Chapter 5
627 Words
One day before my flight to Paris. When I woke up that morning, I found a velvet box sitting on my nightstand.
Inside was an emerald, a brand new one. Obviously, Gavin had bought it to make up for what happened.
But a fake was still a fake. No matter how many emeralds he bought, the original one, the one my mother left me, was gone forever.
By the time I walked into the kitchen, Gavin was already making breakfast.
As if yesterday's fight had never happened. As if we were still a happy, loving couple.
The moment Gavin saw me, he smiled and waved me over. "Come eat."
Halfway through breakfast, I put down my fork and looked at him. "Gavin, can you come to Paris with me? We always talked about going for our honeymoon, but you were too busy back then. Come with me this time. Let it be your anniversary gift to me."
Deep down, I was still holding on to one last shred of hope.
But Gavin's expression immediately darkened. The warmth in his eyes disappeared.
"Sandra, I've told you a hundred times. The company's busy right now. Stop being childish. I know you're upset about your mother's keepsake, but that doesn't give you the right to make unreasonable demands."
The last bit of hope inside me died right there. I lowered my head. "Okay. I understand."
After breakfast, Gavin went into his study.
I went into my art studio. One by one, I gathered every portrait I'd ever painted of him. Then I burned them all.
The flames swallowed each canvas until nothing remained but ashes.
As the paintings disappeared, so did my love for Gavin.
Five hours remained before my flight. While Gavin helped me pack, he rambled endlessly about things I should pay attention to in Paris.
Then, while organizing the study, I found a notebook. It had been hidden away carefully.
Gavin rarely allowed me into this room, so I'd never seen it before.
Curious, I opened it. The pages were filled with his handwriting. And judging by the dates, he'd started writing shortly after getting involved with Daisy.
March 13, I slept with Sandra today. Her body disgusts me. She's nothing like Daisy, who's young and full of energy.
March 17, Spent the day with Daisy at the beach. When I got home, Sandra's only idea of romance was asking me to eat dinner. She's so boring. Thank God I never legally married her.
...
A tear splashed onto the page.
Only then did I realize I was crying. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.
Everything I had considered happiness, every tender moment, every precious memory. To Gavin, they had all been tedious and meaningless.
I felt like a clown performing on stage. Every step I'd taken with sincerity had looked ridiculous to him.
If any part of me still held onto the past... This diary destroyed it completely.
The day I left for Paris, Gavin insisted on taking me to the airport.
At the gate, he suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. Then he kissed my forehead.
"Sandra, don't forget to miss me while you're in Paris."
The next second, his phone rang.
Gavin glanced at the screen. His expression changed immediately.
"Give me a minute." He stepped away and answered.
Fragments of his conversation drifted back to me.
"Of course I love you...
"No, I'm not ignoring you..."
"You want the ball gown? Then we'll get the ball gown...
"You'd look beautiful in anything..."
I listened quietly. Then I smiled.
I turned around and boarded the plane without waiting for him.
As the aircraft rose above the clouds, I stared out the window. The endless sea of white stretched beneath me.
'Goodbye, Gavin.
'Forever.'
- Writer
