When the Contract Ends in Goodbye Chapter 2

I went home alone and lay on the bed to rest.

Hearing a noise outside, I got up and walked out, just in time to see Julian returning.

We looked at each other in silence. Finally, he spoke. "Today was a celebration for Ava. Don't mind it. Our wedding wasn't public, so they misunderstood my relationship with Ava. I'll make it up to you later."

I shook my head. "Let's talk about 'later' later."

He seemed very satisfied with my sensibility. He reached out, hugged me, and squeezed my shoulder.

His arms were broad and warm.

Yet, I felt a cold, endless rain falling inside my world, soaking my life through to the bone.

The next day, Julian’s short vacation ended. He took Ava to Miami.

I imagine he must have been incredibly happy.

In their spare time, he and Ava went to nursing homes to do charity work and donated to community elementary schools.

He took Ava to all the places he never took me.

He once told me, "I'm a man of status. Eating at those roadside stalls? It’s beneath me."

But in front of Ava, he became her safe haven.

He would accompany Ava to do anything she wanted.

The last four days of the month.

Julian came back.

During the twenty days he was away handling business, just like always, he didn't contact me once.

What was different was that I didn't contact him once, either.

Seeing me alone in the house, he seemed to feel he had been too cold.

It was as if he suddenly realized I was the only one putting effort into this marriage. He said, "Honey, you've worked hard. I'll stay home and keep you company this time."

In seven years of marriage, the number of times he called me that could be counted on one hand.

"I've been too busy lately. When I have a chance, I'll clear my schedule and take you to see fireworks. Just the two of us."

"Let's not watch them. There's nothing to see."

Julian paused, looking at me in surprise. "Didn't you really want to see fireworks?"

If this were the past, I would have screamed at him like a madwoman.

I would have asked why he could never do the things he promised me.

Why things that should belong to me were always snatched away by others.

But now, I didn't care about his fake promises. "It's just a show. I can live without it."

I didn't want Julian anymore, either.