Chapter 2

Nolan irritably shouted into the phone a few times, telling the driver to stop.

I instinctively turned to look at him, my eyes stinging:

"Scarlett, something urgent came up at the company. I need to go deal with it."

"I'll have the driver take you home. I'll catch a cab."

I stared intently into Nolan's eyes, trying to discern any clues, but came up empty.

He had been performing this act for five years, and his skills were impeccable.

"Go ahead."

My throat felt like it had been slashed with a knife as I spoke.

Nolan embraced me and kissed my forehead.

The moment he turned to exit the car, I raised my hand to wipe away the warm imprint.

My phone dinged, and I received a text from the notary office.

It notified me and Nolan's mother to come to the notary's office to process the gift agreement certification.

Nolan, it's time to say goodbye.

This time, I'll make sure you can never find me.

I started packing my things to leave, like others do, but found myself at a loss as I held my suitcase.

In the five years with Nolan, I had almost nothing that was truly my own.

A car accident not only cost me my hearing but left countless other effects, and with two miscarriages on top of that, I couldn't work.

I had become Mrs. Langdon who everyone admired, and had become Nolan's accessory.

People in this neighborhood didn't even know my name.

I suddenly felt incredibly sad.

From the impoverished mountains, I had struggled and fought to get into the best university, the best major, only to completely lose my own life in the second year after graduation.

I walked into Nolan's study, which was filled with our photos together.

In every picture, we looked so happy.

I gathered all the photos into an album and dug out a box from the bottom shelf.

The box contained mementos from our first experiences together in college: our first movie ticket, first Ferris wheel ride, first play, first vacation...

And the first diary we wrote together.

The yellowed diary, when opened to the first page, revealed Nolan's bold handwriting.

"One life, one world, just us two. Love Scarlett forever."

Overwhelming sadness engulfed me. I impulsively crossed out that sentence and closed the diary, putting it back in the box with the photo album.

When people are sad, they often look for something to do.

I started cleaning, scrubbing everything inside and out over and over, until Nolan opened the front door.

"Scarlett, why are you cleaning again? Nolan pulled me up, looking at me with concern.

The rag in my hand was still dripping water as I stared at the hickey beneath his shirt collar, my eyes turning red.

"Another allergic reaction?"

Nolan nervously touched his neck and buttoned up his collar:

"Yeah, must be the office not being cleaned thoroughly enough. It's better at home with you in charge, I never have allergic reactions here."

Nolan gestured with his hands, smiling at me endearingly.

Every time Nolan went on a business trip or stayed out overnight, he'd come back covered in marks.

He said it was allergies, and I felt bad for him, so I never trusted the housekeeper to clean our home.

I wanted to give him a safe and comfortable home.

But I never realized that his so-called allergies were just traces left from his intimate moments with Vivienne.

Nolan, as usual, told me interesting stories from outside, talked about our past, and our future together.

What he didn't know was that we no longer had a future.