This is Farewell

Winston returned at 8:00 pm. He brought the strawberry cake Kayla loved the most.He walked in, spreading his arms wide toward her. Kayla was on the couch. "Kay, I'm home."Winston wrapped her in his arms, pressing his face into her neck and inhaling deeply as if he couldn't get enough of her scent.Suddenly, he lifted his head. "You're not feeling well, are you?"Winston had a keen sense. He must've picked up on the faint trace of hospital antiseptic on her.Kayla gave a slight smile. "It's nothing. I caught a cold, so I went to the hospital for some medicine. It's nothing serious."Winston headed straight for the kitchen. It didn't take long before he returned, holding a warm cup of ginger tea with honey he'd made himself."I should've looked after you better," he said, looking at her with a broken heart. "It's gotten chilly, and I didn't do enough to look after you."Then, he looked over his shoulder and told the butler to stoke the fireplace.Kayla took a few small sips of the te

Winston didn't even bother to come back today.As the night settled in, he called Kayla to say there was an issue at a branch in another city and that he had to hurry off. His tone was earnest, and every word seemed to carry an apology."Sorry, Kay. It all happened too quickly, and I didn't get to talk to you in person. Once I'm back, I'll take two weeks off to be with you, okay? I'll bring you a little something soon. Stay home and wait for me. Love you."Kayla listened to his sweet, affectionate words while reading Tiffany's messages, and a wry smile crossed her face.Tiffany shared pictures of herself and Winston at a resort in the nearby city. He held her in his arms, his hand resting on her thigh, covered in stockings. He seemed like he couldn't wait a second longer."Kayla, it must be hard waiting alone at home. Look at your husband—he got all the moves," Tiffany texted.Winston grew impatient on the other end of the line when Kayla stayed silent. "Kay?"Kayla wondered if he was

The staff member on the other end was taken aback. "Yes, Mrs. Atwood told us a few days back she wanted to donate this barrette to the auction house and asked us to sell it as quickly as possible. We sold it but couldn't reach her, so we contacted you.""No way!" Winston blurted, his fury so intense it felt like it might burst out of him. "Get my wife's stuff back to me, now! I'll pay whatever it takes!""I'm sorry, Mr. Atwood," the staff member said, sounding uneasy. "An unknown buyer from overseas bought the barrette, and there's no way we can get it back."Winston panicked. His phone slipped from his grasp and hit the floor with a thud.A realization started to dawn on him. Had Kayla found out about his affair with Tiffany?He crumpled to the ground. The guilt he'd been suppressing came rushing back, choking him and making it hard to catch his breath. When did she find out?Winston's eyes landed on the other object in the box—a strawberry cake.It must have been sitting there for da

When the nurse handed over Kayla's phone, Winston's face twisted with murderous intent as if he were ready to tear someone apart. She was shocked.Winston quickly reined in his anger, looked up, and smiled at her. "Thank you. I've got to go now. Someone else will handle the bill."He sprang off the bed and bolted out of the hospital. He drove straight to Tiffany's, feeling calmer than he'd ever felt. He even called her on the way. "Hey, where are you?""I'm at home. Are you coming over? I'll be waiting for you," Tiffany purred through the line.After hanging up, a twisted smile spread across Winston's face.As soon as the doorbell rang, Tiffany hurried to open the door. "Win? I've been waiting so long—"Suddenly, a chill surged through her belly, and a sharp pain sliced through her. She stared down in shock. Winston had plunged a paring knife deep into her belly."W-Why?" Tiffany's eyes went wide as blood poured from the wound, spilling onto the floor."Because you're guilty," Winston