Before he could offer more explanation, a voice in the background caught my attention—someone, likely a server, saying clearly, “Sir, your entire meal has been served. Please enjoy.”
I froze. Isaac’s voice turned muffled as he must have covered the speaker in a hurry, but the damage was already done. I had heard enough to understand.
There was a pause. Then I let out a soft breath and replied, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle things on my own.”
Why I said that, I wasn’t entirely sure. Perhaps I wanted to spare him guilt, or maybe I was desperately trying to reassure myself that I didn’t need him—that I could do this alone.
As I moved to hang up, he suddenly called out, “Wendy, just go back home. I’ll explain everything later, alright?”
Explain what, exactly? More excuses? Another carefully constructed lie to keep me in place?
I ended the call without saying another word. Then, without waiting any longer, I arranged for a ride back. But when the evening came, Isaac still hadn’t returned.
Sleep didn’t come easily. The muffled sounds outside the window kept dragging me back to reality. I peered out and saw the sky alight with fireworks—someone must have been celebrating something, probably a romantic surprise.
A sharp twist of bitterness tugged at my lips, forming a humorless smile.
Unable to rest, I turned to my tablet and resumed working on a client’s wedding gown sketches. While scrolling through references, my finger brushed against my messaging app, opening it accidentally.
There, right at the top, was Candice’s newest post.
It was an elegant shot of fireworks bursting across the night, with a caption written like a line from a love poem:
“After so many years apart, I’ve finally returned to your side. These fireworks bloom as if the stars themselves are welcoming me back.”
I stared at the screen, mind blank and chest tight. Then, when I attempted to exit the app, I realized that Isaac’s account was still logged in on my device.
I didn’t have the will to dig through any conversations or see more than I should. I quickly logged his account out and turned the device off.
The following morning, I arrived at the office with a clear goal in mind.
The manager handed me the approval letter for my resignation. When I explained my departure was due to an upcoming bond marriage and that I’d be relocating to another territory, her face shifted between joy and sorrow.