Part 2As Love Fades Away

The moment I hung up, Hazel opened my door and asked, “Don’t tell anyone what?”

I said calmly, “It’s just work.”

Hazel didn’t think much of it. She walked over and held my hand, saying softly, “Steve, our wedding’s three days away. Don’t be so busy at work and rest more so that you’ll be in your best state at the wedding.”

The tender look in her eyes broke my heart.

I asked her in all seriousness, “A perfect wedding should be between two people who love each other, right?”

“Of course. A perfect wedding is only meaningful if it’s between two people in love, just like us,” Hazel said with a smile, which soon faded into confusion as she asked softly, “Steve, why are you asking that? Are you getting the jitters because the wedding’s around the corner? It’s okay. I love you, and I’ll never leave you my entire life.”

I smiled bitterly to myself. Was registering her marriage with another man an act of love toward me?

Hazel could sense that something was wrong with me and was about to push further when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and a cold, conflicted expression crossed her face.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she stood up to answer the call with an icy voice. “What is it?”

I couldn’t hear what the caller said, but whatever it was made Hazel’s voice grew colder. “You are completely able-bodied. Can’t you do something so trivial? My time is precious, and I can’t waste it listening to your nonsense.”

She fell silent for a few seconds, listening to what the caller had to say.

The look on her face grew hesitant and conflicted. A few seconds later, she muttered an acknowledgement under her breath before hanging up.

Before I could ask her further, Hazel looked apologetically at me and said, “Steve, I have something urgent to attend to and need to leave the house. Wait for me at home, okay?”

I nodded.

After she left in a hurry, a guess surfaced in my mind.

The only man in this world whom Hazel hated and loved at the same time and could cause such a huge swing in her emotions with just a few words was no other than Yves, who had once abandoned her.

I felt like a third party coming between them.

Now that her true love had returned, it was time for me to leave.

I was about to search for flight tickets departing the day after tomorrow when I received a friend request.

It was from Yves Landon.

After I approved his request, he immediately sent me dozens of photos of Hazel seated next to him, her head bowed as she peeled prawns and fed him.

[Steve, thank you for taking care of my girlfriend. See that? A word from me, and she’ll come running to me, leaving you behind. Scram if you know what’s good for you.]

His deliberate provocation only deepened my misery.

During those days I spent with Hazel, I was always the one peeling prawns for her and taking care of her, for fear that she would be exhausted. Now that she was with Yves, she was the one who was always giving.

It was painfully obvious who she loved.

I quickly booked a flight ticket departing three days later before calling my secretary, Cherie Lyons.

“I’ll be going abroad to explore opportunities for foreign expansion. Take care of the company while I’m gone, I might not be back for a few years.”

Hazel Bale, I’m giving you your freedom back.

-

After I was done handing over my computer, I started clearing out all my belongings from the house.

Since I had decided to leave, I wanted to make a clean break.

Meanwhile, Yves kept texting me to show off.

[Hazel is shopping with me and even bought me a branded suit. Don’t get mad, alright?]

I switched my phone off, pulled the wedding photo off the wall in the bedroom, and threw it in the trash.

When I was ordering takeout, I saw a text from Hazel containing a photo of her meal. [Steve, I’ll be having dinner with a client tonight. Be good and don’t forget to eat.]

If I ignored the fact that the photo was an old one that she saved in her gallery, she would still be that kind and gentle girlfriend who always gave me a strong sense of security.