11
♡ fo
1 recognized the faint chime of the clock in the background.
“Oh, I can guess,” I said, my mind drifting to the past. “You’re probably at Hawaiian Tranquility Inn, admiring koi in the pond and the mountains surrounding your luxury suite.”
The silence on the other end lingered, clearly unprepared for my precise guess.
I chuckled. “Gavin hasn’t changed a bit. All these years, he has still recycled in the same locations. I’ve been there before, you know. It’s amusing that you’re treating his leftovers as something to flaunt,”
“You “Savanna’s voice quivered with rage. “Aria Stanton, you’re just a washed–up who has been jealous of me!”
“Is that so? Are you bragging about becoming an official mistress now?”
“You don’t need to talk down to me!” she screamed, her composure cracking.
The man you’re so obsessed with? He comes running the moment I call. While you’re still recovering, he’s already out on a date with me. Everyone knows your marriage is a sham!”
“Do you know how long we’ve known each other? Gavin doesn’t love you. He loves me!”
Her hysteria only made me hit speakerphone letting her words ring loud.
“Did he say he’s marrying you?”
“Of course! All he needs is you to sign the papers and leave with nothing. Do you think he’s staying married because he loves you? He just doesn’t want to split his assets!”
“Oh,” I said dryly. “Then why don’t you convince him to agree to a divorce?”
Savanna hung up abruptly.
I stared out the window, watching leaves fall gently to the ground, and my mind wandered back to my mother’s first death anniversary.
That was the year Gavin wanted to marry me despite his family threatening to disown
18.08
him.
Dec
Back then, we endured so much hardship together.
I couldn’t stand watching him juggle multiple jobs, so I secretly sought out opportunities
in dance:
fo
One audition went wrong. The casting director’s hands were too familiar, resting on my
shoulder in ways they shouldn’t.
I excused myself, locking myself in the restroom and frantically calling Gavin.
The director banged on the door, each knock louder and more threatening. I was terrified
to leave.
When Gavin arrived, he smashed his phone into the man’s face. A fight broke out, and Gavin was injured, but he didn’t stop until the man fled.
Without clear evidence, we ended up spending the night in jail.
I remember us sitting on the cold floor of our tiny apartment, sharing a single cup of
ramen.
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Gavin had pushed the noodles toward me. “Eat more, Aria. You’re too thin.”
His eyes had shone so brightly, full of love and admiration.
Back then, even the bitterness of struggle had tasted sweet.
Eventually, his family relented, and Gavin began to show his natural business acumen.
“They say money changes men,” I once teased. “Will it change you, Gavin?”
Drunk and sincere, he had looked me straight in the eye. “Not a chance.”
“Every day, every year… I’ll never change.”
Seven years ago, Gavin made promises that sounded like they came straight from a
fairytale
Seven years ago, Gavin made promises that sounded like they came straight from a fairytale.
But seven years later, those promises were dead.
As the last rays of sunlight faded from the room, I realized my love had died
