Belated Love is Not Worth Looking Back

Reading his text, I collapsed, feeling utterly deflated.

Trapped in that tight, dark space, I could barely move my fingers, let alone muster the energy to call for help.

Jack was my last hope, yet he responded with indifference to my desperate calls.

I took deep breaths, forcing myself to stay composed, and managed to dial 911.

After making the call, I slumped against the wall, fixated on his unchanging message.

Then my phone pinged.

It was a status update from Lily.

I mustered the last of my strength to check it and saw her selfie.

And Jack's watch was peeking out in the corner—the one I'd gifted him for our anniversary.

Her caption: "A call away for my boss, lucky to have you~," with a tag to Jack, again.

Jack had commented below, "Chicken," with a tone of affection.

Perhaps it was the brush with death, but I felt a sudden calm wash over me. Without any drama, I blocked Lily's social profile which I had well-searched.

The rescue team was far more reliable than Jack.

They got to the stuck elevator in no time, freeing me after hours of confinement and escorting me home.

The house was empty and devoid of life.

I washed off the grime and exhaustion and quickly drifted off to sleep.

Oddly, I found myself relieved without Jack nearby.

I was jolted awake by a slamming door. There stood Jack, fuming, demanding an explanation, "What's with all the calls? You think scaring me into thinking something's happened is funny?"

Confused, I stared at him, unable to comprehend his rage.

I hadn't even brought up his overnight escapade with another woman, yet he was the one losing his cool.

"Can you be a little more sensible? Stop spamming my phone, alright?"

He opened his phone to show me but accidentally revealed his chat with Lily.

Despite being his wife, it was her conversation that was pinned at the top.

I feigned ignorance, merely grunted, and rolled over to continue sleeping.

Perhaps feeling guilty about pinning Lily's chat or regretful for not picking me up, he just quietly tucked in the covers and left the room.

I didn't ask where he was going; I had lost interest long ago.

Despite the unrest, I didn't wake to my alarm.

But a panic about the pile of work waiting for me at the office woke me up.

I hurried to the office, barely managing to get through the morning rush when Sarah, concerned, remarked, "Jen, you look flushed!"

It dawned on me then—I was sick.

The stress from the previous day, compounded by my recent hospital stay, had culminated in a fever.

Surrounded by caring colleagues, I forced a smile and retreated to my desk to rest.

As I weighed whether to call in sick, a message from Jack popped up.

"Did you go to work today?"

Annoyed, I realized I had never found Jack so irritating.

Was he expecting me to stay at his tail and watch him flirt with his assistant?

Before I could muster a reply, he messaged again.

"Why didn't you wake me? I nearly missed my alarm!"

Staring at the screen, I remembered all the times I tried to rouse him, only to be dismissed. Yet, he'd soften for Lily's calls.

Confronting him always led to his impatient retort, "She's just my assistant, it's normal that she'd call and wake me up. Stop being so paranoid!"

Now, giving him a taste of his own medicine with Lily's care, he was puzzled by my absence.

How laughable.

I tossed my phone aside and immersed myself in work.

I'd come to realize it was better to depend on myself than on any man.