"I don't believe in miracles." After Karen finished speaking, she looked at her aunt with her mouth tightly pressed together.The sun reflected on Karen's clean face, making her look like a "before make-up" model in a picture.But the lack of makeup just accentuated her flawless skin, high cheekbones, and emerald eyes. "I didn't mention the word miracle at all," replied Anne, impatiently.Karen was fair-skinned, she was dark; she was half a foot shorter than Karen, and she was very plump. "I just said you should go to the Yule Ball at the club. What has that got to do with miracles?"

"You said maybe I could meet a nice guy and remarry," Karen replied, refusing to think about the car accident that took her beloved husband. "Okay, then you shoot me, I'll make it up to you." Annie squinted her eyes at her once very beautiful sister-in-law, and found it hard to believe that she was so jealous of Karen's appearance in the past.Now Karen's hair fell limply to her shoulders, parted below the ears.There was no trace of makeup on her face, and because of her light skin, she looked like a pale teenage girl.The elegant clothes of the past are gone, and now Karen is wearing an old tracksuit. Annie knows that it was Karen's late husband Ray.

"You used to be the brightest girl in the whole country club," said Annie sadly. "I remember watching you dance with Rey at Christmas. Do you remember that tuxedo you wore? The slits were so high you could see your ass. You and Rey were gorgeous together Yes! Your legs make all the men at the ball drool, all the men in Denver! Except, of course, my Charlie, who won't see it." Karen smiled at her from over her teacup. "There are two important things in your words, 'girl' and 'Rey.' I'm not a girl anymore, and I don't have Rey anymore."

"Come on!" Annie said in a long voice. "It sounds like you're ninety-two years old and ready to buy a coffin. You're only turning thirty. I'm thirty-five this year, and my age doesn't matter to me." Annie stood up while supporting her waist , walk slowly to the sink and pour another cup of herbal tea.She was in the last trimester of her pregnancy and her belly was so big she could barely reach the teapot. "I see what you mean," Karen said. "But regardless of whether I am old or young, Rey will not come back." She spoke of Rey in a respectful tone, as if treating him like a god.

Annie let out a long sigh. This kind of dialogue has been carried out countless times. "Ray is my brother and I love him very much, but Karen, Ray is dead. He's been dead for two years. It's time for you to come back to life." "You don't know the situation between me and Rey, we..." Anne's face was full of sympathy, and she stretched her hand across the table, grabbed Karen's wrist and squeezed it. "I know he was everything to you, but you still have a lot to give to others, to another living man." "No!" Karen snapped. "No other man in this world can take Rey's place, and I won't let anyone try." She stood up abruptly and walked towards the window. "Nobody understands. Ray and I are not just husband and wife, we are partners. We are equals and share everything. Ray asks my opinion on everything from business matters to what color socks he should wear All the same. He made me feel useful. Can you understand? Whether it was before or after I met Ray, I met the kind of man who likes women to be pretty and sit down. As long as you Start telling him what you think, and he'll ask the waiter for the check."

Annie couldn't refute these, because she had seen with her own eyes how happy their marriage was.But she really didn't want to see her sister-in-law isolated like this, so she didn't intend to tell Karen that she would never find a man who was half as good as Ray. "All right!" said Anne. "I don't want to mention these things. If you are determined to imitate the widows in India and die for your husband, then it's up to you." She looked at the back of her sister-in-law hesitantly. "Tell me about your work!" Her tone made it clear how she felt about Karen's work.

Karen turned from the window and smiled. "Annie, you can't hide what you think in your heart. First you were dissatisfied with my beloved husband, and now you have dissatisfaction with my work." "Go and sue me! I don't think you should be a widow all your life, nor should you do such a terrible job as typing." Karen couldn't always get mad at Annie because Annie really thought Karen was the best person in the world, and it didn't matter that they were related. "I have a good job!" she said, and sat down at the table again. "Everyone is fine, everything is going well."

"So boring?" Karen laughed. "It's not terribly boring, but it's kind of boring." "Then why don't you just resign?" Before Karen could answer, Annie raised a hand. "I apologize. You have such a good brain, if you want to bury yourself in the typing room, it's none of my business." Annie's eyes lit up. "Forget it, let's talk about your handsome and awesome boss. How is the handsome guy?" Karen smiled and dismissed it. "The girls in the typing room threw me a birthday party last week." She raised her eyebrows defiantly, because Anne never had good things to say about her six female colleagues.

"Oh... what did they give you? A handmade shawl or a rocking chair? Or two cats?" "Elastic stockings," she said, and laughed. "No, I'm joking. It's a normal thing, and they chipped in to give me a very nice present." "what exactly is it?" Karen took a sip of her tea. "A chain of glasses." "what?" Karen's eyes flashed. "A chain for glasses. You know, one of those things you wear around your neck. It's fine, eighteen-karat gold. There's, uh, a cat on the chain." Annie wasn't smiling. "Karen, you need to get out of that place. Those women must be three hundred years old. Didn't they notice you weren't wearing glasses?"

"Three hundred and seventy-five." Seeing Anne's puzzled eyes, Karen said. "They're three hundred and seventy-five years old. I counted them one day. They say they know I don't wear glasses, but I'm thirty and I'll need them soon." "It's time for an old woman like you to wear elastic stockings." "Actually, Miss Zhan gave me a pair for Christmas last year. She is seventy-one years old, and she promised to wear them well." This time Anne smiled. "Oh, Karen, this is no joke. You gotta get out of there." "Hmm," Karen said, looking down at the teacup. "My work is useful."

"What are you thinking?" Annie asked immediately. Karen looked at Auntie innocently. "I don't understand you." Anne leaned back and looked at her sister-in-law for a while. "I finally understand. You are too smart to reveal everything at once. Then enlighten me, Luo Kailun, if you don't tell me clearly now, I will find a way to punish you You are not allowed to see my baby until she is, say, three years old." Karen immediately turned pale, and Annie knew she had won. "Say it!" "It's a good job, and the co-workers are—" Annie's face suddenly brightened. "Stop pretending to be a martyr in front of me. I've known you since you were eight years old, remember? You help those old women tell stories, so you know a lot of things. I bet you are worse than Tan Aili in the company Clear." Annie smiled, proud of her shrewdness. "And you deliberately don't look clean so as not to arouse others' wariness. If Miss Ge saw your appearance a few years ago, she would definitely find a reason to fire you." Karen blushed, as if she didn't tell herself. "Forgive my stupidity," said Anne. "Why don't you get a job that pays more than a secretary?" "I did!" Karen said excitedly. "I applied to dozens of companies, but because I didn't have a bachelor's degree, they wouldn't even consider me. The HR director didn't take eight years of running a hardware store seriously." "You just quadrupled the profits of the hardware store." "None of that counts anyway. Only the paper that proves I spent years taking boring classes counts." "Then why don't you go back to school and get a piece of paper?" "I'm going to school!" Karen sipped her tea to calm herself. "Listen, Anne, I know you mean well, and I know what I'm doing. I know I'll never find another man who works as well as Rey, so maybe I can learn enough Opening my own store. I'm still keeping the money from selling Ray's half of the hardware store, and I'm saving most of the money I earn from working now. Meanwhile, I'm learning all about running a big company like Ali Tan." Karen smiles. "Of course I'm not really trying to be a fool in front of those old ladies. They think they're using me to do things for them, but I only choose what I want to do. Everything that comes into our office from the various departments of the company will Go past my desk first. And because I am willing to work overtime on weekends and holidays, I can always see the most urgent documents." "What do you plan to use after learning so much?" "Find a place to open a store and do business, let's do retail! I understand this business, but now there is no Rey in charge of sales, I don't know how to deal with it then." "You should remarry." "But I don't want to get married!" Karen almost shouted. "I just want to get pregnant!" Karen said, looking at her friend in horror. "Please forget what I said," she whispered. "By the way, I should go. I have something to-" "If you dare to get up from that chair, you will die." Annie said calmly. With a long sigh, Karen collapsed back on the window seat of Annie's sunny kitchen. "Please don't, Anne." "What else?" "Inquiring about spying and meddling in matters that have nothing to do with you." "I have no idea what you're talking about. I've never done that kind of thing in my life, so tell me the truth now." Karen tried to change the subject. "Last week another beautiful woman came out of Mr. Tan's office tearfully," she said of her boss, a man who somehow seemed to drive Anne crazy with lust.Karen was sure it was because Anne didn't know him. "What do you mean you want to get pregnant?" Annie clenched her teeth tightly. "An hour after she left, a jeweler showed up at Mr Tan's office with a suitcase and two guards. We all assumed he was trying to bribe her to send her away. Well, dry with emeralds her tears." "Did you do anything to get pregnant?" "We heard on Friday that Mr. Tan is engaged again, but not to the woman who came to the office to see him. This time he is engaged to a redhead." She leaned across the table to Annie. "On Saturday I typed his prenuptial agreement." This caught Anne's attention. "What's written in it?" Karen returned to her original position with disdain on her face. "That man's a jerk, Annie, really. I know he's good-looking, and he's got a lot of money, but he's not really a nice guy. I know his... his socialites probably just fancy him." Of course, it is impossible to like him, but they are all human beings after all, and they should be treated kindly." "Are you going to stop preaching and tell me what's in the prenuptial agreement?" "His bride has to agree to give up her rights to everything he buys with his money during their marriage. As far as I know, she can't own anything. Even the clothes he buys for her in a divorce. Still his." "Really? What is he going to do with those women's clothes?" Annie raised her eyebrows. "Certainly nothing good. Or give it to another gold digger who can fit it. Or he could sell it and use the money to buy a box of engagement rings, which he gives away all day long anyway." .” "Why do you dislike that man so much?" asked Annie. "He gave you a job, didn't he?" "Oh yeah, his office is full of women. I bet he's instructing HR to hire women based on leg length, and he's surrounded by hordes of beautiful female executives." "What are you so dissatisfied with?" "He won't let them do anything!" Karen said sharply. "Mr. Tan makes all his own decisions. As far as I know, he doesn't even ask his beauties what they think, let alone leave things to them." She squeezed the handle of the teacup tightly, almost squeezing it broken. "Tan Aili can live alone in the desert, and he doesn't need others in his life." "Looks like he needs a woman," said Anne softly.She'd met Karen's boss twice and was completely mesmerized by him. "He's the typical American playboy," Karen said. "The longer the legs and the longer the hair, the more he likes them. He likes beautiful women without heads." She smiled maliciously. "Having said that, so far, no woman has been stupid enough to find out that marrying him can only get him, and then marry him." "Um..." said Annie, seeing the anger on Karen's face. "Maybe we should change the subject. How are you going to have kids when you avoid men as soon as they see you? I mean you're trying to keep men at arm's length, right?" "Ah! This tea is delicious," said Karen. "Annie, you really have a way of doing things in the kitchen. I'm really happy today, but now I have to go." She got up and walked towards the kitchen door. "Oh!" cried Anne. "I'm going into labor! Help me!" Karen's face was almost gone, and she hurried to her friend. "Lie down and relax. I'm calling the hospital." Karen was about to reach for the phone when Anne spoke in her normal voice again. "I think the pain is over, and if you don't, you'd better stay here until Charlie comes back. Just in case, you know." Karen glared at Annie for a moment, then resigned herself and sat down again. "Well, what exactly do you want to know?" "I don't know why, I've been very interested in babies recently, probably because I ate something. Never mind, anyway, you just mentioned about children, so I want to ask clearly." "There's really nothing to say, really. I just..." "Just how?" Annie asked. "I just regret that Ray and I never had a baby. We both thought there was plenty of time anyway, and there was no rush." Annie didn't speak, and let Karen think about what she wanted to say. "I recently had a thorough checkup at an infertility clinic and it looks like I should be perfectly fine." Karen didn't say any more, so Annie said softly, "So you went to the doctor, what should you do next?" "I'm going to pick a sperm donor off the list," Karen said simply. Annie felt that this kind of thing was outrageous, so she forgot to restrain herself for a while, and couldn't help embarrassing her. "Yeah, and then you take a tube—" Karen didn't smile, her eyes flashed with anger. "Of course you can make sarcastic remarks, because you have a loving husband who can help you, but what can I do? Advertise in the newspaper for donors?" Lonely widows want children but don't want a husband, please contact mailbox 356. '" "If you go out more, you might run into—" Annie stopped, because she could tell that Karen was angry. "I see. Why don't you ask your handsome boss for help? He's better than a pipe." Karen wanted to stay angry, but Anne's persistence softened her. "Mr. Tan, I don't want a raise," Karen said strangely. "But would you mind giving me some sperm? I have a jar ready, oh, that's fine, I can wait." Annie laughed, this was the former Karen, the Karen she had rarely seen in the past two years. Karen was still smiling. "Based on my cycle, Christmas is when I'm most likely to conceive, so maybe I should wait for Santa to come." "It's better than serving him milk and biscuits," said Annie. "But don't you feel sorry for the other kids when he stays at your house all night?" Anne laughed out loud at her own joke, and at the end she let out a scream. "It's not that funny," Karen said. "Perhaps Santa's helper could—Annie? Are you all right?" "Call Charlie," she whispered.She felt another convulsion and clutched her big belly tightly. "Forget it, leave Charlie alone, call the hospital and tell them to bring you the morphine. It hurts!" Karen trembled and dialed. "Idiot!" Karen said, looking at herself in the mirror, seeing tears welling from the corners of her eyes.She tore off a tissue from the bathroom wall and wiped the corners of her eyes, only to see that her eyes were already red.Of course it was red, because she had been crying for almost twenty-four hours. "Everyone cries when a baby is born," she murmurs. "People cry on occasions of real joy, like marriages, engagements, and births." She stopped wiping and looked in the mirror, knowing that she was deceiving herself.Holding Annie's newborn daughter last night, she wished so much that the child was her own, so she almost ran away with the child.Annie frowned and took her daughter back from her sister-in-law. "You can't have my baby," she said. "Give birth to yourself!" Karen tried to joke about how she felt to hide her embarrassment, but it didn't work, and when she left Anne's hospital room, it was the saddest she had been since Ray's death. Now that Karen was at the company, the longing for a family was almost too strong for her to bear.She tried to wipe her face clean again, when she heard a sound at the door, and without thinking, rushed into a cubicle and locked the door.She doesn't want to be seen by anyone.Today the company is going to hold a Christmas party, and everyone is in high spirits.There will be unlimited supply of food and drinks at the party, coupled with the generous bonuses that Tan's company sent to the company's colleagues this morning, the atmosphere of joy throughout the company is close to boiling. Even if Karen wasn't in a bad mood at first, she must have been in a bad mood when she found out that one of the two people who came in was Sirita.Sirita is the self-appointed authority on anything and everything about Tan Ally.Karen knew she was trapped and couldn't get out, because if she stepped out, Rita would catch her and force her to hear what miracles Saint Tan Ally had done. "Did you see him?" Rita said in exactly the same way people usually talk about the Sistine Chapel. "He is the most beautiful creature on earth, tall, handsome, kind, and considerate." "So what happened to that woman this morning?" another woman asked.Since she hadn't heard about Mr. Tan's deeds, she must be a new assistant, and Rita was helping her to get familiar with the environment. "She doesn't seem to think he's that great." Karen hid inside and laughed when she heard this.That's exactly how she sees it. "Honey, you don't know what happened to that good man." Rita spoke of him like a veteran of the Great War. Karen stood against the wall, her head thrown back, screaming in annoyance.Does Rita have nothing else to say except that "painful lovelorn" and Tan Aili's great tragedy?Is her life so lackluster? "Three years ago, Mr. Tan fell madly in love with a young girl named Wen Yilian." Rita said that name as if it was ugly and cheap. "All he wanted was to marry her and have children. He wanted to have his own family, his own safe haven—" Karen rolled her eyes, and every time Rita asked the story to be more embellished: less and less fact, more and more sensational.Now Rita is describing the magnificent wedding planned by Mr. Tan out of his own pocket. According to Rita, his fiancée spent all his time getting her nails done. "Then she dumped him?" the new assistant asked, with respect in his tone. "She left that good man in church alone in front of seven hundred guests from all over the world." "It's so tragic," the associate said. "He must have been ashamed. Why would she do that? Even if she had a very good reason, couldn't she not have done it so badly?" Karen gritted her teeth.She believed that Mr. Tan waited until the night before the wedding to come up with his hateful prenuptial agreement, so that his bride would understand her status in his heart.certainly!Karen absolutely can't tell this kind of thing, because it is reasonable to say that Mr. Tan's private documents do not belong to her scope of work.That was the job of his private secretary.But the beautiful Ms. Ge is too big, of course she can't enter the data in front of the computer terminal in person, so she handed over the work to the most senior employee of the company: Ms. Zhan.And Ms. Zhan is over seventy years old, so she can't bear the heavy typing work.Miss Zhan knew that if she admitted that she couldn't do it, she would lose her job, and because there were groups of cats at home who depended on her for food, she must not lose their jobs, so they secretly handed over Mr. Tan's personal documents to Karen for handling. "So that's why all those women left him one after another." the assistant asked. "I mean a woman like that this morning." Karen didn't have to listen to Rita recount what had happened this morning; everyone in the office was talking about it.First of all, there is a Christmas party and bonuses, and Mr. Tan was dumped by a woman again. I wonder if everyone can bear such exciting things.Karen was really worried about Miss Jane's heart. This morning, just a few minutes after the bonus was handed out, a tall (status) gorgeous red-haired beauty rushed into the office, clutching a small box of rings in her trembling hand.The receptionist outside didn't need to ask her who she was and what she was doing, because the angry woman with the ring box in her hand was a common sight in Tan Aili's office.Door after door opened for her, until she entered the inner sanctuary: Mr. Tan's office. Fifteen minutes later, the red-haired beauty came out crying, and the ring box was gone. She was holding a jewelry box tightly in her hand, which should be a bracelet based on its size. "How could they treat him like this?" The women in the office whispered to each other, thinking that it was the woman who was wrong. "He was so sweet and kind and thoughtful," they said. "His only problem is that he has never loved the right person. As long as he can find a good woman, she will love him forever." In the end, everyone always comes to such a conclusion. "He needs a woman who understands the pain he's been through." With this consensus, every woman in the office who is not yet fifty-five will go to the bathroom, use the one-hour break at noon to dress up, and try to look as attractive as possible. The only exception is Karen.Karen would stay in her seat, trying not to speak her mind. At this point Rita sighed so loudly that the toilet door shook and the lock slammed.Because Rita has already told all the female colleagues in the company about Mr. Tan, she is not worried about being overheard at all. "Now he's free again," Rita said, her tone heavy with sadness and hopeful with the situation. "He's still looking for his true love and one day there will be a very lucky woman who will be Mrs Ally Tam." The assistant whispered his agreement. "That woman treated him like that was inhumane. Even if she hated him, she should at least be thinking about the wedding guests." Karen almost groaned when she heard these words, because she knew that another new force joined Rita's camp to play the game of deifying the boss. "What are you doing?" Karen heard Rita ask. "Fill in the correct name." The assistant replied. After a while, Rita sighed again, presumably from the depths of her heart. "Well written, I love it. My God! I love it. Now I have to go. I don't want to miss a second of the Christmas party." What will happen under parasitism."