Chapter 6

When Caleb came home that night, I was standing on the balcony, smoking.

The smoke swirled between us, forming an opaque veil that felt impossible to lift, a permanent barrier.

"Why are you smoking again?" He approached me, snatching the cigarette from my hand, throwing it to the ground, and crushing it under his foot.

My expression was blank.

"Caleb, have your lawyer draft the divorce papers quickly."

"I won't divorce you. You stayed for me; I'll take responsibility for you."

Caleb's phone buzzed with a message. He glanced at it, a look of urgency on his face, then grabbed his jacket and headed out.

"Vivian, something urgent just came up at the office. I'll be right back."

With that, he disappeared from my sight.

I covered my face, a bitter laugh escaping me.

Responsibility...

He knew all along that he didn't love me anymore.

He knew, deep down, that I'd stayed in this world *for him*, yet he still chose to betray me.

Why couldn't people's hearts be like computer hard drives?

Just a click, and everything could be reformatted, including emotions.

I clearly knew Caleb's cruelty, yet I couldn't immediately sever my feelings for him.

I could only toss and turn countless nights, swallowing the bitter taste of reality.

That night, Caleb didn't come home.