Chapter 7

Liana didn't speak. Despite Jaxon's calm exterior, his eyes had traces of awkwardness.

His phone continued ringing, either with phone calls or video calls. Then, he started getting bombarded by texts. Clarissa obviously didn't think she had anything to hide.

The tension in the room was palpable.

Liana asked coolly, "Aren't you going to answer?"

Only then did he take the phone. He turned it off without looking at it before putting it back on the bedside table. He felt her forehead. "You're still burning up a little, but that's fine. Go to sleep. I'll watch over you."

Liana lay back down and shut her eyes. An hour later, her breathing evened out. She seemed to have fallen asleep.

Jaxon picked up his phone and headed to the balcony while turning it on. After reading the texts, he dialed a number. He asked, "Are you okay? Don't be scared. I'll be right there!"

He kept his voice low as he spoke. Then, he returned to the room and left after grabbing his coat.

Behind him, Liana slowly opened her eyes. She hadn't fallen asleep at all. She didn't know what she was looking forward to, really. A man whose heart had changed was like a fruit that was past its best before date. It would only rot further as time passed.

…

Jaxon returned home at 4:30 am. He sighed in relief when he saw that Liana was still asleep. He felt her forehead and found that her fever had subsided.

After that, he headed to the bathroom to shower. A while later, he emerged in a bathrobe and lay beside Liana, wrapping an arm around her waist from behind.

Once he was asleep, Liana moved his arm off her and sat up in bed, appraising him coldly. He looked as handsome as always with his thin lips, sexy Adam's apple, and… Her gaze landed on the bite marks along his collarbones.

In that split second, she felt like she'd been stabbed in the heart. At the same time, she felt the urge to smother him to death with a pillow when she thought about how rotten he was on the inside.

…

Liana had already left bed when Jaxon woke up the following morning. He found her in the kitchen with an apron on when he went downstairs. She'd prepared breakfast for the two of them and even called him to the table.

"Why didn't you sleep in? You've just recovered from a fever," Jaxon said as he approached her. He reached out to feel her forehead, but she dodged him.

"It's just a cold. It's no big deal," she said before removing the apron and heading to the table.

Jaxon looked at his hand hanging awkwardly in mid-air, but didn't think much of Liana's attitude. He figured that she wasn't mad anymore since she was so calm. With that, he joined her at the table.

"I have something to discuss with you," Liana said.

"What is it?" he asked after taking a sip of juice.

"I want to quit my job."

Her words stunned him. Before he could ask why, she explained, "Work is all I've done for the past few years, and I'm tired. I want to experience life as a rich man's wife for once."

He trained his gaze on her, seemingly trying to determine whether she was telling the truth. "You sure you're not pulling my leg?"

"Of course not. What, do you think I'm a masochist who doesn't know how to enjoy life?" she asked while laughing.

Jaxon thought about it and agreed. "It's good that you don't want to work anymore. You can stay at home, and we can start a family."

Liana smiled without answering. It seemed that he had it all figured out. She would be a baby-making factory while he had his fun with Clarissa. He was dreaming!

"I'll tender my resignation and handle the procedures over the next few days. I'm thinking of heading to Oirope with Cece. It's been ages since I last traveled."

"Isn't she busy at the law firm? Does she have time to travel with you?"

"Of course she is. But she's carving out some time to go with me," Liana said, smiling.

That rendered Jaxon speechless. He seemed to think of something, and after a while, he said, "It's good to go out for some fun now and then. Don't worry about anything. Just go ahead and enjoy yourself."

Liana continued smiling without saying anything. She'd be bidding him farewell when the time came.

The scar on her forehead stood out like a sore thumb, and she didn't want to show up at the office with it while handling her resignation. So, she took a few days off to rest at home.

Since she had plenty of time, she slowly packed her clothes, bags, and shoes. Then, she moved them to her new place one by one.

She moved a little bit on this day and a little bit more the next. Her side of the wardrobe was visibly emptier than before. Anyone who paid even the slightest bit of attention would have noticed it.

Jaxon didn't, though. Even as Liana took their wedding photo to the garden to burn it before his very eyes, he didn't notice anything. He kept his head lowered as he looked at his phone, occasionally chuckling while replying to messages.

If he would just spare Liana some attention and look outside the window at her…

She stood outside as the sun set and watched him quietly through the window for a long time as he smiled to himself. She only released the lighter like she was thoroughly giving up on something when its flames burned her finger.

The flames consumed the gasoline, illuminating the faces of the two people in the wedding photo. Her smile was so sweet and blissful, and he could see nothing but her. Then, slowly but surely, their faces contorted as the flames ate away at them. Ultimately, they became nothing more than a pile of ashes.

A sudden feeling of asphyxiation crushed Liana's heart. She stared at the ashes as tears welled in her eyes.

"What are you burning?" Jaxon had finally noticed what was happening outside and had gotten up to check on her.

Liana tilted her head back, forcing her overwhelming emotions back. "Nothing. Just some…"

She turned to look at him, her red-rimmed eyes carrying the hint of a smile. "…Trash."