　　Through the airplane window, the city shrank to miniature. Only then did departure feel real.
　　I was wondering how Ayden would react when he found out that I had left. Surprise? Or perhaps he would feel relieved.
　　In my memory, we were intimate partners and the most compatible workmates. We were inseparable and envied by others as a perfect couple.
　　He knew that my parents had passed away early, and at that time, he held me and said, "I'll take good care of you. From now on, I am your family."
　　But how did it end up at "Her parents are gone, making divorce impossible"?
　　How did his care and sympathy twist into his certainty that I'd never leave?
　　My head throbbed until I stopped trying to figure it out.
　　The best way to deal with a painful relationship, as mentioned online, was to end it.
　　I closed my eyes and waited for the plane to take me to another country.
　　The plane land

　　"Ayden, check it yourself if you doubt me. While you're at it, tell Leticia: Playing sneaky office games? Better invest in actual skills."
　　I hung up the phone and blacklisted and deleted Ayden's phone number.
　　After a frozen moment, I opened our chat and hit delete on years of messages.
　　My phone lagged under the weight of our digital history, its slow purge letting me witness a decade of love stories dissolve bit by bit.
　　I put my phone into my pocket, and then I raised a relaxed smile to comfort my worried grandmother and uncle.
　　After I went back, I realized that my uncle had already prepared a clean and cozy room for me.
　　"Krista, see if you like it or not. I don't know what girls like, so I prepared these for you randomly."
　　My uncle touched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
　　The entire room was styled in my favorite creamy whites, and even the lamp glowed in my cheris

　　Tomorrow was the last day of the cooling-off period for divorce. I would not have any relationship with Ayden afterward.
　　I was watering the flowers on the balcony when the ring slipped from my finger and dropped from the balcony.
　　I instinctively bent down to pick it up.
　　"What are you doing?" Ayden grabbed my hand and pulled me backward.
　　"Do you know how dangerous it is?"
　　His eyes revealed concern towards me.
　　It seemed like he still cared about me.
　　"The ring dropped."
　　The ring was handcrafted by him for me back then, and I liked the design, so I have been wearing it until now. That was why I was so determined to pick it up when it dropped.
　　Ayden let out a sigh. "It's just a ring. I can buy you another one. Relax."
　　It was just a ring. I looked at his middle finger, empty and bare, as if he had already taken it off.
　　"Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. I came to pick you up. Let's celebrate together."
　　How long had it been since we truly celebrated an anniversary?
　　The thought hung heavy. Let this final act close our marriage's storybook with grace.
　　The next day, I sat in the pre-booked restaurant.
　　I had been waiting for a long time and was already famished, but he never showed up.
　　I opened my phone wanting to urge Ayden. If he wasn't sincerely coming to celebrate our anniversary, he could have just said so instead of keeping me waiting here.
　　After several unsuccessful attempts to reach him by phone, I picked up my phone again and noticed a message in the workgroup.
　　It was a statement from an anonymous account.
　　"Leticia's been cozying up to Mr. Baldwin, trading on her looks to climb the ladder. Disgusting how some exploit their way to the top."
　　It was followed by the evidence showing how I credited the project to Leticia.
　　Although Leticia was being condemned, every word and sentence was targeting me.
　　Not long after I read this message, Ayden forcefully kicked open the door.
　　"I used to think you willingly gave up the project, but I didn't expect you to be so malicious. You deliberately agreed to it but behind my back, you slandered Leticia!
　　"Krista, how could you be so filthy!"
　　Leticia hid behind Ayden, sobbing as if she had suffered a great grievance.
　　"I could have rejected this project. I didn't care about their opinions. But Krista, I've always considered you a friend. Why did you treat me like this?"
　　"It wasn't me."
　　I stated the fact calmly.
　　"Since I had already promised to credit it to her, I disdain to do such a thing."
　　"Besides you, who else had a reason to target Leticia?
　　"Krista, you are such a hypocritical woman!
　　"Leticia went to great lengths to choose this restaurant for us, and you are simply not worth it!"
　　He blushed and dropped a plate in front of me, causing shards to scatter all over the floor.
　　A decade-plus of shared life, yet he still doubted who I was at the core.
　　I took out the divorce agreement from my pocket.
　　"Since that's the case, the 30-day cooling-off period has passed. Let's sign it."
　　I placed my resignation letter below.
　　He sneered and quickly picked up a pen to swiftly sign his name.
　　"As you wished!"
　　After saying that, he hugged Leticia and left.
　　I sat in my seat, watching his departing figure.
　　It seemed there was no need to celebrate this last wedding anniversary.
　　I looked at the cold dishes on the table and slowly ate the spaghetti.
　　After finishing my meal, I grabbed the suitcase pre-packed in the corner and ordered a ride to the airport.
　　On the way to the airport, I sent a message to Ayden, "The key is placed on the table in the living room. We are done. Please do not contact me again."
　　After sending the message, I turned off my phone and boarded the plane to Burville.

　　Through the airplane window, the city shrank to miniature. Only then did departure feel real.
　　I was wondering how Ayden would react when he found out that I had left. Surprise? Or perhaps he would feel relieved.
　　In my memory, we were intimate partners and the most compatible workmates. We were inseparable and envied by others as a perfect couple.
　　He knew that my parents had passed away early, and at that time, he held me and said, "I'll take good care of you. From now on, I am your family."
　　But how did it end up at "Her parents are gone, making divorce impossible"?
　　How did his care and sympathy twist into his certainty that I'd never leave?
　　My head throbbed until I stopped trying to figure it out.
　　The best way to deal with a painful relationship, as mentioned online, was to end it.
　　I closed my eyes and waited for the plane to take me to another country.
　　The plane landed, and I walked forward, carrying my luggage.
　　I heard the voice of my uncle Brian Pearson shoutin

Chapter 5