Chapter 1

Keith Blackwell gave a faint smile. "Did you even have your phone on when I called?"

Seven days ago, on his way home from work, an elderly man had suddenly fallen in front of his car.

Keith had gotten out to help him, only for the elderly man to grab his arm and shout, "He hit me! This young man hit me and is trying to run away!"

The surveillance footage proved Keith was innocent. But according to procedure, he needed a family member to sign the paperwork to secure his release.

Keith told the police he had no family, but they didn't believe him. They then pulled up his marriage registration records and found Celine Ingram's phone number.

They called her, but her phone was switched off. They tried dozens of times, but it remained off.

Celine's expression shifted slightly. "Quinton had been having a stomachache these days, so I was taking care of him at the hospital. Since he doesn't like noise, I kept my phone off."

She paused, her voice softening. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Keith replied. "I wasn't expecting you to come anyway. You can go about your own business."

His voice was calm, and his eyes were just as tranquil. They were like a stagnant pool, its surface perfectly still.

Celine looked at Keith and suddenly grabbed his wrist. Her palm was burning hot, and Keith frowned.

Staring at him, Celine asked, "Why aren't you angry?"

Her eyes held confusion, along with a trace of unease she didn't want to acknowledge.

Keith found the question amusing. "Why would I be angry? You explained your reasons, and I said I understood. There's nothing to be angry about."

"Keith, I—"

"I'm tired. I want to go home." Keith pulled his hand free, then walked around her toward the car door.

Celine stood where she was, watching his retreating figure.

They hadn't seen each other for seven days, and he had lost a considerable amount of weight. His shirt hung loosely on him.

In the past, even the slightest bit of neglect from her would make him sulk. He would ask her in a wounded voice, "Celine, did you ever really care about me?"

Back then, she had thought he was being unreasonable and making a big deal out of nothing. But now, he no longer argued or cried. Whatever she said, he simply nodded and replied, "Okay."

Yet, somehow, that made her feel uneasy.

It was quiet inside the car.

Their driver, Hector Cowan, was at the wheel, while Keith sat by the window in the back seat watching the streets blur past.

He no longer looked at Celine the moment he got into the car, his gaze no longer fixed on her the way it used to be.

Whenever they were alone, he would find all sorts of things to talk about. Even when she barely responded, he could keep talking for ages.

Now, he simply sat in silence, as though Celine wasn't even there.

Unable to hold back any longer, Celine finally asked, "Are you still upset about what happened back then?"

Keith turned to look at her, his expression calm. "No, it's all water under the bridge."

"Then why do you—"

"Celine," Keith interjected. "What exactly do you want from me? Do you want me to cling to you every day like I used to? Or would you rather I stay quiet and give you all the freedom you want, like I do now?"

Celine was at a loss for words.

Of course she wanted him to stop making a fuss and arguing with her over Quinton Poole. But now that he had actually become that way, something felt wrong.

In fact, everything about it felt wrong.

"I just feel like you've changed," she said quietly.

Keith turned back to the window.

Had he changed? Perhaps.

After all, people naturally behaved differently when they were in love and when they no longer were.

Silence settled over the car once more.

Celine was about to say something when her phone rang.

It was Quinton.

She answered, and his voice immediately came through.

"Celine, where are you? I've bought so many things at the mall, and I can't carry them all by myself. Can you come pick me up?"

Celine glanced at Keith. He was still looking out the window, seemingly unaware of the conversation.

A sudden wave of irritation washed over Celine.

"Quinton, you're an adult. Stop relying on me all the time. Besides, there's nothing going on between us anymore."

"But I'm used to it," Quinton replied matter-of-factly. "You never used to turn me down when I asked you to pick me up."

"That was then." Celine's voice turned cold. "You were my boyfriend back then, but I'm married now."

"Married?" Quinton scoffed. "Do you really have Keith in your heart, Celine? Stop lying to yourself. If you don't come, I'll just find another woman to help me. It's not like I'm short of women willing to do me a favor."

Celine tightened her grip on the phone.

Quinton knew her too well. He knew she couldn't stand the thought of him turning to another woman.

"Wait there." She practically spat out the words before hanging up.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to Keith.

"Keith, I—"

"I'll take a cab home." Keith had already opened the car door. "Go pick up Quinton."

He moved so quickly that Celine barely had time to react.

"Keith!" She got out and hurried after him. Grabbing his arm, she said, "There's really nothing going on between Quinton and me anymore. But you know how it is—we grew up together, and our parents knew each other. So, I can't just cut all ties with him."

"I know." Keith nodded. "I understand."

He kept saying "I know" and "I understand" like an AI with no emotions whatsoever.

Keith's lifeless demeanor only made Celine angrier. But Quinton called again, urging her to hurry.

"Keith, go home first. I'll be back lat—" She was about to tell him she'd be back later, but Keith had already flagged down a cab.

He got in and closed the door without even sparing her another glance.

The cab pulled away.

Celine stood there, watching its taillights disappear into the traffic. For the first time, she felt that something had truly changed between them.

Meanwhile, Keith's phone rang inside the cab.

It was Sean Fowler from the company's HR department.

"Keith, your overseas assignment has been approved." Sean sounded delighted. "Congratulations! You're being sent to Staror headquarters. It's a rare opportunity, but won't Celine have any objections? You could be away indefinitely. That means the two of you will have to live apart."

Keith watched the neon lights flash past outside the window as he replied softly, "She's not my wife anymore. I filed for divorce on the same day I applied for the overseas assignment. Once the divorce certificate is issued, I'll be free to leave."