Chapter 2
518 Words
It was late at night. I was staring blankly at the television when the bedroom door swung open.
"Emma? Why are you back home?" Lucas hurried over to me, his voice thick with urgency. "I sent you so many messages..."
He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight against his chest. "Thank God you're okay. I was so scared... Emma, I can't live without you."
The sincere love in his eyes almost dazzled me, but I knew better than anyone: this love was never meant for me alone.
A lump rose thick in my throat. I pinched my palm hard to force it back down.
For a split second, I almost blurted out everything. Then I stamped out that thought right away.
If I said it out loud, I would never be able to walk away.
I gently pulled free from his embrace, doing my best to keep my voice steady. "The competition got postponed. My phone died, so I didn't see your messages."
Lucas didn't notice anything off in my tone. He smiled and tapped the tip of my nose lightly. "You must be hungry, right?" He jingled his car keys. "I got a reservation at that French place you've been going on about forever. Come on, princess, I'll stay with you, and you can eat as much as you want."
I wasn't going to let my stomach go hungry, so I followed him to the French restaurant.
He was still the same as always. Though he was never one to fuss over people, he smoothly unfolded the napkin onto my lap, carefully cut my steak into bite-sized pieces, and the first forkful of anything perfectly cooked always went straight to my lips.
By the time my plate was piled high like a small mountain, his phone suddenly rang.
If it weren't for that ringtone, I'm afraid I would have fallen right back into this seemingly endless affection of his.
"Go answer it." I looked down and swirled the wine in my glass.
Lucas glanced at his phone, mumbled a quick reassurance, then stood up and stepped outside to take the call.
When he came back, his eyes were full of anxiety and apology. "Emma, the hospital called me in for a last-minute emergency surgery. I have to rush over immediately. I'm sorry I can't stay to finish this meal with you. Tomorrow I'll ask for time off and spoil you the whole day."
I had already seen that the caller was Vivian, but I didn't expose the truth. I only nodded and said, "Okay, just go."
He didn't linger any longer and turned to leave.
Staring at the empty seat across from me, my chest tingled with a numb, needling pain.
That night, Lucas did not come home.
But I received a live photo of him asleep, sent by Vivian.
I stared at his face for hours, until dawn broke, and my heart finally went still, completely numb and dead to everything else.
I picked up my phone and dialed my lawyer friend, Chloe Bennett. "Chloe, can you draft a divorce agreement for me..."
- Writer
