Chapter 6

When I returned to the apartment, I found it empty.

A thin layer of dust had settled on the floor and the dining table.

I was usually the one who cleaned the house.

When I was here, this cold house felt like a home.

When I was not, it was just a concrete and steel structure.

Counting the days, it had been about ten days already.

Twenty days left.

This emotionally draining relationship was finally coming to an end.

Just as I got up to tidy the place.

My phone suddenly rang.

It was Maya calling.

After a moment of hesitation, I answered.

"Liam Reynolds, you should be back in the city now, right?"

I paused for a few seconds when I heard that voice.

Because it wasn't Maya's voice.

It was Julian's.

It was unthinkable for me to even touch Maya's phone.

Yet now, Julian was calling me from Maya's phone.

This was clearly a way to assert his dominance.

"Yeah, I just got back."

I replied calmly after coming back to my senses.

"Today's my birthday, and Maya organized a birthday party for me. I heard from Maya that you went on a charity trip, and it's been so many days, you should be back by now. So I called to invite you to my birthday party, do you have time?" Julian's voice was excited, but I could also detect a hint of provocation.

"Maya also hopes you can come. Of course, I hope you can come even more. After all, if it weren't for your generosity, tacitly allowing Maya to take care of me, I don't know how I would have gotten through these dark days."

Julian's voice continued.

"Alright, send me the address, I'll be there later."

I hung up.

Julian quickly sent me the address.

I glanced at it, then looked away.

Then I went out to start preparing my emigration documents.

Since I had applied for an overseas visa before.

I was quite familiar with the process.

I submitted my application to the consulate, and it would take about ten days.

After finishing my errands, I checked the time.

From where I was to Julian's birthday party venue, it was about a thirty-minute drive.

Leaving now, the timing was just right.

I might be a little late, but that didn't matter to me.

Sitting on the subway, my thoughts drifted.

I chatted briefly with a friend.

I informed my friend that I was preparing to move abroad soon.

My friends, hearing that I had a better opportunity to go abroad, were all happy for me.

Half an hour later.

I arrived at the location.

Following the address, I walked forward.

The decor of this place was very high-end; it was clear the prices here wouldn't be cheap.

But this was the place Maya had carefully chosen for Julian.

The venue was quite large, with many private rooms.

I was led by a waiter to the door of the private room.

When I pushed the door open.

A booming music sound erupted.

Accompanied by cheers and teasing.

"Cheers..."

The private room was spacious, two to three hundred square feet, with integrated leisure and entertainment.

I pushed the door open and saw Maya smiling, with a hint of shyness, sharing an intertwined toast with Julian.