Chapter 3
In one moment, he was wearing his high school uniform, telling me I was his one and only, his true love.
I saw him carving our names on the school balcony, saying it would be the proof of our love.
In the next moment, I saw him with Nicole, their intimate behavior forcing me to divorce him and give them their happy ending.
I was jolted awake by the sound of my phone.
“Ms. Clark, your surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning.”
“We’ve sent the pre–surgery instructions to your phone. Please check them and prepare in advance.”
I ended the call wearily and turned my head, only to see Gavin standing there.
“What surgery?” he asked, holding a bag of breakfast and gently pushing the door open.
“Sweetheart, who were you on the phone with?”
I sat up, locked my phone, and tucked it under the pillow.
“It’s my mom. She needs a minor procedure, and the doctor was calling to confirm the details.”
Gavin frowned as he walked in, inserting a straw into the soy milk cup and handing it to me.
“Why didn’t I know your mom needed surgery?”
“Which hospital is it at?”
“Do you need me to contact the doctor?”
He bombarded me with questions.
I shook my head and mentioned the name of a maternity hospital.
“It’s just a gynecological procedure. It’s quick and simple. No need to trouble yourself.”
Only then did Gavin nod, shifting the conversation to tonight’s plans.
“Sweetheart, tonight is our third anniversary. I’ve booked a restaurant. I’ll pick you up this evening.”
With that, Gavin got up, changed into his work clothes, and prepared to leave for work.
But as he turned his head, I noticed the glaring love bite on the back of his neck.
Whoever left it had been deliberate, ensuring it was visible for all to see.
I smiled silently, but tears slipped from the corners of my eyes, staining the light–colored quilt and leaving behind a dark patch.
Suddenly, I remembered our passionate days of dating.
Back then, Gavin had begged me outside my dorm building to leave him a love bite.
He said he wanted it in a noticeable spot, so everyone would know he was taken.
Blushing, I had leaned against his neck and clumsily left a bright red mark on his Adam’s apple.
But now, it was another woman leaving her mark on him, flaunting it to me.
It didn’t matter anymore. Tomorrow, after the surgery, it would all be over.
ter
That evening, Gavin was downstairs on time to pick me up.
The moment I got into the car, a faint but distinct scent hit me.
It was the smell of roses–the exact same fragrance Nicole wore.
Though the scent was subtle, it was unmistakable.
I didn’t say much, only furrowing my brow slightly. Gavin immediately noticed and hurried to explain.
“Sweetheart, don’t get the wrong idea. A male colleague asked me to deliver a bouquet of roses to his girlfriend.”
“Look, here it is. You know him too,” he added, pulling the bouquet into view.
Gavin pulled out his phone and, in front of me, scrolled through his chat history.
I didn’t say anything, just nodded lightly to show I understood.
Only then did Gavin start the car and drive us to the restaurant.
The restaurant was located in the most bustling part of River City, offering a stunning view of the sea while dining.
Gavin and I had been here many times before, but this time felt different.
We ran into Nicole.
She was wearing a form–fitting uniform, her pencil skirt accentuating her curves perfectly.
“Right this way,” she said, leading us to our table with a sway in her step, her every movement oozing charm..
After we were seated, Nicole turned and left as if she didn’t recognize us.
I noticed immediately that Gavin wasn’t his usual self.
Sitting across from me, he repeatedly tapped the table with his left hand, the one wearing our wedding ring.
I could tell he was restless–because of another woman.
I smiled faintly and took a sip of the fruit tea on the table, but then I heard his phone, facedown on the table, begin to buzz.
“Sweetheart, there’s something urgent at the hospital. I need to take this call. You go ahead and order,” Gavin said, his expression relaxing as he stood up and headed in the same direction Nicole had gone.
