The wise sister-in-law

"Wait!" Erza exclaimed and raised her hand towards Rhea's face. "This is all a big mistake!"

Rhea's brow furrowed in confusion. Erza appeared to be somewhat bewildered.

"I just remembered something about him," Erza said, her face glowing with anticipation.

"What do you remember?" Rhea's heart raced as she listened. Was there any hope of finding another way out?

"When he moved back in after quarreling with you, he looked sad and hurt. I never saw him looking so hopeless like that. And I'm sure he actually cares about you and your marriage. Trust me ... he does care!"

Erza felt a pang of regret for not remembering her talk with Emery that day. Indeed, at that time, Emery looked sad and hurt. The feeling he was showing was the same as when he broke up with Jane last time; he had the same expression, the same somber mood. How can she forget all those important details? This could be the way to save Emery and Rhea's future together.

"But why do I not see the regret on his face? Why is he acted emotionless like a piece of cold ice when we met? As if he never cares at all. "Rhea felt the absurdity of Erza's words on Emery. It's the opposite of Emery's reaction when she tells him she wants to divorce. And Emery's attitude got colder after the incident that involved Desmond that day.

"Maybe something made him change his mind. Is it because of your platonic relationship with Desmond?" Erza took a wild guess.

"So, does it mean that he actually cares about me, despite behaving coldly towards me during our marriage?"

Erza shrugged and replied, "Yes, I believe that's the case. Mom pressured him into marriage, even though he wasn't prepared at the time. I think his distant behavior is his way of silently protesting the situation. However, I do believe he cares about you and the marriage. Otherwise, why would he have been so visibly upset and hurt on that day?"

After hearing Erza's analysis of the situation, Rhea fell silent for a moment as she tried to recall the incident. She remembered that Emery had seemed hesitant and sad when he let go of her, as though their marriage held a deeper meaning. However, at the time, Rhea was too heartbroken and disappointed to think much about Emery's reaction. Soon after, Emery had turned off his emotions and remained cold, leaving Rhea feeling as though he didn't care.

Rhea does not want to expect Emery to shower her with love. But she did want him to show that he cared. That is enough for Rhea. But now the situation has become a mess. Rhea is unsure if her decision to divorce him was the right one. Rhea was now having second thoughts about the divorce.

Is it true what Jane said to her that day? That she has feelings for Emery? Is the discomfort she felt thinking about Emery working alongside his ex-girlfriend a sign of something more?

"I know him, Rhea. He's my brother. He's not the type to have zero tolerance. If you truly wish to improve things, you should attempt to alter the circumstances instead of fleeing from them."

"Alter the circumstances?" Rhea was taken aback by the idea. "I'm not sure how to do that."

Erza smiled with relief as Rhea began considering the possibility of finding a good solution. "The first step is to entice him to go home. If he is stubborn, you can always move back in here for a while. But, it's crucial to be together if you want to create lasting change."

Rhea found comfort in Erza's wise words, which were beyond her years and experience. "You're more of a big sister to me than a younger sister-in-law," she said gratefully.

Erza furrowed her brows at Rhea's statement. "I'm not particularly intelligent. I simply believe in doing what's good and right, as our mother taught us. Every issue has a resolution, but it's up to you to decide whether or not you want to address it. The solution is always within reach."

Rhea approached Erza and took a seat beside her on the bed. She wrapped her arm around Erza's shoulder in a friendly hug. "Whoever ends up as your husband is going to be one lucky guy. You're so mature and wise, and I pray that you find a wonderful and loving partner soon."

Erza laughed nervously, admitting that she hadn't really considered marriage or dating. After experiencing heartbreak during her first high school relationship, she closed off her heart and didn't believe anyone could make her fall in love again.