Chapter 3

When I came back to the present, I smiled with relief.

I pushed the crab bun aside and nodded.

“Sure.”

Caleb let out a sigh of relief and said with a half-joking smile.

“I thought you were going to make a fuss about this again.”

I opened my phone and started ordering takeout for myself.

Then, I replied with a soft laugh, “I won’t.”

I would not ever again.

It was rare for the two of us to have such a calm and peaceful moment.

I put down my phone and looked at Caleb.

“Let’s have dinner together tonight. There’s something I want to tell you.”

Since this would be our final meal together, marking the end of our seven-year relationship, I thought it best to be a little more formal.

Maybe because I was so compliant earlier, Caleb agreed readily.

“How about 7 p.m. tonight? You pick the place. I’ll be there on time.”

As soon as Caleb finished speaking, his phone rang.

He glanced at me before answering it. Then, he instinctively headed toward the door.

His deliberately hushed voice still reached my ears.

“Claire? Okay, I’ll be right over...”

Caleb went out again, but I did not feel the slightest stir in my heart.

After eating takeout, I met with the real estate agent to discuss the resale.

“It’s a newlywed couple who’s eager to buy a place to call home. Don’t worry. The price is very reasonable.”

I looked over at the young couple snuggled up together nearby.

They huddled close, whispering to each other. When our eyes met, they smiled gently. Their eyes were brimming with happiness.

I recalled the time Caleb and I first came to view this house.

We, too, had leaned in close and whispered to each other like that.

They called it a discussion. In reality, nine out of every ten sentences were just trivial small talk.

I once read somewhere that the happier people were, the more of their conversations consisted of such small talk.

I did not know when it started, but our interactions had reached the point where even handing off work was so brief and to the point.

We finished signing the agreement. Just before leaving, I smiled and offered them my best wishes.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

They thanked me, clasping their hands tightly together. Their wedding rings glistened in the sunlight.

At 7 p.m., I waited for him at the restaurant for over half an hour.

Another half hour passed before his call finally came.

“Shannon, let’s have dinner together another time. Claire’s stomach is acting up again. I need to take her to the hospital for a checkup.”

He spoke hurriedly as he threw in a bunch of other excuses.

In short, he was busy taking care of Claire.

‘But Caleb, there would not be a next time for us,’ I thought.

After hanging up, I asked the waiter to bring out the dishes I had pre-ordered earlier and slowly finished them all by myself.

During that time, HR sent me a message saying my resignation had been approved.

He wished me all the best in my future journey and endeavors in our chat.

I replied very simply. [Thank you.]

Just as I was about to put my phone down, a reminder that the movie was about to start popped up on the screen.

Below it was a message from Caleb.

[I just came across this movie. It’s getting good reviews. I’ll pick you up when I get home later, and we’ll go see it.]

[Didn’t you have something you wanted to talk to me about this morning? You can bring it up when you get there.]

[No need.]

I typed out those words. Then, I thought about it for a moment, decided it was pointless, and deleted them one by one.

When I got home, I started packing.

After living here for seven years, my belongings only filled half a suitcase.

Once I was done, I glanced at the place I had called home for seven years and turned away without a second thought.

The next second, the door opened.

Caleb was leaning against the doorframe, standing there, out of breath.

I was a little puzzled. The movie was not starting for a while yet. Why had he come back so early to pick me up?