Chapter 3

Leonard called Melanie's name several times. His tone had already taken on an impatient edge before Melanie finally responded by reluctantly tearing her gaze away.

I had thought that the encounter at the restaurant would be the last time Melanie and I crossed paths before I left the country.

But on the very night I officially resigned from my job as her assistant, she video-called me. That in itself was such an absurd, unprecedented event that I had to physically stop myself from declining it immediately. Instead, I switched the call to voice only and answered.

Her voice came through, and she sounded peeved. "Why did you switch to voice?"

I replied casually, "I'm not dressed. It's inconvenient to have a video chat."

Melanie laughed when she heard that. My reply somehow put her in a better mood. She teased, "Come on, we've been married long enough. I've seen everything there is to see."

Her flirtatious tone made my skin crawl.

I asked coldly, "What do you want?"

Sensing the chill in my voice, she instantly dropped her languid tone and sat upright. "I heard from HR that you resigned."

"Yeah." I didn't bother explaining anything.

Awkward silence ensued.

Then, with a light tone that sounded forced, like she was just searching for something to say, she added, "Good thing you quit. Honestly, what were you thinking? You could just be the CEO's househusband, but you insisted on working as an assistant. You sure like to suffer, don't you?"

She gave a small laugh before continuing, "And you weren't even that dedicated. I barely saw you in the office, yet I had to pay you every month. In the end, the whole company found out that you were my husband, and they all said I played favorites."

I cut her off, feeling irritated, "Shouldn't you be with Leonard right now?"

Without thinking, Melanie mumbled under her breath, "It's not like he's anyone special to me. Why do I have to be with him all the time?"

But as soon as she said it, she fell silent. It was because she suddenly remembered that I was just her ex-husband now.

She spoke again, but she sounded diffident this time. "The divorce was my fault. I just don't want people talking badly about Lenny…"

I nodded stoically. Right. Leonard shouldn't have to put up with gossip, but I should be the laughingstock and subject of every idle conversation in the circle.

My voice turned even icier as I said, "If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."

"Wait!" Melanie cried out anxiously. "Our wedding anniversary is on the 12th. Nate Zaleski's concert is on that day. I know you've been wanting to go. We'll attend the concert together, okay?"

For a brief second, I almost told her the truth that I was leaving.

But before I could speak, I heard a familiar male voice in the background through the phone. "Mel, I forgot my towel. Can you bring it to me?"

Melanie didn't respond right away. She stared at the screen that displayed my name in a daze, torn between the two of us.

With a stoic expression, I urged, "Go ahead."

Melanie hesitated for a moment longer before standing up slowly. "Give me a moment, Xavier. I'll be right back."

She started walking toward the bathroom.

As I expected, I soon heard the faint, unmistakable sounds of kissing. Then came Melanie's muffled moan, followed by the sharp slam of the bathroom door closing.

I ended the call with a derisive scoff.

Right at that moment, Kieran called out from the living room excitedly. He asked me to hit a nightclub with him. Without hesitation, I put my phone down and got up.

There were still so many things in this world that could put a smile on my face.

In the past, I was so blind that I was unable to see past one woman. But I was starting afresh now. Why should I waste another second of my life mourning someone who already belonged to the past?

…

Without Melanie around, time passed by quickly. When I came to realize it, there were only a few more days left before my flight overseas.

I hadn't been in contact with Melanie since the last call. Still, I heard bits and pieces about her and Leonard through Kieran.

Apparently, they had a huge fight. In fact, the fight was so bad that Melanie walked out of a banquet. She left Leonard behind without regard for his dignity in public.