During My Heart Attack, My Boyfriend Chose to Carry Away His Lover

The next morning, when I woke up, Austen had already left for work.

We had been sleeping in separate rooms for the past six months.

Austen said his work kept him busy, often making him work late into the night, and he didn't want to disturb my rest, so he chose to sleep in the guest room.

But in the early hours, I would still be woken up by him.

Even with a wall between us, I could hear him talking to Jaelyn.

When Jaelyn couldn't sleep, she would call him.

When Jaelyn was upset, she would reach out to him.

They played games together and chatted together.

Austen and I had originally planned to get married within two years, but it kept getting postponed because of him.

My parents urged us many times, but Austen always pushed it off, saying he was too busy with work.

I glanced at the ring on my finger and quietly slipped it off, putting it away in the drawer.

Then, I started preparing for my move to Elarion.

I understood now that this ring no longer belonged to me, and neither did this home.

Halfway through packing, I received a call from Austen.

"Caitlyn, Jaelyn's having cramps and isn't feeling well. Could you bring her some painkillers?

"You're both women, you should understand each other. You don't mind, right?"

Hearing his voice, I replied calmly.

"Sure, I'll be right there."

Austen seemed pleased with my response.

"Good. Try to hurry. Today's Thanksgiving Day, so I'll get off work early and come home for dinner."

Austen's parents had passed away when he was young. When we first got together, he told me he wanted to spend every holiday with me so he could feel a sense of family.

Every Thanksgiving since, I'd always made a special, elaborate dinner just to give him that feeling of home.

This year was no different. I had prepared a delicious feast in advance and stored it in the fridge.

But now, there was no one left to look forward to it.

I grabbed the painkillers and headed to Austen's office.

The receptionist seemed surprised when she heard I was his girlfriend.

There was a hint of pity in her eyes as she looked at me.

But she didn't say much; she just pointed me in the right direction and went back to her desk.

In the hallway, two women were chatting.

"Do you think Mr. Barton and Jaelyn are having an affair? I see them having meals together all the time."

"You just figured that out? Last time, Jaelyn got harassed by a client at a business dinner, and Mr. Barton actually got into a fight with the guy, costing the company millions in contracts."

I knocked on the wall, interrupting their conversation.

"Hi there, I'm Austen's girlfriend. I'm just dropping something off for him."

I lifted the bag in my hand and smiled at them.

They froze.

With flustered expressions, they quickly escorted me to Austen's office and then hurried off.

I set the painkillers on his desk and wandered around his office.

He had been at this new job for over six months, but this was my first time visiting.

I'd thought of bringing him lunch, just like I used to, but he'd always turned me down.

Austen said it wouldn't look good if I kept showing up.

But I knew that wasn't the real reason.

I picked up a framed photo on Austen's desk and studied it closely.

I had to admit, he and Jaelyn did make a picture-perfect couple.

"What are you doing here? Why weren't you waiting for me at the front?"

I turned around at the sound of his voice.

Austen stood at the door, frowning.

When he noticed me holding the photo of him and Jaelyn, his expression shifted slightly.

"Caitlyn, can you stop being so paranoid all the time? Jaelyn and I..."

"It's okay."

I cut him off with a smile before he could get angry.

"It's just a picture. I'm not that petty. I brought the painkillers. They're still warm, so you can take them to Jaelyn."

Austen seemed surprised at how understanding I was, and his tense expression relaxed a bit.

"No need. Jaelyn wasn't feeling well, so she went home to rest."

"You should head home, and I'll bring them over to her later."

I nodded and quickly turned to leave.

"Caitlyn."

Austen suddenly called out to me.

"Why do I feel like you've changed? You're being so... gentle."

I looked back at him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

"Am I? Don't be ridiculous."