Chapter 4

James replied: [?] Then he tried to video call me, but I didn't pick up.

I turned off my phone. It felt like the world had come to a halt, and finally, everything went quiet.

James probably couldn't wrap his head around how I, who once promised to stay with him forever, had become the person I was now.

In fact, I couldn't work out either how we had ended up this way.

But there was no time left to think it over. With the little time I had, I wanted to fight for more.

At least, I needed to get enough to let my parents, Robert and Jessica Simmons, live comfortably in their later years.

I sat on the balcony and hugged my knees to my chest, sometimes looking up at the stars.

I didn't know which star stood for my grandpa, but I believed that when my time came, he'd come for me.

I sat there through the whole night, and James didn't come home all the time.

*****

I freshened myself up quickly and headed to the most well-known law firm in the city.

"In this case, how likely am I to secure most of the assets?" I asked.

"Ms. Simmons, I can't guarantee anything, but I'll try my best," the lawyer replied.

I nodded.

When I stepped out of the law firm, the sky, which had been overcast that morning, had cleared up.

As I was about to hail a cab, I spotted James across the street, leaning against his car, eyes fixed on me. The ground around him was littered with cigarette butts.

I walked over in silence and stopped in front of him.

His voice was a bit hoarse. "Claire, I want an explanation. Whatever you say, I'll believe you."

I looked up and replied calmly, "What explanation?"

"Why are you asking for a divorce? And why did you go to the law firm to try and get the assets?"

I froze for a second. It suddenly hit me that James had a friend working at this firm.

Maybe someone overheard what I said. But I had nothing to hide. "I need a lot of money."

James let out a mocking laugh. "Why?"

I kept my voice flat. "I'm dying."

James was stunned for a moment and then flew into a fury. "Claire, are you coming up with any story to fight for my favor against Emily now?

"Have I spoiled you so much all these years that you think you can say anything that comes to your mind?"

I brushed the stray hair off his forehead, my voice still calm. "James, I'm telling you the truth.

"Will you bring me a bouquet when I'm gone?"

James twisted his lips into a smirk, giving me a look like I was hopeless. He stepped back. "No."

His car sped away, and my figure kept shrinking in the rear-view mirror.

After a long time, I muttered, "Oh, I see."

I guessed this was for the best. Next time around, we wouldn't have any ties between us.

With what little strength I had left, I opened my chat with James. I tapped on his profile picture and deleted him. "James, let's never meet each other again."

*****

When I got home that night, I started packing up my things.

I wasn't taking much with me, and I planned to list everything sellable on secondhand apps.

By the time I finished packing, it was already past midnight.

I turned my wedding ring around my finger for a moment and then took it off and dropped it into the box with the stuff I was selling. After that, I booked an air ticket back home.

For my last days, I wanted to spend as much time as I could with my parents.

The country lane looked the same as it had been before.

I dragged my suitcase off the car and looked up to see my parents waiting at the end of the lane, their faces full of worry as they searched for me.

Tears welled up in my eyes right away.

I once thought country life moved far too slowly. Maybe my mind had changed, and now I suddenly realized how much I'd let slip by.

I stayed at home for a month, growing thinner and barely able to eat anything.

I knew my time was almost up.

In my parents' arms, surrounded by their tears, I mustered my last bit of strength to hug them. "Mom, Dad, I'm heading out first to meet Grandpa.

"If there is another chance at living, I want to be your daughter again."

With that, I slowly closed my eyes, tears slipping down my cheeks.

The world went quiet.