For Our Anniversary, My Gift is My Departure

Victor froze in place.

I glanced at the familiar number flashing on my phone and ended the call.

"Who was that?"he asked,his voice tight with restrained anger.

I responded calmly,"Someone you don’t know."

"Then introduce me to him.Elena,don’t forget that you’ve been my wife for thirty years.There shouldn’t be any secrets between us."

"Oh?And what about the secret you kept from me?Dating Vivian for five years behind my back?"

My voice suddenly rose and the living room fell into an awkward,suffocating silence.

My son and daughter-in-law exchanged glances,their eyes darting between us.

Victor rubbed his temples,temporarily at a loss for words.

Just then,my phone lit up again.

I glanced down.It was a text from that person.

[Is it inconvenient for you to answer the phone now?]

I replied with a simple,[Yes.]

A pause followed and then another WhatsApp message popped up.[Should I come to the Holloway Family's residence and pick you up myself?]

A small laugh escaped my lips.[No need.I’ll make my way out.]

Victor noticed the faint smile tugging at my lips.It made him visibly uneasy.

He looked like he was about to ask who I was messaging and why I was smiling so warmly,but before he could speak,Vivian stepped forward.She gently tugged on his sleeve and spoke in a soft,delicate voice.

"Mr.Holloway,it's time for me to go to work.Will you give me and the baby a ride?"

Victor cast a final glance at me for a few seconds,then turned to look at Vivian and smiled softly.

"All right."

As he helped Vivian out the door,he threw a comment over his shoulder as if it were an afterthought."I’ve got business today and tomorrow,so I won’t be coming home."

"While your son and his wife are working,make sure to take care of your grandson.Don’t neglect the housework.I know you’ve been wronged this time.Once I’m done handling things,I’ll come back and spend more time with you."

However,Victor did not return for an entire week.

During weekdays,while my son and daughter-in-law went to work,I took on the task of sending my grandson to school.

After handling all the minor tasks for the day,I picked up my phone and opened Instagram.

My social circle was filled with people who were once the pampered sons and daughters of wealthy families.Now,the young ladies had become distinguished women of status and the young masters had grown into capable men,managing their family fortunes with ease.

My feed was flooded with photos and videos from an auction.

From The Prestige Auction House,to be specific.

There sat Victor,nearing fifty but still full of vitality,legs elegantly crossed,cradling the petite Vivian in his arms.

"Any stuff you like here?"His voice was soft,eyes brimming with tender affection.

Vivian gave a shy smile."Whatever you give me,I'll treasure it."

With a casual wave of his hand,Victor said,"Release the sky lanterns.Book the entire venue."

Amid the cheers and applause,Victor and Vivian embraced and kissed,surrounded by gasps of admiration and envy.

The scene sent a wave of fascination through Victor’s many admirers.Even my daughter-in-law could not resist whispering to my son at home.

"Wow,your dad is so charming.Vivian must really be his true love.I’m so jealous of her."

Vivian went wild on social media,posting ten affectionate photos of her and Victor on her Instagram.

Whether out of reluctance or his own desire,Victor followed up with a post of his own.

The picture showed two hands tightly intertwined and on Vivian’s finger gleamed the final piece of the auction,a dazzling diamond ring.

The caption written below was,[With her.]