Tears Beyond MeasureChapter 1

When I was twenty, I knitted my first scarf and gave it to the person I secretly loved. At Tommy Stark’s birthday party, he accepted the scarf, enduring everyone’s teasing looks.

Three days after my brother’s death, I went to withdraw from college. I overheard people in the office, sorting through files, joking around.

“Are you really going to throw away that scarf the country bumpkin, Audrey Reed, gave you?”

“That thing? It’s nothing compared to the designer coat Elara Chase gave him, or even a hotel towel. Just throw it away.”

“I knew Tommy wouldn’t care for something from his little shadow. Might as well give it to me as a foot rag; it’s a shame to throw it away, at least it was hand-stitched.”

Elara Chase was the girl he’d grown up with, his childhood sweetheart.

Tommy laughed, wadding the scarf in his hand and casually tossing it towards the guy. The guy deftly dodged, and the scarf landed beside a trash can, looking rather pathetic.

The moment my eyes met Tommy’s, I silently grabbed my papers and left. I understood in my heart that I had no right to question him. He stood behind me, seemingly saying something, but I didn’t hear it clearly.

Six years later, when I returned to the city, I heard rumors. The eldest son of the Stark family had a long-lost “first love.”

* * *

This trip back to the city was for my clothing boutique’s expansion. On opening day, an old acquaintance walked in.

“Audrey Reed?!”

I was tidying clothes on a rack. I’d changed my name many years ago. Hearing that name, I froze for a moment. Realizing it was me, I turned, meeting a pair of shocked eyes. The man in front of me looked somewhat unfamiliar, with handsome features and expensive clothing. But I couldn’t recall where I’d seen him. I offered a slightly embarrassed smile: “And you are?”

The man instinctively scratched his head. That gesture instantly reminded me who he was.

Neil Schmidt.

He was Tommy Stark’s friend. And the guy who, six years ago, had joked about using the scarf as a foot rag in the office. A girl stood beside him, her arm linked through his, slender and tall, with a warm smile.

In the VIP lounge, while the girl was in the fitting room, Neil surveyed my boutique. “You… this is your store? This brand has been really popular lately, I never expected the owner to be… you.” Neil seemed to remember something, a flicker of awkwardness crossing his face. “What I said back then was a joke, you absolutely shouldn’t take it to heart. In fact, I’ve wanted to apologize for years, but I couldn’t find you.” He continued, “Where have you been all these years? Why did you suddenly drop out of college? And no word at all…” His voice trailed off.

I calmly took a fruit platter from a server and placed it gently on the table. “Nowhere in particular, just went back home for a while.” Went back home, changed my name, restarted my life.

He was about to press further when his girlfriend emerged from the fitting room. The dress fit perfectly; the girl was very pleased and immediately bought several other styles. But then, she offered a suggestion. “Your autumn/winter collection isn’t quite complete. Other boutiques promote hats, brooches, shoes, and scarves together. I just tried on some clothes and noticed you don’t have matching scarves. I think that could be improved.”

I gently explained, “We don’t plan to make scarves for our clothing lines yet, I apologize. How about I give you a thirty percent discount on these clothes…”

Before they left, Neil cautiously began, “Actually, all these years, Tommy Stark has been…”

Suddenly, a metallic crashing sound came from inside the store. I turned, seeing the shelf I had just been half-installing come tumbling down. I rubbed my forehead, annoyed. Great, I have to re-install it again.

Neil was still talking. I gave him a hurried nod, then turned to instruct a sales associate to handle the mess. He looked overjoyed and promptly pressed an invitation into my hand. “Then it’s settled, Tommy’s birthday is tomorrow, you absolutely have to come!”

Before I could refuse, Neil quickly left, not giving me a chance to change my mind.

Chloe, my assistant who works with me, stretched and came out from the back. “What was that noise just now? It woke me up. And what’s this… Ju-li-an… Stark?” She stared dazedly at the invitation in my hand. Her outstretched arms, mid-stretch, remained in the air as she exclaimed Tommy Stark’s name.

I was a little puzzled. “You know him?”

Chloe nodded vigorously, her eyes, previously dull from insomnia, now bright. “Of course! Isn’t he the Stark family’s golden boy? I even saw him at a fashion show not long ago. He was sitting in the front row, tall and handsome. He took over the company right after graduating, and under his leadership, the annual profits have more than doubled…” She gasped, “Hey, this birthday invitation? How did you get it?”

My tone was calm. “Neil Schmidt gave it to me.”

At this, Chloe’s eyes instantly filled with admiration.