Chapter 4

Matthew drove me home in silence.

The rain outside grew heavier, and he kept checking his phone. He looked like he wanted to say something, but held back.

When he picked up his phone for the fifth time, the custom ringtone rang. He answered it immediately. His voice was laced with tension. "Sophie, where are you?"

A second later, his expression changed dramatically, and his voice shook. "Don't do anything stupid. I'm coming right now!"

He hung up and slammed on the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road.

He said anxiously, "Sophie is on the hospital rooftop. She said she's going to jump! I have to get there now! Call a cab to get home. Don't wait for me tonight."

With that, he flung the door open and urged me out of the car.

I stood in the pouring rain as he drove off without a backward glance. The rain quickly soaked through my clothes, and I started shivering from the cold.

Suddenly, I remembered our winter as newlyweds when I had the flu and a high fever that wouldn't break. It was also pouring outside, but Matthew rushed into the rain to buy me medicine.

Now, he left me in the rain without hesitation. It seemed that love truly had an expiration date, and even the strongest promises could wither away.

By the time I reached home, my fever was so high that I could barely think straight. However, I managed to take some medicine before falling into a deep sleep.

In a daze, I felt someone climb into bed and wrap their arms around me. I jolted awake. It was Matthew. He had come back.

I thought he'd be with Sophie all night. I didn't expect him to return so soon.

He touched my forehead gently and asked, "You have a fever? Did you take your medicine?"

I nodded silently.

Matthew pulled me closer and said softly, "Honey, Sophie's still young. She can be a little impulsive sometimes. I've talked to her about it, so don't take it to heart.

"I'll make it up to you for our tenth anniversary. I've already booked the flights and hotel for Praxen. We'll leave right after work tomorrow, okay?

"Remember? You've always wanted to see Crystalhaven Falls… and make a wish down at Sunveil Ridge…"

In the darkness, I couldn't see his expression. Just as I was drifting off again, his phone buzzed.

Matthew quietly picked it up, and the screen lit up just enough for me to see. It was a photo from Sophie. She was wearing a red dress and standing in front of Sunveil Ridge. She was beaming.

"Matthew, the night view in Praxen is stunning! Too bad you're not here yet. Didn't you promise to celebrate our one-month anniversary at that restaurant on Willowmere Lane?"

He quickly left the room. A moment later, I received a text. "Honey, something urgent came up at work. I'll come get you as soon as I'm done tomorrow."

I shut my eyes, allowing the tears to stream down my face. Praxen was the destination we vowed to explore on our honeymoon.

It had been postponed time and again, and a decade had passed in the blink of an eye. Now, another woman had left her mark there.

...

Matthew pushed open the front door. The house was pitch dark.

"Emma?" he called out, flipping on the lights. "Emma, are you here?"

The living room was silent, the only sound being the ticking of the clock on the wall. He rushed into the bedroom, where the bed lay perfectly made and untouched.

Something was wrong. He then rushed into the walk-in closet. Emma's suitcase was gone.

The wardrobe doors were flung wide open, revealing that half of the clothes were gone. On the vanity, her favorite set of makeup had vanished too.

His heart clenched. It felt as if someone had grabbed it and squeezed hard.

"Emma!" he shouted, frantically searching every corner of the house—the bathroom, the study, the kitchen.

Yet, no one was there. He nervously pulled out his phone and called her number.

The line rang for a long time, but there was no answer. He tried again, but still no response.

"Damn it!" he punched the wall, and cuts bloomed across his knuckles instantly.

Then he began texting frantically. "Emma, where are you?"

"Pick up the phone!"

"Are you out of your mind? Where are you going in the middle of the night?"

"Come back. Let's talk this through."

"Is this about Sophie? There's nothing going on between us, I swear!"

"I'm begging you. Please don't just walk away like this!"

"Emma!"