at the door. Can you hear that?” asked Catherine.
“
I’ll open the door,” said Isabella.
“
Sorry to bother you. I… ” The stranger standing outside the door stopped talking when he saw Isabella’s
beautiful face. He gawkily stared at the beautiful young lady. After a few seconds, he started talking. He politely
said, “Sorry to bother you, but it’s really cold outside…Umm … May I come in and stay for a while? I’ll leave
after the blizzard.”
“
Of course, you can stay as long as you want.” Isabella said, unable to hide her happiness.
From the second the stranger came in, Isabella’s eyes kept looking at him as if there was something