Meeting You Was Fate

Chapter 57 Mand, I'm Sorry

Mandy was expressionless; her voice was odd and extremely cold. She talked to Daniel as if they did not know each other from three years ago.

"I know you hate me, but I'm going to die. Will you talk to me for the last time?" It felt like Daniel was begging for her agreement.

"I'm not heartless, but this will be the last time," said Mandy, gnashing her teeth. She just agreed to meet Daniel to get over the situation.

"Thank you, Mand." Regret resounded in Daniel's voice. Mandy sensed it, too.

Mandy was lost in thought again after she talked to Daniel. She used to be so familiar with his voice, but now, it felt like it came from a distance. She rested her head on the chair, remembering their meet- up. Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Mandy reminisced on how Daniel had betrayed her on Valentine's Day. If not for that time, she wouldn't have met Nathan, and the Zhou Family wouldn't have suffered a lot. Everything would still be the same.

However, fate had decided!

She couldn't help but think of all the changes that had happened to her and Daniel. 'Daniel has changed. I have changed, too. Everything has changed.'

Mandy and Daniel never encountered any problems in their relationship. They got along well, and everyone thought they would end up walking down the aisle. She never thought that they would have to go on separate ways one day.

It felt like yesterday was just a dream. That sweet dream had ended, and Mandy was now completely awake, and reality had hit her hard.

Suddenly, Mandy missed the good, old days when she lived a simpler yet happier life. Daniel used to bring her breakfast every day. He used to wait for her downstairs every day at 7:30 p.m. without fail. They had studied together in Britain. They weren't in the same class, so Daniel would take her to her classroom first by riding a bicycle. After class, he would also be the first one to finish his classes and would wait for her at the door of her classroom.

Her classmates had been jealous of her. They had said that Mandy was lucky to have Daniel as a boyfriend.

In this fast-paced world, to be in love for one or two months was not a big deal. But what Mandy and Daniel had was a fruitful relationship that lasted for two years. Mandy had even thought it could last forever.

It was pretty obvious that Mandy's past memories still lingered in her head. She missed the past, but what would she do if she could go back to her past? People often forgot that the past was not always beautiful. In fact, people often revisited their past with regret and not with a smile.

Mandy hadn't realized that fact until today. She was mad and sad at the same time. She felt like her relationship with Daniel had been put to waste. She couldn't even come to terms with the fact that she had to face Daniel again.

On the day of their break-up, Mandy had asked an explanation from Daniel, but he had never uttered even a single word. Now, Daniel said he wanted to give her his long due explanation, but Mandy was not so keen to listen to it anymore. But in the end, she agreed to meet him. Maybe, inside her, she was still longing for closure.

It was a long night for Mandy. She had difficulty sleeping as thoughts continued to occupy her mind.

In the detention center

Mandy dropped by once again. This time, her purpose was different. She had come to visit a person she used to love.

Across the cold glass, Mandy saw Daniel. He was still handsome, but his face was now covered with stubble, a little different from what he looked like in Mandy's memories. He was wearing the prison uniform too. Mandy could not hide her surprise and distress.

Frowning slightly, Mandy sat down calmly. She forced herself to be relaxed. Mandy looked at Daniel through the glass window. She had not seen this man for quite a long time. She remembered how she used to be so familiar with his face. But she couldn't find that man in the person in front of her. She looked directly at his eyes only to find a trace of apology and nostalgia. Arrogance was no longer found on him.

Mandy lifted the phone and waited for him to speak first.

Daniel took his time before speaking. "Mand, I'm sorry..." He opened his mouth and pressed his lips together again. His words seemed to be stuck in his throat, and his voice seemed to be coming from a distance.

"Don't try to play mind games with me. You just say sorry now? Is that all you can say? Don't you think it is a little late?" Mandy frowned. From a seemingly calm woman earlier, she was now displeased by Daniel's lack of words. Because of him, her life had been overturned. It had been totally messed up by Nathan. She blamed Daniel for it, and she was not satisfied with his apology.

"I know it's hard for you to forgive me, but listen to me first. I'll tell you everything I know. You shouldn't know about this, but I feel guilty to hide it from you." When Daniel saw Mandy's reaction, a hint of guilt hit him. He felt like he was the one who destroyed Mandy's happiness.

If he had let go of his hatred and deep-seated emotions, perhaps things would have turned out differently.

"Okay, I'm listening," Mandy swore with a cold expression on her face. She was expecting to hear more from this man. She wanted to close down this chapter of her life with this conversation.

"Fifteen years ago, when your father bought my father's company, our family was destroyed. My parents killed themselves by jumping off a building one night. In an instant, I became an orphan and lived under other people's roofs. Then, I entered the No. 1 High School and met you," Daniel said calmly, but his eyes were constantly moving though.

Hearing his words, Mandy was stunned. She couldn't believe what she had heard. She did not know what to feel at this instance. She was looking at Daniel with a myriad of thoughts clouding her mind.

"You approached me with a purpose from the very beginning. And I was so stupid to fall for it." Mandy was furious. Her father had purchased the Zhao Family Group, but she never had any idea that it was connected to Daniel. How was it her fault? What did she do to deserve this pain? She did not push Daniel's parents off that building. Why should she carry this heavy burden?

She thought, 'Business is a war field. No one could predict what would happen the next second. If they couldn't even afford to take the risk, why did they have to be a businessman?'

"I'm sorry, Mand. I know it's all my fault. I don't know why I never mentioned this to you before, but of all the lies I told, this is the only truth: I really loved you." At the other end of the glass, Daniel was unsettled. He wanted to convince Mandy that he really loved her.

"That's enough. It's meaningless to talk about it now. Daniel, I do not have anything to do with my father purchasing your family's company fifteen years ago. You lied to me and made me a fool, so you can get vengeance. I will never be fooled by you again. From now on, let us be strangers." Mandy's words cut deep, words that only a woman who was made a fool of could utter. Mandy sniffed. She couldn't cry!

"Mand, I know you hate me, and I know how despicable I am right now. Live your life happily in the future while I pay for my sins here in prison. Maybe I am asking for too much, but I just hope that you can forgive me when the time comes," Daniel desperately said. He knew he was wrong, but this was the only chance he would get to beg for forgiveness.

"Don't worry. I will not ruin my life because of a useless and insignificant man." Mandy looked away swiftly, her heart shattering into pieces.

With a faint smile, Daniel said in low voice, "I thought we both need closure. I guess this is it. Mand, just forget me completely and then start a new life."

"Ha! Of course," Mandy sneered, and tears started to well up in her eyes. She tried her best to contain her emotions. "How many years will you stay in prison?" Her voice was cracking.

"Eight years according to my lawyer." He smiled lightly. He did not know what the next years would be like, but he wanted to cherish today and this time that he saw Mandy again.

Eight years was not that long. How many eight years could a lifetime have? But for the rest of his stay in prison, he was sure he would remember this day when the girl he loved so much paid him a visit.

Daniel finally came to regret the time when his career was at its peak. It was the best age for him, but he was blinded by hatred. He could have spent the days with his beloved, but now, he had to spend the next eight years in a cold prison. Mandy felt sorry for Daniel, and Daniel was doubly sorry for himself.