Chapter 1

Benedict's POV

When I got the confirmation that the marriage license appointment had been canceled, my fiancee, Bianca Milas, stepped out of the bathroom.

She saw me sitting there motionless. She frowned and said, “Is there anything you need to tell me today? It’s almost 9 p.m.. I’m going to bed soon.”

I paused for a moment before shaking my head and said, “No.”

She nodded. “Okay, good night.’

She did not even notice my change in mood, or at least she did not bother to. Without hesitation, she simply turned and went back to her room.

For a while, I remained sitting there in a daze.

Just as I was about to get up, the dark computer screen suddenly lit up, and a call from Derek Steadman, her mother’s student, popped up in sync with her phone.

Bianca, who never answered calls, never spoke, and never replied to messages after 9 p.m., picked up within one second, as if she could not bear to keep him waiting.

I let out a bitter laugh.

It was so considerate of her.

Unfortunately, that same level of consideration never extended to me, her actual husband.

By the time I went back to my bedroom, Bianca had already closed her eyes and appeared to be asleep.

I noticed things I had never noticed before. Her phone was face down. There was a tiny, black earbud in her right ear.

I turned off the lights. In the darkness, I replied to the work relocation notice my manager, Mark Miller, had brought up last week.

I had not agreed back then because I did not want to be in a long-distance marriage with Bianca right after we got married.

But that was no longer a concern.

Mark promptly replied, “Are you sure? It’s a minimum five-year contract at the embassy in Clairvaux. If you’re in, get your visa sorted. We leave in three days.

I answered with a simple “okay.”

Beside me, Bianca’s breathing was slow and steady. Derek had to be feeling quite at ease at that moment as well.

I lay down, and there might as well have been a wall between us.

I spaced out for a moment, then closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, Bianca was already standing in the walk-in closet.

I got up and touched her phone.

It was hot.

After gathering all the documents needed for the visa application, I glanced at her briefly and headed out the door.

Just as I brushed past her, she called out to me in surprise, “Aren’t you going to curl my hair for me?”

I smiled plainly and said, “I’m not doing it anymore. You should learn how to do it yourself.”

I paused, then added, “Or have your teaching assistant do it.”

She put down what she was holding and walked over.

She looked at me with a confused expression and asked, “Are you talking about Derek?”

Just at the mention of his name, her usually stern and sharp expression softened instantly.

She smiled and said, “He actually does know how to curl it, and he’s pretty careful about it. But what does that have to do with you curling my hair?”

I was speechless for a couple of seconds.

I did not even know where to begin, so I simply let it go without explaining.

“Nothing. I just don’t feel like doing it anymore.”

She pursed her lips, visibly upset.

“Fine, suit yourself. Oh, and don’t bother bringing me lunch today. Derek just texted. He says he’s bringing some for me.”

My hand paused on the doorknob for a moment.

“Okay.”

She had severe stomach issues due to her work, so in the past, no matter how busy I was, I always cooked for her.

Well, it was a good thing Derek had brought food for her. I did not need to do that any longer.

With that thought, I no longer wished to care what she was feeling. I simply turned and closed the door behind me after speaking.

I went to the embassy to apply for a five-year work visa. Then, I went to my workplace to collect the transfer letter.

After placing my belongings in my bag, I watched the flowers bloom at the entrance of the Foreign Service Institute.

A wave of unprecedented sense of lightness and relief washed over me.

Just then, I remembered something.

I logged into the county clerk’s portal and canceled our marriage license application.

There was no point keeping it active.

It would not be needed again.