Chapter 4
Her husband, the man she married, had actually used his ex–girlfriend’s photo as his phone wallpaper for five years.
At this moment, Emily truly realized how superfluous she was in Harold’s world.
The clatter of dishes echoed from the kitchen. Emily turned off the phone screen, placed it back on the coffee table, and walked toward the kitchen island as if nothing had happened.
Harold noticed nothing unusual, simply handing her chopsticks.
“Try it. Don’t force yourself if it’s bad.”
Emily took the chopsticks without looking at him, her voice barely audible.
“Can you tell me what happened between you and Sophia?”
Harold answered calmly.
“Sophia was my ex. We dated for eight years and almost got married.”
“She wanted to build her career abroad while I chose to stay back home.”
Though spoken casually, Emily caught the faint tremor in his usually steady voice.
Emily kept her head down, slurping noodles from her bowl.
“Just that?”
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Chapter 4
Harold stayed silent.
That night, they lay in bed occupying opposite sides with separate thoughts. Suddenly, Harold reached for Emily’s hand.
Emily froze.
Back when they lived together back home, he’d always pulled away whenever she touched him. This was the first time he took the initiative to hold her hand.
Emily thought he would explain everything that happened today, but instead he said, “Emily, I’ve decided to settle down here.”
Emily’s hand instantly turned cold.
A year ago, when Harold came here, he told her it was just a one–week business trip. But week after week passed, and he never went back. Meanwhile, Emily had to take care of his parents back home.
Because she always believed Harold would come back, but now he was unilaterally telling her that he wanted to stay here.
She spoke slowly, “It’s quite nice, but it’s a pity it often rains here. Take good care of yourself.”
Harold obviously didn’t expect her to agree so quickly.
He tightened his grip on Emily’s hand again and said, “Emily, thank you.”
Emily didn’t answer and closed her eyes.
Late at night, Harold’s phone kept vibrating. Emily knew that Sophia had sent him a message. After who knows how long, Harold turned over and got up.
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Chapter 4
He said softly, “Sophia was abused by her ex–husband and is very afraid of thunder. I’m going to keep her company.”
As if to reassure Emily, he added, “I’ll be back soon.”
Emily didn’t answer and pretended to be fast asleep.
But she knew very clearly that this time she wouldn’t wait for him to come back.
After Harold left, Emily couldn’t sleep at all, alone in this foreign country, unfamiliar city, and strange bed.
She got up, grabbed her charging phone nearby, and booked a 4 a.m. flight.
This was already the fastest available flight home.
Then Emily rolled out of bed. After drying her soaked daytime clothes, she changed out of the ill–fitting outfit Harold had bought her. She folded the clothes neatly and placed them on the sofa.
By then, only an hour and a half remained before takeoff.
Emily glanced at this place she’d occupied for less than four hours, then pulled an exquisite box from her backpack.
This is an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch, priced at $240,000.
Over five years of marriage to Harold, she’d scrimped and saved relentlessly, even cashing in half her fixed deposits to afford it.
Originally meant as their fifth anniversary gift, she now used it to punctuate this farcical marriage.
Emily took a blank sheet and wrote:
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Chapter 4
“Harold, this is my final gift to you. Farewell.”
After placing the paper beside the watch, she hoisted her lightened backpack.
The door clicked shut softly as she strode forward.
Without a backward glance.
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