When the Wind Carries My Heartache

Vincent stared at me with a cold, threatening look.

"Charlene, who gave you the confidence to say something like that? You're spending my money! If you weren't with me, where would you go?"

I opened my mouth to speak.

In these ten years, I had barely spent a cent of his money.

He said he wanted me to stay home and wait for him, so I found a remote part-time job that let me do just that.

Most of our expenses over the years were covered with the money I earned.

I hadn't even gotten the chance to refute when there was a knock on the door.

I couldn't be bothered to respond to his aggressive tone as I took the cake from the delivery guy.

Vincent glanced over with a cold expression, then froze.

"Tenth anniversary?"

Today was our ten-year anniversary.

I had started planning things days ago—figuring out how we'd spend the day, putting together a menu, and ordering a cake.

I had really been looking forward to our first decade together.

Pressing his lips together, Vincent took the cake from my hands.

"Work's been a lot lately. When I'm free, we'll go out to buy a dress and some jewelry."

He set the cake aside and reached for my hand, trying to pull me to sit with him on the couch.

"Charlene, stop dwelling on all this petty stuff. Emily's just like a sister to me. Nothing's going on between us."

Like a sister?

I still remembered our one-year anniversary.

That day, he went out drinking with his friends. He had too much, and I went to pick him up.

One of them asked him, "Are you really fine with giving up like this?"

Vincent replied, "Emily said she only sees me as a brother. If that's the case, Charlene's the best option."

Back then, I naively believed I could win his heart.

But now, I realized the ending was decided long ago.

At least I was lucky enough to still have the courage to walk away.

"It's fine. Go deal with your work," I said.

Vincent paused, looking at me in surprise.

He was already used to me giving in and compromising, so he didn't think I'd make a fuss.

He thought this would all blow over, and we'd sit down to eat the cake together.

"Come on. Let's eat the cake."

This was actually the first time we'd ever sat together on our anniversary.

Before, I used to wish more than anything that he'd just come home and be with me.

But now, all I wanted to do was cut him off completely and chase after a life that was truly mine.

I came out of the kitchen, ready to cut the cake.

However, I was suddenly alone in the room.

The cake I had left on the table was gone.

Vincent had left so suddenly, but still remembered to take the cake with him.

He didn't even bother to change his shoes.

I sat down and took out my phone.

Sure enough, Emily had just updated her social media.

"My period suddenly came, and I was craving something sweet. My knight brought me cake in five minutes!"

In the photo was the very cake I had bought.

Vincent had even liked the post.

I left a comment. "Enjoy the cake."

A moment later, my phone lit up. It was a voice message from Vincent.