All Chapters of Time for Me to Go, Time for You to Burn: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Ayla Sanderson's POVWhen Shane Norton brought our son, David Norton, home, I was curled up on the sofa, watching television.In the past, I would have rushed over immediately to get his slippers and kiss David's little face.Today, I did not move."Why didn't you come and kiss me today, Mom?""Ayla, why didn't you bring me my slippers?"I adjusted the volume of the television. "I don't have time."Shane put on his slippers and left David waiting for me to serve him."Ayla, you're not still angry over such a minor thing, are you?"It's Children's Day today, and David suddenly wanted to go to a theme park. You wouldn't have disappointed him, would you? I couldn't handle him on my own, so I asked Ruth to come along. How many times do I have to explain this?"Beside him, David said angrily, "Mom, you're losing your temper for no reason again! Ruthie never looks stern like you do!"Shane ruffled David's hair and looked at me as he asked, "Did you hear that? Even David disapprove

Chapter 2

Ayla's POVI would even start preparing for our anniversary three months in advance. I would have a photo album custom-made, record videos, and fly to the city where he was away on business to set up a surprise. Now, all I did was toss the gift box into the trash can. I turned around and went to the bedroom to get my bag and shoes, as I was going out. Shane grabbed me, looking irritated. "Ayla, where are you going in the middle of the night? David's waiting for you to put him to bed."I looked at him, feeling slightly amused. "How interesting, Shane."When I used to ask you where you were going at three in the morning, you said that I had no boundaries, offending your privacy."Now that I don't ask, you've actually become angrier. You're even starting to monitor where I'm going." I headed out through the door.As the security door clanged shut behind me, I heard him yell in suppressed fury, "All you do is lose your temper! If you don't come home tonight, then never come ba

Chapter 3

Ayla's POVI always had to take care of David for the entire night, but he never saw how much hard work I put in. He had only met Ruth a few times, but he couldn't stop talking about her. Shane flicked on the overhead lights and looked at David with approval. "Listen to David. Do you think that you're acting like a mother should?"Don't you think you're making a mountain out of a molehill by kicking up such a fuss over Ruth? I told you that there's nothing going on between us. Why can't you understand me?"The person with the higher salary gets to make the decisions at home. You're working at a design institute, but you get paid peanuts. Since you have to rely on me to survive, you have to understand that you're the one who can't leave David and I."I did not want to listen to them judging me again, so I got up to go back to my room. "Everything you say is right."Shane took a deep breath, his voice sounding hoarse. "Ayla, why do you always give me that half-dead attitude when

Chapter 4

Ayla's POVHowever, Shane had said, "It would be better for you to be more stable now that we're married."I gave up an opportunity to go abroad for further studies and let go of my dream.After having a child, I was stuck at home. I had to sacrifice my time for work and rest for the family, but my contribution was not acknowledged. Instead, Shane and David always dismissed me, day in and day out.In the end, they chose to use another woman to trample all over my dignity. I took a deep breath and went to the institute director's office to hand in my resignation. The director's name was Betty Green. She was nonplussed, but nodded without much surprise. "You should spread your wings and fly. Have you thought about where to go and when?"I touched the acceptance letter in my bag. It was an offer letter to the Department of Architecture at Camford University. "Bretia, the day after tomorrow."While I was packing up my things, my colleague Linda Manfeld came over. "Ayla, I hea

Chapter 5

Ayla's POV"Ayla is always suspicious about something. It's irritating just to look at her."In Shane's social circle, I was just a joke. I was his shrewish wife who wouldn't stop pestering him. I was a stumbling block that was stopping him from pursuing his true love.My fingers suddenly froze, because I saw Shane's reply in the comment section: "If Ruthie is happy, then it's worth it."He followed up the comment with three sun emojis, and it made my eyes sting. Zack piled on more fuel to the fire: "Someone's going to kick up a fuss again. She might pride herself on being the official spouse, but all Ruthie has to do is just say that she likes something!"Zack hadn't mentioned any names, but it was obvious who he was referring to. When I saw this, I exited my social media app without hesitating.I drank a cup of hot milk and fell asleep quickly. When I woke up, I enjoyed being alone, doing whatever I wanted and getting ready for studying abroad. It felt freeing, like I had

Chapter 6

Shane's POVI went back home, feeling utterly lost. I only managed to open the door after three attempts of twisting the key in the lock.I'd been doing it for five years, but the action suddenly seemed unfamiliar."Dad!"David ran barefoot out of his bedroom. "Where's Mom? I'm hungry!"I ruffled David's hair robotically as my gaze swept over the empty living room. One of Ayla's favorite sets of matching mugs was missing, and the cream-colored slippers that she often wore were no longer in the shoe cabinet. "Your mother…"My throat tightened, and I suddenly let out a cold chuckle. "She's throwing a fit. I think she'll be back soon."I muttered to myself, "How could someone like her bear to leave the two of us?"David cocked his head to one side. "Dad, why are all of Mom's things gone?""Kids like you don't know anything!"I suddenly raised my voice, making David jump in shock. "She's just throwing a fit! Betty must be mistaken. How can someone with Ayla's capabilities m

Chapter 7

Shane's POVThe itinerary had Ayla's name printed on it. It was a one-way flight to Heathcourt Airport in Lonia, Bretia, and it had been printed three months ago.I suddenly began to have difficulty breathing. Three months ago, I had brought Ruth back home for dinner for the first time. Unusually, Ayla had not cooked that night and had said that she was working overtime.At the time, I had said scornfully, "With that lousy job of yours, would working overtime make any difference?"Now that I was looking back on it, I remembered catching a whiff of coffee when Ayla came home that night. She never drank coffee, because she said that it would make her heart race and affect her ability to draw."Dad."David was still sobbing. "Does Mom not want us anymore?""Nonsense!"I pulled my son over roughly, but the moment I touched him, I held back my strength.I crouched down and said in a frighteningly gentle voice, "David, Mom loves you the most, doesn't she? She spent three night

Chapter 8

Ayla's POV"Ayla, you're nothing without me! You'd better come back right now while I can still forgive you!"After that, his tone began to waver: "How much longer are you going to keep up this nonsense? David cries every day and keeps asking for you!""I can explain about Ruth. Come back, and let's talk about this properly…"In the end, his texts began to take on a pleading, humble tone: "I was wrong, Ayla… I really realize that now.""Can you please come back? David and I can't live without you."When I saw those texts, all I wanted to do was laugh. He had not shown me any concern at all when I lay in the hospital by myself and signed the agreement for my operation. I had once spent countless nights staying up late to make breakfast for him and David, but all he had said was, "This is your duty."Now, he had finally realized that he was the one who couldn't live without me, not the other way around.I did not reply to any of his texts until one day, late at night, when my

Chapter 9

The last message was from two years ago: "Ruth, things between us will end here. Don't contact me from now on."After that was a string of unreplied messages:[2021.Sep.15 23:47]: [What do you mean by this, Shane? Are you going to break things off with me for that frumpy housewife?][2021.Sep.16 08:12]: [Answer the phone! Do you know how much I've sacrificed for you?][2021.Sep.17 14:35]: [Shane! Do you think that Ayla will forgive you? She probably hates you to the core of her being right now!][2021.Oct.01 09:05]: [It's your birthday today. Do you remember how we spent it last year? I'll be waiting for you at our usual spot.] [2022.Jan.01 00:03]: [Happy New Year… I miss you so much.] [2022.Mar.08 15:22]: [I'm going to ask you one last time. Do you want to meet up or not?][2022.May.20 13:14]: [You'll regret this! What on earth do you like about Ayla? She's just a housewife whose life revolves around the kitchen!][2022.Jul.30 22:08]: [Please, just say something to me in

Chapter 10

Ayla's POV"Have you forgotten all those years and the good times we had together?"I drew my hand back gently and looked at the dried leaves drifting on the Karnell River."I remember them. When you hurt me time and time again in the past, I kept giving you chances precisely because I remembered those times."However, you're only reflecting on yourself now. It's too late, Shane."It's like these fallen leaves."I spread out my palm and caught a yellowing leaf. "Even if I stick it back on a branch… It's not going to come back to life."I stood up and looked at the glittering waters of the Karnell River in the distance. My lips curved slightly."Shane, you know what? These past two years in Camford have been the years when I've felt the most free in my entire life. "I am no longer someone's wife or mother. I'm just myself."I finally understand that love isn't just about sacrificing humbly. It's about equal respect."He stood frozen to the spot, looking as pale as a sheet.

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