After Ten Years of Marriage, I Decided to Give Up

Daniel, objectively speaking, was quite good-looking.

With a small head and broad shoulders, he exuded a refreshing, youthful vibe, looking no different from a college student when dressed casually.

Today, in his casual attire, he was immediately surrounded by students as soon as he stepped out of the car.

I followed behind them, observing their lively conversations.

Somehow, following him had become a habit for me, with Barbara naturally becoming the one standing by his side.

Just like now, they naturally took seats side by side, leaving me as the odd one out due to limited seating arrangements.

As everyone settled down, I stood awkwardly on the side, feeling out of place.

"Mr. Moore, is this your new student? Do we have another fellow student joining our group?" one of Daniel's students asked.

Realizing my predicament, he offered me an extra seat.

Finally, I took a seat.

"This is your teacher's wife. You rascal..."

Logan's words silenced the room.

A girl whispered, "Oh, I thought it was Ms. Lane. There was only one room left at the hotel, and they stayed together."

The room was so quiet that so many people heard her comment, including me.

Daniel, who sat across from me, wore a face of panic and anxiety.

He was probably afraid I would cause a scene right then and there.

In the past, I might have, but not anymore.

I kept my head down, focusing on my food, pretending not to hear.

Daniel explained, looking at me, "There was a mix-up with the hotel rooms, so I helped Ms. Lane settle in first.

"Then I went somewhere else."

I just smiled nonchalantly, continuing to eat as if the conversation didn't involve me.

"Ms. Lane wasn't familiar with the place, so I escorted her to the hotel," he added.

The onlookers watched as Daniel continued to explain, probably feeling embarrassed for him.

"Louisa, did you hear that?

"I know you're upset, but..."

Before he could finish, I interjected, "I'm not upset, I understand. It's all part of being in unfamiliar place."

I even helped explain the situation for him.

"Don't you want to ask something?" Daniel stubbornly inquired, almost as if he needed me to be upset to be satisfied.

I shook my head.

I thought, "What is he thinking, getting hung up on this in such a setting?"

Finally, Logan intervened to diffuse the situation.

"Let's just eat, shall we?"

The conversation swiftly shifted to topics I didn't understand.

So, I sat quietly, eating.

Barbara across from me continued to urge Daniel to eat, but he didn't eat much, appearing to have lost his appetite.

Just when it seemed like things would end there, Logan suddenly brought up Roger.

"Louisa, your father's situation was truly a loss. Don't blame me for saying this, but even though Daniel was abroad at the time, he should have come back."

I nodded in acknowledgment.

Since Roger's passing, I had gradually grown accustomed to his death.

I buried the discomfort deep within my heart.

"Mr. Willams, what happened to Mr. Hiddleston?"

Daniel, fork in hand, froze.

With that question, silence once again filled the room.

"You don't know? Mr. Hiddleston had a sudden stroke. He's no longer with us."