Chapter 3

3

I did not tell Caleb about going to New Zealand.

But he could have easily found out. The whole department knew.

He was clueless only because his mind was no longer on me.

The class president booked the rooftop of a popular local restaurant for my farewell party.

I specifically told him, "Do not tell the other students I am coming. Just say it is a regular class reunion."

"Professor Ross, I did not know you liked playing surprises," the class president joked.

It was not a game. It was the last test I was giving Caleb.

When Yvonne walked onto the rooftop, Caleb was right beside her like a loyal servant, one hand around her waist and the other holding her hand.

The moment Caleb saw me, his entire body went rigid.

He froze for a second before frantically pulling his hands away. "Meredith... What are you doing here?"

Yvonne stood there, looking as if she had been nailed to the floor.

I did not even look at Caleb.

I walked over with two glasses of red wine and offered one to Yvonne with a fake smile. "Want a drink?" Then, I acted as if I just remembered. "Oh, my bad. You are pregnant. Pregnant women cannot drink."

I moved the glass toward Caleb. "So, will you drink it for her?"

The rooftop went dead silent, then whispered chatter broke out.

"What? Yvonne is pregnant? Who is that guy next to her?"

"Shh! Keep it down! I think that is Professor Ross's fiancé!"

Beads of cold sweat formed on Caleb's forehead.

I did not say another word, just staring straight into his eyes.

I raised an eyebrow. "What? She cannot drink, and you cannot either?"

Before I could react, the class president behind me grabbed a glass of red wine and threw it at Yvonne.

Caleb instinctively pushed the glass away to shield Yvonne, but the red wine splashed right onto me instead.

The blood-red liquid dripped from my hair down to my eyes, then slid into the collar of my shirt.

My light blue shirt was stained a dark, angry red.

In the twenty years I had known Caleb, this was the first time he had hurt me to protect someone else.

The rooftop erupted into chaos.

Caleb reached out to wipe the wine from my face, but I pushed him away.

The crowd fell silent again, and Caleb's ragged breathing was loud in the quiet air.

Yvonne suddenly shielded Caleb like a madwoman. "Why did you push him!"

I was amused. "Wow, you really care about him, don't you?"

Yvonne snapped back, "Professor Ross, you two are not even married! What right do you have to judge us?"

My chest felt like a shaken soda bottle, ready to explode.

"You are right. I am not married to him."

I turned to Yvonne. "The man standing next to you has loved me for twenty years. He said he would die for me. And look at him now. He cheated anyway."

Yvonne's face went pale, her mouth opening and closing without a sound.

Caleb trembled, his eyes shaking violently. "I have something to take care of. We are leaving."

I did not look at him or say a word.

I watched Caleb hold Yvonne's hand and walk off the rooftop under everyone's stares.

I drank too much that night and had no idea how I got home.

My head throbbed all night.

When I woke up, the sun was high, and Caleb had not returned.

I packed a few clothes and tossed them into my suitcase.

Before leaving, I took off the pink diamond ring on my right ring finger.

Caleb had put it on my finger when he proposed.

It had been less than a week since then.

It felt like a lifetime ago.

I let out a mocking laugh and closed the door behind me.

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