Chapter 3

Soon, a notification popped up on my phone.

"Your application has been received. Processing is expected to be completed within six hours."

I turned off my phone and went straight home. Then, I started packing my things.

The large house was filled with gifts from Ruby everywhere I looked—luxury car keys, rare figurines, bespoke suits, and so on.

To be fair, Ruby hadn't treated me badly. She would meticulously prepare for our anniversaries, remember when I had a stomachache, and even bring me supper when I stayed up late working overtime.

Five years ago, when Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer, I spent sleepless nights worrying about the exorbitant surgery costs.

After Ruby found out, she went behind my back and pretended to be a charity organization to transfer Mom to a premium hospital room and even covered the surgery costs.

But then, Steve came back, and Ruby's love began to shift.

No, perhaps it wasn't a shift but simply a return to where it belonged.

I shook my head, pulling myself out of the memories, and dragged out my suitcase from the very bottom of the walk-in closet.

Seven years ago, I had moved in with it. Now, I would leave with only it.

I quickly finished packing and sat on the couch, waiting for Ruby to come home. We'd been together for seven years, so even if we were going to break up, I wanted to tell her face to face.

I didn't know how much time passed before Ruby finally returned.

"Ivan, I brought you a gift. Come take a look," she said to me, but her eyes were fixed on her phone. The tenderness in her smile was so gentle, but it wasn't meant for me.

Instead of going over, I picked up my phone and sent a follow-up request to city hall about my pending application.

When Ruby saw that I wasn't getting up to greet her like I always did, she finally looked up. "What are you so busy with that you don't even want your gift?"

She opened a jewelry box and took out a diamond-studded watch with a smile.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

The diamonds sparkled brilliantly under the light. It truly was beautiful.

It was just that the belated birthday gift she had given me last week was exactly the same.

I pulled my hand back, avoiding her attempt to put the watch on my wrist.

Then, I said calmly, "You already gave me the same watch."

She froze for a moment and awkwardly put the watch back. Then, she looked at me as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

Seeing her like this, I let out a soft sigh and said, "Ruby, let's break up."

Just as I said those words, someone knocked on the door.

Ruby walked over to answer it with unusual eagerness.

Steve stood outside with a blue suitcase, grinning at us. "Hope I'm not intruding by coming to stay."

"Not at all."

Ruby took his suitcase and pulled out the pair of slippers he always wore.

Seeing me frozen in place, she cleared her throat awkwardly. "Steve's going to stay with us for a few days. He just got married, so it's not really convenient for him to stay at the family home anymore."

I paused, then it dawned on me that this was probably what she had been struggling to say earlier. It was just that the gift mishap had made it even harder to bring up.

I let out a soft, bitter laugh, finding my own wishful thinking utterly ridiculous.

"Fine. He can stay as long as he wants."

After all, I'd be gone tomorrow.

Seeing how calm I was, Ruby seemed to grow a little hesitant.

After a long pause, she finally added, "Steve has a bad back. The bed in the master bedroom was specially custom-ordered from overseas, so let's give him the master bedroom."

I stopped in my tracks, my gaze instinctively drifting toward the master bedroom in front of me.

It was still decorated like a wedding suite—white sheets, black "Just Married" lettering, and red roses.

Back then, it had felt joyful and romantic. Now, it just looked harsh and unreal.

"Alright." I nodded and went inside to retrieve my suitcase.

Watching my lonely silhouette as I wheeled the suitcase out, Ruby stood there stunned and called out to stop me.

"Yes?" I asked without looking back.

"Get some rest."

"Okay," I responded indifferently and moved my suitcase to the guest room. Then, I opened a hotel booking app to find a place to stay for the night.