Part 3As Love Fades Away

It was a pity that I had seen through her facade.

I ignored her text and finished ordering my food. I took out our couple outfits from the wardrobe and scheduled a pickup service for recycling.

A text from Yves then popped up on my phone screen.

[We’re now taking a trip down memory lane at our old school. You might not know this, but this tree was where Hazel and I shared our first kiss.]

I switched my phone off, turned on my laptop, and submitted the documents for my request to go abroad.

When I received a verification code, another text from Yves popped up, accompanied by a photo.

[We found a confession letter we buried in the sand previously. Hazel wrote that I’m the only man she’ll love in her entire life. Do you see it?]

Such blatant displays of affection continued till the evening.

I didn’t wait for Hazel to return, unlike what I had always done in the past, and went to bed immediately.

After a long while, the lights in the living room were switched on, and Hazel walked in quietly. She asked softly, “Steve, are you asleep?”

I jolted awake and sat upright on the bed. She sat by the bedside and said rather indignantly, “You didn’t stay up to wait for me tonight.

“I was busy at work and came home late. Sorry.”

She apologized sincerely, but I yawned and said with a wave of my hand, “It’s okay. Go to bed.”

Hazel looked rather disappointed that I didn’t seem to care for her explanation. She was about to throw back the covers when she saw something out of the corner of her eye.

“Where is the wedding photo? Why is it not there anymore?”

She paused for a moment before looking around the entire room. She asked doubtfully, “Why does the room feel so empty, as if many things have vanished? Did you do some tidying up?”

“I accidentally smashed something when I was cleaning up. The wedding photo and decorative items are all in the storeroom.”

After my brief explanation, I reached out to switch the lights off. “Go to bed. I’m tired.”

Hazel sensed that something was wrong but couldn’t quite identify what it was.

She hugged me and said tenderly, “Steve, I’ll go with you to check out the wedding venue, okay?”

I rejected her flatly. “I’m busy tomorrow. Perhaps another day.”

I switched the lights off.

Hazel was about to lie down when her phone screen lit up. She hesitated for a few seconds before tucking the sheets in for me and then turning to walk out of the room.

When I woke up the next morning, I saw the breakfast that Hazel had lovingly prepared for me.

Instead of taking a photo to commemorate the special occasion like I would have done in the past, I took two bites and threw the rest in the trash.

I drove to the office to grab some documents. When I arrived at the entrance, I saw a familiar figure surrounded by a few employees who were pointing fingers at him and muttering under their breath.

“Isn’t he the rascal who dumped Hazel back then?”

“Hazel got disfigured from saving him from a car accident, while he left her so mercilessly for fear that he might be held accountable for his actions!”

“Do you call yourself a man, Yves Landon?”

“You shameless coward! The cheek of you to come back!”

Yves bowed his head, his face pale with tears still hanging at the corner of his eyes.

He shook his head and tried to explain his innocence. “No, I had my reasons for doing so back then. Please help me call for Hazel…”

One of the employees pushed him away in disdain. “You’d better scram! If not, we’re calling security!”

Just then, Hazel rushed out and demanded, “Stop! All of you!”

She stood in front of Yves and scolded everyone else there, “Yves isn’t as bad as you make him out to be! Bully him some more, and see if you’ll end up losing your jobs! Get back to work right now!”

Very soon, the crowd dispersed.

Yves called out to Hazel, feeling both indignant and touched at the same time. Hazel’s head snapped toward Yves, and she glared at him, saying, “Are you stupid? Why didn’t you call me before coming over?

“Why didn’t you hide far away from them when they started scolding you? Must you stand here and let them insult you?”