Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Instead, it contained two pictures.

Both pictures were similar, but on closer inspection, one would be able to notice the very subtle differences in the seals below.

That tiny little difference was a difference that was significant enough in terms of what they represent.

One of the pictures was true and the other one was false.

Samantha stared at it for a few seconds and her expression became increasingly serious as she replied: [What do you mean by this?]

There was a reply then. [If you're interested, you can check them yourself. If not, then just pretend you didn't see anything.]

That again!

It was the same as three years ago.

They deliberately threw bait to her and hoped that she would take the bait!

The person was smart enough to throw a bait that she could never ignore!

Samantha gritted her teeth and clenched her hands tightly. She glanced once more at the ring on the bedside table and had a conflicted look in her eyes.

…

The dinner date was set at eight o'clock.

Alan was restless all day and could not calm down, just like how it was when he asked her out three years ago.

He had been in a relationship twice before: once when he was in university and once when he started working.

However, he has been obsessed with medicine ever since he was a child and spent his time either studying or doing research. He could go so far as to coop himself up in a laboratory for half a month without ever coming out.

Therefore, his partners were either university classmates or colleagues in the laboratory because they were in contact with him for the longest period.

They were the ones who developed feelings for him and confessed to him. He could not say whether he liked nor disliked them, but since he did not find them aversive, he decided he could try being in a relationship with them to see how things went.

However, his partners were the ones who initiated the breakup too.

The reason for that was his indifference toward them. He continued to study and do research every day even though he was in a relationship, which caused his partners to feel as though there was no difference in whether or not they were dating.

As a result, they all broke up peacefully and became friends or colleagues.

He thought that relationships were like that. When two people shared the same career, were able to talk to each other, and did almost similar things, they could get married after dating for some time and have children after that. To him, that was probably how a person's life should be.

That was until he met Samantha.

She was a very disobedient patient.

He began to pay attention to her and worry about her because she did not cooperate with the treatment. He started feeling heartbroken because of her injuries. Whenever he saw her crying, he wanted to comfort her and see her smile again.

It was unfortunate that he had no idea he was developing feelings at the time. He simply thought it was the kindness and concern he showed because of his profession as a doctor.

When they met again later, she had already married someone else and became another person's wife. That was when he understood what his feelings were, but it was already too late.

He hoped that his love would be reciprocated and he did not want his affection to make her feel pressured. As a result, he endured his pain and recused himself in a very gentlemanly manner.

Little did he expect God to give him another chance.

He was a scientist who believed in science rather than the existence of a higher being, but at that moment, he felt grateful to whoever was up there due to Their willingness to send Samantha to him again.

At seven o'clock, he dressed up in a suit, wore the tie that Samantha gave him as a token of appreciation, then drove off.

His first stop was a florist, where he selected a few pink roses and asked the shop employee to pack them up for him. He brought the roses back into the car and then proceeded to drive towards the restaurant.

Alan stepped into the restaurant with ten minutes to go before eight.

The restaurant manager led him to the reserved table. He handed the flower to the manager and said, "Bring them out with the red wine later."

The store manager understood. "Alright, Dr. Sherwood."

After Alan sat down, he felt inexplicably nervous and adjusted his collar slightly.

Time passed slowly… Five minutes to go before eight… Eight o'clock sharp...

He looked at the door but did not see Samantha.

Alan frowned slightly.

It was understandable that some women were late, or if they deliberately came late due to their reservedness.

However, he understood that Samantha had a strong sense of time—either due to her cheerful disposition or because of the nature of her work—and would rarely be late.

Before he knew it, another five minutes had passed and Samantha was still nowhere to be seen.

Alan clenched his hand slightly.

Did...something hold her up...

Or did she decide not to come at the last minute?

That scene felt unusually familiar.

Three years ago, he went to the restaurant ahead of time and waited eagerly for her.

Back then, Samantha never came.

Would history repeat itself then? Would Samantha not show up even then?

The light in Alan's eyes dimmed considerably.

Just as the last ray of hope was about to disappear, a familiar figure suddenly ran in from the door.

Alan was stunned.

Afraid that it might be a hallucination, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again.

The woman had glanced over at him and was walking in his direction.

She walked toward him with slow steps.

Her gentle voice sounded, "I'm sorry, Dr. Sherwood. I left home a little late."

She did come.

Alan smiled as he stood up and glanced warmly at her. "Don't worry. I just arrived too. I'm glad that you came."

'I'm glad that you came...'

Those words left Samantha's heart feeling sour.

Alan walked over and pulled the chair for Samantha. "Please have a seat."

"Thank you."

Alan returned to his seat after Samantha sat down.

He picked up the menu and handed it to Samantha, "I ordered some of the restaurant's signature dishes. Have a look and see if there's anything else you feel like having."

Samantha shook her head. "It's fine. I'm sure you ordered the food I like. The portion is probably enough too."

Alan smiled.

He was happy that she noticed his intentions.

He took the menu back and glanced inadvertently at her hand. The ring he gave her was absent from her slender and beautiful ring finger.

He could not help himself when his smile faded.

Samantha noticed his gaze and curled her fingers stiffly without trying to hide it from him.

She swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva and spoke first, "Dr. Sherwood, I... I invited you to dinner today because I was prepared to put on the ring you gave me."

She linked her fingers together unconsciously.

"Just a second ago, I was already prepared to agree to you!"

Samantha closed her eyes. "But..."

After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and looked up at Alan while straining to say, "There's something I have to figure out, or else it'd be very unfair to you!"

Alan had an indecipherable expression and his voice was slightly deep. "What's the matter?"

Samantha's long, curly eyelashes trembled slightly and she pursed her lips before saying clearly, "I just learned that Timothy and I might not be divorced yet!"

The email sent by that person just now was a comparison chart of real and fake divorce certificates.

It was a reminder to Samantha that the divorce certificate she had might be a fake.