Love is Fading

Jericho kissed her neck while saying, "Celine, you still care about me."

Celine gazed at Jericho with a blurry look in her eyes, her voice tinged with some sadness, "The slap I gave you earlier must have hurt, right? You should punish me."

Jericho grinned with malice, "Well, that's what you said yourself!" Their interaction became more intense.

I thought I would feel anger, but I realized I had become numb. I couldn't be bothered to stay and watch their passionate exchange. I threw the stomach medicine into the trash and drove home.

On the way back, I received several messages from Jericho: [Ruben, I know you were watching just now. Are you angry?]

[I'll be honest with you. The stomach medicine message was sent by me using Celine's phone secretly.]

[Just now, Celine said she'd give me company shares and promised to get a custom wedding ring, one like the one you have.]

[She told me that you're a conservative man and being with me excites her. We've tried things you two never did before.]

[She also said that next time, she wants to secretly try things in your house, imagining it excites her. I can't wait to experience that with her.]

[Ruben, you're destined to lose. What I gave to Celine is something new and exciting. You couldn't give that to her.]

Then he sent over a dozen videos. Each video contained explicit footage of him and Celine in passionate moments that were too painful to watch.

I knew he was trying to anger me, to provoke me, but he had no idea that I wasn't affected. When there's no love, there are no vulnerabilities.

I went to bed early and didn't even know when Celine came home.

When I woke up in the morning, she had already prepared a lavish breakfast and packed her suitcase and said, "Honey, take your time eating. I need to head out to catch a flight."

I watched her leave, smiling, "Goodbye."

Hearing my words, Celine's heart suddenly tightened. We'll never see each other again.

She dragged her suitcase down to the parking garage, feeling a vague sense of unease. As she recalled the earlier scene, she finally understood where her unease came from.

My smile and my eyes when I watched her leave, it was cold, with no hint of emotion.

"Celine! Let me help you with the luggage." Jericho got out of the car and volunteered.

Celine turned around and glanced behind him. After seeing no one, she scolded him in a reproachful tone, "Didn't I tell you not to come pick me up? What if Ruben sees?"

Jericho didn't care, "Celine, isn't this the kind of thrill you like? Come on, hurry, or you'll miss your flight."

As soon as Celine got into the car, she stared at her phone screen saver. It was the first photo we took when we were dating. She hadn't changed it in all these years.

She said, "Jericho, when I return from this trip, I'll make you the department director. As for our relationship, it should come to an end."

Jericho paused for a moment, then forced a smile, "Whatever you says."

He said this, but deep down he felt bitter. He was determined to make these last few days a time when Celine would be completely immersed in the joy, unable to forget it.

***

After Celine left, I threw all the breakfast on the table into the trash. Then I made a call, instructing them to clear out all my things from the house.

The place was rearranged, spotless. This home no longer held any trace of me, not even a single strand of hair.