Chapter 3

3.

I had a lawyer draft the divorce papers and booked a flight to Sedona for two days later.

After packing my things, I went to the office and resigned.

Once everything was done, I just needed to tell Yasmin about the divorce.

I was about to call her when she beat me to it. Her voice was as impatient as ever.

"Get over here right now!"

She barked the command and hung up instantly.

I looked at the location of the high-end restaurant she sent. I remembered her saying yesterday she'd make up for our anniversary.

Fine. A divorce conversation is better handled in person anyway.

Yasmin and Cillian arrived late. They were wearing matching designer outfits, holding hands as they walked in.

The sight of their intimacy stung my eyes.

I remembered when we first started dating. I wanted to show off my partner to my friends.

I jokingly told her I bought two pairs of matching sneakers so we could wear them together.

Yasmin's face had gone dark instantly. She slammed her fork down in the cafeteria in front of everyone and hissed at me.

"Can you stop being so childish? Matching outfits will never happen with me."

I let out a sarcastic smile. It wasn't that she wouldn't wear them. She just wouldn't wear them with me.

Cillian saw me and raised an eyebrow. He looked incredibly smug as he scanned me from head to toe.

"Yasmin, your taste really went downhill after I left. You chose such an ugly knock-off."

Yasmin frowned and looked at me, following his lead. Her gaze was full of contempt.

I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white. My vision blurred with a sudden mist.

The secret I had buried for two years was now being dragged out and mocked.

And the one doing the mocking was the person I once loved deeply.

When Yasmin looked at me with that casual disdain, it felt like a serrated blade cutting through my skin.

I forced myself to look indifferent. I had to at least leave with some dignity.

I asked calmly, "Is this why you called me here?"

Yasmin didn't let go of his hand. she tilted her chin up.

"I called you to eat. Can't you tell? Weren't you whining about making up for the anniversary yesterday?"

I looked at the food on the table. Not a single dish was something I liked.

Instead, every plate was something Cillian loved, exactly as recorded in her laptop notes.

Sure enough, Cillian let out a delighted gasp.

"Yasmin, you ordered all this for me, didn't you? I can't believe you still remember what I like after all these years!"

She smiled and pinched his cheek. Her voice was so tender it could make someone sick.

"Of course. How could I ever forget what you love?"

I sneered internally. Of course she wouldn't. She read those notes every single day to reminisce.

I didn't pick up my fork. Yasmin gave me a strange look.

After a while, she actually pushed a bowl of creamy lobster bisque toward me.

"Drink it. It's your favorite."

I stared at the bowl, stunned. After a long moment, a bitter smile crept onto my face.

A year ago, I had to take medication that raised my uric acid. The doctor warned me repeatedly to avoid shellfish or I'd get a gout flare-up.

A whole year had passed, and she still didn't remember.

She remembered I used to like it, but she didn't remember that I couldn't touch it anymore.

The only reason she even ordered it was because Cillian loved seafood.

Seeing her face grow darker with annoyance, I didn't want to see her look at me with more hatred.

I forced the soup into my mouth, spoonful by spoonful.

The soup was supposed to be delicious, but it tasted like poison on my tongue.

A moment later, romantic piano music started playing. A server pushed a cake toward us with a big smile.

When he reached the table, he paused for two seconds. He looked between me and Cillian before finally pushing the cake toward him.

"Mr. Quinn, on behalf of the staff, I wish you and Ms. Ward a happy fifth anniversary. This is the special gift she prepared for you."

When Cillian saw the elegant box, his eyes lit up. But he quickly forced a look of sadness.

"I'm not Yasmin's husband. As much as I love this gift, I shouldn't take what belongs to someone else."

Yasmin saw his look and squeezed his hand to comfort him.

"If you like it, take it. Nothing is more important than your happiness."

The entire time, she never hesitated. She didn't even give me a glance.

Cillian immediately shot me a provocative, mocking smile. He opened the gift box.

Inside was a pair of exquisite designer cufflinks.

I had mentioned that brand to Yasmin before. I loved them, but I never bought them because they were so expensive.

Cillian tossed them in front of me with a look of pure disgust.

"Yasmin, why would you give him this trash? I remember these cufflinks were just a free bonus gift from that watch you bought me last week."

The cufflinks clattered onto the table, and my heart fell right along with them.

The gift I had longed for was just another man's leftovers.

I stared silently at Yasmin. A flash of panic crossed her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something.

Suddenly, Cillian ran over to the observation deck and let out a loud shout.

"Oh my god, Yasmin! Is this the surprise you planned for me?!"

Yasmin hurried to his side, gripping his hand as she laughed.

"Do you like it?"

I looked out the window. Every giant LED screen in the city skyline was lit up with four words:

【CILLIAN, I LOVE YOU】

On the balcony, the two of them were locked in a deep, passionate kiss.

It was exactly like the photo on her secret social media.

I didn't say a word. I just walked out of the restaurant.

I left the divorce papers behind, went to the airport, and changed my flight to tonight.

I blocked all her contacts, tossed my SIM card, and boarded the plane without looking back.