Chapter 2

Gavin didn't notice my mood and made me a cup of black tea as usual.

"Babe, did you not sleep well again last night?"

The warmth coming from the teacup gave me a momentary illusion, making me mistake us for a couple still in the honeymoon phase of our relationship.

Back then, he cared about me just like this.

His phone suddenly rang.

From the look on his face, I could tell it was Chloe calling.

Before going into the study to answer, he came over, put his arm around my shoulders, and kissed my forehead:

"The cat keeps meowing, it must be hungry. Chloe says it only eats freshly cooked salmon. Baby, could you prepare some?"

I looked at the still-warm tea in my hand and suddenly realized that for twelve years, he had been gentle and considerate toward me. I thought that was love. Only now do I understand his heart was never with me.

Without waiting for my reply, he walked into the study and shut the door.

I finished packing and set my luggage aside. The company gave me three days to hand over my work, after which I’d be posted to Northern Europe.

In three days, I was going to leave not just this city, but also Gavin, my companion of twelve years.

Passing by the study, I heard Gavin on a video call with Chloe.

Chloe’s voice sounded pitifully vulnerable:

"Gavin, will Jane mind that I’m watching the game with you? I’m afraid she’ll overthink it. Maybe I shouldn’t go after all."

Gavin was silent for a moment, then his tone became firm:

"You know how much Jane loves me, and we're practically ready to get married. She won't leave me over something this trivial."

"Come on, we've watched every single World Cup together, haven't we? Just relax."

I stopped in my tracks, my heart turning as cold as ice.

From eighteen to thirty, these twelve years, he was all I had.

We’d been to the Arctic together to see the Northern Lights and made a wish at the northernmost point of the world.

We’d been to the Aegean Sea together and shared a kiss in front of the white church in Santorini.

He always said I was a gift from Cupid, that what we had was unbreakable.

But now, it was that very love that made him certain he could hurt me.

I listened indifferently to his promises to Chloe.

Gavin, this time I’m really leaving you.

While packing, I noticed one of the sleep pillows my grandmother made for me was missing.

I used to be under severe work pressure and suffered from serious insomnia.

Even as she was battling a terminal illness, my grandmother still worried about my sleeplessness and painstakingly sewed two sleep pillows for me.

Gavin finished his video call and was about to head out.

I stopped him:

"Have you seen the other sleep pillow my grandmother gave me?"

Gavin thought for a moment.

"Go check the guest room next door. If it’s not there, it must be at Chloe’s."

We lived in this villa for seven years.

Gavin is a germaphobe and never lets anyone stay over.

Even when his best buddy got drunk after a breakup, Gavin insisted on booking him a hotel.

The only person who’d ever stayed in our guest room was Chloe.

Every time, it was because she was drunk.

I offered to take her home, but he always said it wasn't safe for a young woman to be out alone at that hour.

He knew perfectly well how much it bothered me, and how jealous it made me.

But he still let Chloe stay over, night after night.

Often, he wouldn’t even tell me until it was a done deal.

Later, because it bothered me so much, he installed security cameras in the living room and hallway.

He claimed the cameras were proof that he and Chloe were absolutely innocent!

More than just having a bedroom specifically prepared for her in our home, her personal belongings like lipstick, socks, jewelry, and even underwear would constantly pop up in the bathroom or between the sofa cushions.

In the past, I would have thrown a massive fit at home over these things.

But now, I just calmly checked the guest room and didn’t find the pillow.

Without a word or a fuss, I grabbed my car keys and drove straight to Chloe’s apartment.

Chloe opened the door and looked at me with feigned surprise:

"Oh? Jane, what brings you here? This seems to be your first time at my apartment."

She smiled and invited me in.

"I’m here for my pillow."

She chuckled and turned to the kitchen to pour water.

In reality, she was looking down, tapping out a text message.

If I had to guess, she was tattling to Gavin.

"Don’t bother with the water. I’ll leave as soon as I get my stuff."

She walked back, rubbing the back of her head, acting as if she couldn’t remember where she put it.

"Go check the second room on the right. That’s where Gavin slept last time."

My heart sank. I never knew Gavin had stayed over at her place.