Chapter 7

I saved every message from Edith, each one more provoking than the last. Then, I opened my booking app, confirmed the details, and started packing my things. Everything was neatly organized, ready for the courier to pick it up.

Just as I finished, I bumped into David. He looked exhausted from his busy day, rushing to get somewhere. But when he saw my luggage, he froze, his gaze shifting from my packed bags to me with suspicion.

"Rose, are you going somewhere?" he asked.

I smiled and replied, "Yeah, I want to see the ocean."

David stepped closer immediately. "I'll go with you," he said, taking my hand. "It's my fault for not spending enough time with you lately. I should've thought this through." He grabbed his phone and was about to dial his assistant. "Where do you want to go see the ocean? I'll have everything ready."

Before he could make the call, his phone rang. I glanced at the screen, "Si" was the contact name. Without a second thought, I knew exactly who it was. David hesitated, his eyes flickering between me and the phone.

I called out to him, "Answer it. It might be important."

"There's no rush," I added, "Work comes first."

David paused, looking guilty. "Rose, wait for me."

He walked off to the side to take the call. As he did, I continued packing, my movements slow, deliberate. When the call finally ended, he came back with a guilty look on his face.

"Rose, I have something urgent. I need to step out," he said, his voice soft. "I might not be able to come with you."

"Don't be upset," he added, his tone now playful, almost childlike. "I'll be with you as soon as I'm done. I promise."

His hand still held mine, warm as ever, but my heart was at peace now. I looked closely at the man who had been with me through everything, my teenage years, my young adulthood, and I silently spoke to him in my heart: David, we won't have a future together.

I smiled, though it was a hollow gesture. "Alright, I understand."

As David left, the heavy weight pressing on my chest finally began to lift, the burden of the past few days now bearable. I found the courage to let it go.

I had loved David for ten years. Over those years, I'd imagined us growing old together, just like those couples who spent a lifetime in love, living and dying together. I thought, even in death, I would be with David, no matter where we went. I had always believed our bond was unbreakable. But now, I realized that what we had was shallow, too fragile to survive. And before we even had a chance to reach the next decade, we were already parting ways.

I continued packing, methodically putting everything in place. I carefully gathered all the evidence of his and Edith's relationship, photos, messages, everything, and placed it in the study. I wasn't a particularly kind person, but I wanted David to see that I had fought for this relationship too.

So, I laid out everything on the desk, vials and needles. Medical records, from six years ago to now. All the proof of my attempts to have a child. At the very bottom of the pile, I placed the divorce agreement.

When I was done, I quietly closed the door and told Shelly, "No one is allowed in the study before the boss gets back."

Shelly smiled, thinking I was preparing a surprise. "Mr. and Mrs. Scott are really so in love..."

Once, we were.

I left the house on my own, not allowing the driver to take me. Instead, I called a taxi and went straight to the airport. After boarding, I sent David a message on TalkUs:

I have a gift for you.

It's on the desk, waiting for you to open it when you're done.

David didn't respond. I guessed he was with Edith. After all, it was her first pregnancy, and she was always having headaches or feeling unwell, needing David to rush around and take care of her.

And now, as I sat in the taxi, I knew what I had to do. I was done.