All Chapters of When Love's Curtain Drops: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

The wedding was underway. My fiancée, Diane Anderson, stood at the altar, hand in hand with another man, taking vows.The officiant asked her, "Do you take Keith Brady as your husband?"Diane's voice was unwavering. "I do!"Watching them so blissfully in love felt like a knife twisting in my chest.The scene I had dreamed of for years—the one I longed to create—another man could conjure effortlessly.Seven years. Seven times I had knelt before Diane, proposing, and seven times she had rejected me.Through all my persistence, her response had always been a cold, dismissive laugh before changing the subject. My endless tolerance and patience only fueled her pride.In her eyes, agreeing to marry me had been a favor already. Who was I to question her?I loved her so deeply, so completely, that I had lost all sense of self. Even if she truly slept with Keith, I probably would have smiled and forgiven her, taking her back home.But she had forgotten her own words. "Jerry, no matter

Chapter 2

"Jerry, the wedding night completely exhausted me. I'm not familiar with this place, and the director said you should help me deliver this to HR."The director had once shown me trust and recognition—I couldn't refuse. I had no choice but to run the errand.But when I returned after finishing the paperwork, I found the banners in my office—symbols of gratitude from patients I had painstakingly treated—thrown to the ground, scuffed with footprints. Each one carried immeasurable meaning to me.And there was Keith, lounging in my chair, feet propped on the desk, with my staff reports under his heels, looking at me with complete indifference."Jerry," he said casually, "I'll be working here from now on. It's better if these trivial things disappear."Rage ignited in me instantly. I stormed forward and yanked him up by his collar."How dare you touch my things!" I roared.And he—he actually grinned."If I can touch even Diane, what are these things to me?"My teeth clenched with fu

Chapter 3

Diane stared at me in disbelief.Keith, holding his injured face, wore a smug, triumphant grin."Diane, didn't you regret marrying him in the first place? Now, he's willing to divorce. What are you hesitating for?"Diane said nothing, her gaze fixed on me, her expression dark and stormy."I'll give you two days to think it over," he continued coldly. "Don't come crying and begging me on your knees later. I've seen enough of that."With that, she helped Keith out and left.I picked up the scattered banners and gathered my things. Once I stepped out of the hospital, I went straight to my childhood friend's law firm."I want a divorce!" I declared."I always knew people who choose marriage rarely end up happy." Audrey handed me a glass of water, a wry smile on her face.We had grown up next door to each other and were practically childhood friends, though she had always been disillusioned with love.She was talented, beautiful, and pursued by many—but perhaps because of that, sh

Chapter 4

They always used me for amusement—mocking me, looking down on me, endlessly persuading Diane to dump me.Especially Erica Schmidt. She had provoked me face-to-face more than once. In her eyes, even if I were reborn eight hundred times, I could never be worthy of Diane.Last summer, worried about Diane's safety, I secretly went to pick her up from work. But I hadn't expected to overhear Erica talking about me again, this time with Diane."Jerry? That pathetic loser? You actually like him? He has no skills or backbone. His relentless pursuit of you is just him trying to live off you. You'd be better off ignoring him."Her words were sharp, venomous, and cut deep.But Diane didn't defend me. She merely smiled faintly.…"Jerry, let's forget the past and have a drink."Keith's words snapped me back to reality. In front of so many people, I couldn't embarrass him, so I raised my glass and drank it all in one gulp.As I lifted my hand, my watch flashed into view.Keith and Erica ex

Chapter 5

Diane suddenly tore the wedding invitation to pieces."Shut up! You are my man! Don't even think about marrying another woman without my permission! This is outright betrayal!"Audrey appeared at the entrance to the private room, a cold smile on her face. She had long held a quiet resentment toward Diane."And what about you? Holding a wedding with another man isn't betrayal?" she shot back. "Diane, being a hypocrite always backfires."Diane's anger flared even higher, her face turning red."I… I was just… I was only satisfying one of Keith's obsessions—a fake wedding, that's all."Audrey laughed so hard she was nearly breathless, almost collapsing on the spot."Diane, I know all the dirty little things you've done. Whether it was truly a fake act, only you know. Need me to start listing examples? Last year, Jerry braved a typhoon to pick you up from a party—you went missing, he almost filed a missing person report—and you were off camping on a mountaintop with Keith, watching s

Chapter 6

"Hello, this is a gift for Jerry Maxwell…" the waiter said.Audrey took the box and set it on the table."Don't tell me this is an apology gift. Let's see what they're up to." I smiled wryly and opened it.Inside was a ring—my wedding ring with Diane.That night, I returned home late. After a quick wash, I pushed open the guest room door, ready for sleep.Diane, however, opened the door at the wrong moment."Why are you back so late?"Her tone carried no reproach—just a faint trace of concern.Before we married, I had loved video games, alcohol, and smoking.She had said she hated men who reeked of smoke and booze. So every time I came home reeking from client dinners, I never escaped a tirade. Eventually, I sold my gaming console, quit smoking, and always complained about being too tired to drink at social events. I even turned down friends' invites and outings.I realized then how much I had given up for her—my hobbies, my friends, even the sharp edges of my youth, had all

Chapter 7

"Where are you going? Jerry, answer me!"Her tone lacked its usual sharpness, replaced by an urgent desperation."Moving out. I don't want to live here anymore. Since you refuse to sign the divorce, then I'll just force a separation—for the sake of the legal process later."Her eyes were red, on the verge of tears."Do you really want a divorce? I swear, I won't have any contact with Keith from now on."Her hands trembled slightly as she held the suitcase, her breathing growing shallow. I could feel the storm of emotion she was restraining."My cab is here."I dropped my words coldly, snatched the suitcase with force, and pushed open the door. There was nothing left in that place worth clinging to for even a second.Audrey was already waiting at my new apartment."Take a look! I arranged everything for you. The style's all yours—motorcycle punk, cool, right?"The furniture was minimalistic, with dark tones dominating the space. On the TV stand sat a unicorn Gundam figure—the

Chapter 8

I'd always been slow to catch on. Everyone said Audrey liked me, and I'd pat my chest, insisting it was pure friendship.All these years, she quietly stayed by my side.And yet, if it weren't for today, I might never have realized it. Looking back now, I see the signs were there all along."If you hadn't divorced, I wouldn't have told you even if I drank myself to death today. Enough talking—I'm calling a car to go home!"She swayed slightly, about to leave. I grabbed her arm and pulled her into my embrace."How will we know if we don't try?"Her smile softened, a sense of relief in it. Then, without hesitation, she kissed me.This warm, familiar closeness was what I should have been protecting all along.Over the next month, life with Audrey in the new apartment was peaceful. She went to work and came home; we cooked together, took walks, shopped. The simplicity of it all was a happiness I hadn't felt in seven years.During this time, Diane kept asking about me—where I lived,

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