Chapter 5 The End of Us

Charles' carefully polished appearance was instantly reduced to that of a sewer rat. He stood frozen in disbelief before his face twisted with fury. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Jillian immediately took off her jacket and draped it over his shoulders before turning to me. "Josh, have you lost your mind?"

I cut her off before she could continue, "It's over between us, Jillian."

She was about to say something else when her gaze fell on my neck, and she immediately became alarmed. "You're having an allergic reaction?!"

The cake contained almond flour, something I was severely allergic to. Fortunately, I'd washed it off before the situation turned disastrous.

Jillian rushed toward me, gripping my shoulders as she examined the red rash spreading across my skin. However, I shoved her hands away, stumbling backward in my haste to avoid her touch.

My rejection seemed to wound her as her expression went completely blank for a moment before she looked at me with hurt in her eyes.

From her perspective, she'd spent the past several days trying to make peace with me. She had even prepared the birthday celebration days in advance. Yet, I had repeatedly embarrassed her in public.

Still, she figured she should be the bigger person when eyes fell on the rash still covering my skin. So, she forced a smile and bent down to pick up the gift box I'd swatted to the floor.

There was a mechanical watch that matched my taste perfectly inside the box. Honestly, it was the first truly generous and thoughtful gift she'd ever given me in all the years we'd been together. Unfortunately, I felt nothing when I saw it, not even the slightest hint of happiness.

A flash of jealousy flickered to life in Charles' eyes.

He immediately put on the expression of someone swallowing his grievances and whimpered meekly, "Josh, don't be angry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have suggested such a surprise."

He looked pitiful in his soaked and disheveled state. Coupled with his decision to back down, he actually looked like an honest man who was being unfairly bullied. However, Jillian's gaze remained fixed on me, as though she hadn't heard what Charles had just said.

Suddenly, my phone pinged. It was a text telling me to return to my company to sign my resignation paperwork.

I immediately turned to leave, but Jillian stepped directly into my path, refusing to let me pass. "We need to talk," she said stubbornly. "You haven't answered my calls or replied to any of my texts these past few days. I have no idea what's been going through your head."

I glanced at my watch. I had no intention of wasting any more time here. "Fine," I said evenly. "We'll talk tonight."

A look of genuine relief washed over her face. The tension that had gripped her moments earlier finally eased. She parted her lips to say more, but I had already left her in the dust.

Little did she know that what I'd just said was nothing more than a way to brush her off. After all, I would be boarding a flight to Sableton that night.

…

I went straight home to collect my luggage after my resignation papers were processed.

Jillian actually messaged me to let me know where she was for once. "I'll be home in about two hours. What do you want to eat? I'll bring it back."

I looked at the plane ticket in my hand before replying casually, "Whatever's fine."

An hour later, she sent me a photo of the sunset.

Back when we were deeply in love, we used to do that all the time. Somewhere along the way, those loving interactions had puttered to a complete stop. So, it didn't make my heart race even though she was taking initiative to rekindle something from our past.

Jillian called me 30 minutes later. "Guess today's just not my day, Josh. I'm stuck in traffic, so I'll probably get home a little late."

Right then, the boarding announcement echoed through the terminal.

There was a brief silence on her end, like she was processing what she'd just heard. Then, her voice rose in alarm as she blurted shrilly, "What was that? Josh… where are you going?"