Chapter 3

"Clara, it’s just some stuff. Since when did you become so petty?"

Julia tugged at Marcus’s sleeve, her voice soft and pitiful as she said, "I’m sorry, Clara. I only thought that since you weren’t here these past few days, I’d borrow the space for a while. I didn’t expect it to upset you... I didn’t mean for my things to end up on the floor."

She even moved as if to bow to me.

Marcus immediately caught her, his eyes sharp and cold. "Clara, don’t go too far. Julia didn’t do it on purpose. That’s enough."

How many times had he gotten angry with me because of Julia? I couldn’t even count anymore.

I refused to play any part in their drama. Hugging my box, I walked straight out, but as I passed Julia, a foot shot out and caught me.

Marcus’s gaze sharpened, his hand moving instinctively to grab me, but it was already too late.

I crashed to the floor. The contents of the box scattered everywhere, and my wrist scraped hard against the ground.

Marcus stepped quickly toward me, his hand reaching out. Then, as if catching sight of something, he bent and picked up two sheets of paper from the mess.

"A resignation letter? And this..."

I scrambled to my feet, snatching the papers from his hands in a panic. "I’ll clean this up myself. Don’t mess with my things."

Stunned by how fiercely I reacted, Marcus stared at me. "You’re resigning?"

My lips parted, but no words came. Before I could think of an answer, Marcus gave a sudden laugh. "If you resign, won’t that leave an open position? If Julia gets hired full-time, at least she’ll have a proper job. That’ll put me at ease."

The words I had been ready to explain froze on my tongue. I looked at him deeply once, then didn’t bother picking up the rest of my belongings. I walked straight out of the office.

After submitting my resignation, I unexpectedly ran into Marcus waiting at the school gate, my box in his hands.

When he saw me, he pressed his lips together and handed it over. "Your stuff."

My expression softened, and I was just about to thank him when he continued, "Could you write Julia a recommendation letter? It’ll give her a better chance of being hired full-time."

A gust of wind blew past, stinging my eyes as if filled with sand. I rubbed at the soreness in my gaze and said quietly, "Alright."

Let that be the last payment for the years of our marriage.

Satisfied with my answer, Marcus’s lips curved. Then something else occurred to him, and he asked, "And what about you? What’s your next job?"

I turned my head away, answering carelessly, "Another teaching position at a different school."

Marcus nodded, as if relieved. He set the box down and pulled me into his arms. "Clara, marrying you has been my greatest fortune. When I finish this busy stretch, I’ll take you home, and we’ll have a proper drink with Father."

I leaned against his chest, my heart twisting painfully.

It was too late. Everything was already too late.

Before Marcus could say more, Julia walked up to us. "Marcus, I’m not feeling well. Let’s go home."

I caught the flush in her cheeks, her face rosy and healthy. Without a word, I stepped out of Marcus’s embrace.

Just as I expected, he released me instantly, panic flashing across his face. "I’ll take Julia home first. We can talk later."

He wrapped an arm carefully around Julia, holding her as if she were the most fragile treasure.

I didn’t stop them. Instead, I crouched, lifted the box again, and on my way past the trash can, tossed it inside. I no longer wanted anything that Marcus had touched.

On my final day, I prepared a full table of food to bid farewell to my friends. Most of them were Marcus’s comrades.

As I brought out the last dish, their rowdy voices rose in a chorus of cheers.