**After the Banquet.**
"Thank you."
Rachel clung to Adam's arm, walking with her head held high. Once outside, she let out a deep breath and said gratefully.
"You're welcome. It was the right thing to do."
Adam smiled and added, "But I think you should keep your distance from them in the future, including Mindy."
"I know."
Rachel instinctively touched her back.
Thinking back to the bridal lounge, the other bridesmaids had indeed surrounded her and chatted. Maybe the issue with her dress wasn't an accident at all.
And when she walked out, no one had warned her—not even Mindy.
Then, the groomsmen stepped in, making sarcastic remarks and deliberately drawing attention to her embarrassing moment.
But Adam had noticed and pointed it out as soon as she stepped out. How did the groomsmen even get the chance to see it?
And then there was Mindy.
When she invited Rachel to the wedding, Mindy never mentioned how Barry's family had slandered her. But there was no way she didn't know.
Had Mindy really invited her out of sisterly affection?
Back in the day, Mindy had cheated on her countless times as the "best friend" and maid of honor. Even after knowing Barry was a scumbag, she was still willing to marry him just to become a dentist's wife.
That kind of character was definitely questionable.
The more Rachel thought about it, the more things didn't add up.
"Quality over quantity when it comes to friends."
Noticing Rachel's shifting expressions, Adam comforted her, "Monica and Phoebe—good people like them—are your real best friends."
Good character comes first. Only then can you talk about friendship.
"I know."
Rachel thought about how she had run away from her wedding and gone straight to Monica's place. Even though Monica had complained that she hadn't even been invited, she still took her in without hesitation. A smile crept onto Rachel's lips.
"Where's Monica?"
"Over there! Huh?"
Adam glanced around and spotted Monica with Richard. But then he let out a small "huh?" of surprise.
"What is it?" Rachel asked, puzzled.
"Something seems off. Monica looks like she's crying, and Richard is comforting her," Adam explained.
"Then let's go over there," Rachel said, taking a step forward.
"Wait."
Adam held her back. "Let's watch for a bit first."
Sometimes, even with friends, you can't just barge in uninvited—no matter how good your intentions are.
Right now, Monica might just want to bury herself in Richard's arms and cry her heart out.
**Ten minutes later.**
"This is bad. Something serious must've happened to Monica."
Seeing that Monica and Richard had been in the same position the whole time, Rachel finally snapped out of her own emotions and started worrying about Monica.
"Let's go."
Adam had already guessed what it was and led Rachel over.
Monica pulled away from Richard, wiped her tears, and got into the car. She leaned on Rachel, while Richard looked troubled. When Adam glanced at him questioningly, Richard responded with a helpless smile.
**Back at Apartment 520.**
Richard left.
When Rachel asked what had happened, Monica suddenly broke down, sobbing as she choked out the whole story.
As expected—it was about marriage.
Richard's mistake was inviting Monica to the wedding.
Monica was in her late twenties, almost thirty. In that kind of setting, seeing her fifty-something boyfriend stirred up her deep-seated desire to get married.
She kept bringing up marriage in conversation, moving from subtle hints to outright statements.
But Richard had no plans to marry. Even though he understood how Monica felt, all he could do was brush it off. What should've been a joyous occasion had turned into pure agony.
Then came the breaking point.
Monica mentioned kids. She claimed it wasn't really her wish, just something her mom wanted. But when she saw the flower girl and ring bearer playing nearby, she couldn't take her eyes off them.
Finally, she admitted she actually loved kids. But for now, (she meant soon, and with him) she didn't (want to) have kids.
Richard could no longer dodge the issue.
Marriage was something he could possibly reconsider in the future, but kids?
He was already in his fifties. If he had a child now, it would take 18 years to raise them. By then, he'd be in his seventies—still working to support a kid instead of enjoying life with Monica?
That sounded like a nightmare.
Besides, he already had grown children.
So, kids were completely off the table for him.
This was a fundamental difference.
Monica was stunned.
She loved kids and had always dreamed of having her own. And the man she loved most wasn't planning on having any with her? That had to be a joke.
Unfortunately, looking at Richard's sincere expression, she knew this wasn't a cruel joke. It was a cruel reality.
Monica wasn't Adam—she couldn't foresee where their relationship would go. She couldn't continue like this.
So, they broke up.
Everyone tried to comfort her, but it didn't help much.
In the end, they had to leave her in Rachel and Phoebe's care.
Some wounds only time can heal.
**One Week Later.**
Adam received his MCAT scores.
As expected, he had nailed it, excelling thanks to the test-taking skills he had honed in his past life in East Asia.
He immediately called Juno, who had also scored well—though not as high as him.
Now, all that was left was to wait two weeks for college graduation.
**Two Weeks Later.**
Time truly is the best healer.
After breaking up with Richard, Monica couldn't take it anymore and kept making excuses to get back together. But everyone stopped her.
At one point, she even secretly met up with Richard for a fling, and of course, Richard didn't turn her down.
But the issue remained unresolved.
No matter how thrilling the affair was, it couldn't cover up the problem.
Every time she calmed down afterward, she couldn't resist asking the question again—only to get the same answer.
So, they broke up again.
This time, Monica insisted that everyone keep an eye on her. She barely made it through the hardest few weeks of the breakup, but she still wasn't eating or sleeping well, worrying her parents.
Her dad came to visit.
She asked him just one question:
"Did Richard cry?"
She was driving herself crazy trying to find out, even going so far as to check Richard's voicemail to listen to his messages. When she heard a woman's voice, she nearly exploded.
Only after everyone reminded her that it was probably Richard's daughter did she finally relax and become ecstatic.
The emotional rollercoaster left her exhausted and sleepless, her whole body worn out.
When her father finally said, "Richard is struggling too. I'm sure he's cried in private."
Monica heard that and—just like that—she smiled and fell asleep.
**I'm sad, and you're not? What does that mean?**
**Do you not love me?**
**If I'm sad, you should be even sadder!**
That's how complicated relationships can be.
Even breakups have their own rules.
Back when Adam was "dumped" by Amazing Amy, why did he act so "heartbroken"?
To give Amazing Amy closure.
It's all just part of the game.
**(End of Chapter)**