You Said Goodbye Right After Hello

Tamara Winslow stands amid the crowd while clutching two different documents in her hand. One of them shows a diagnosis report on her alexithymia, while the other showcases a divorce agreement. Three hours ago, she had specifically visited the Clerk's Office because the hospital's system had shown her marital status as "divorced". The city clerk looks up at her. "Ma'am, it's true that you and Mr. Braxton Merrick got divorced three years ago." Tamara's expression freezes on her face. "How could that be? We got married three years ago!" The city clerk checks the details once again. This time, he adapts a rather awkward tone. "The results are correct. It's true that you got divorced three years ago. In fact, it took place… on the seventh second right after you got married…" Chapter 1 The clerk continued, "Moreover, Mr. Merrick remarried a year later. The name of his spouse, as listed on the marriage certificate, is Annalise Prescott." Tamara stood there as if her soul had left her body, her eyes vacant and her arms trembling slightly. Everyone knew that Tamara Winslow and Braxton Merrick had known each other since childhood and had watched one another mature into adulthood. He protected her, spoiled her, and treated her like a princess whom everyone envied. Annalise Prescott, on the other hand, was the orphaned daughter of his arch-nemesis' family. "Ma'am, are you okay?" Tamara forced herself to her feet, waving her hand dismissively. She wandered through the streets in a daze. On the large screen in the central square, an interview with Braxton was playing. He was dressed in a beige suit, his long legs crossed. The interview suddenly came to a stop when he glanced at his watch and said, "I'm sorry, we'll need to end the interview here. I need to go home and have dinner with my wife." He flashed a smile at the camera, and the live broadcast ended abruptly. The crowd let out murmurs of admiration, praising him for doting on his wife and for his devotion to her. Tamara merely rubbed the wedding ring on her ring finger, finding it all utterly ironic. She wondered who the "wife" he was referring to really was. Her thoughts drifted back in time, and she seemed able to picture her knight in shining armor, who would wake up an hour earlier each day and take a detour just to pick her up for school. He'd always grab every opportunity to be by her side, whether it was hosting galas, playing a piano duet, or attending sports meets. Each time, he'd be declaring to the world that she belonged to him. So, after graduation, Braxton proposed. He'd always said, "If anyone else looks at you for a second too long, I'll lose my mind." That same year, she returned to the old family home with her parents for the New Year holiday. Heavy snow blocked the roads, yet he trekked several miles and showed up at her door at midnight. As fireworks lit up the sky, he promised that they'd always be together. The following spring, they held their wedding. Tamara asked, "Have you really thought this through? I'll expect you to love and honor me for the rest of your life." He eagerly slipped the ring onto her finger. "Then I'm greedier than that. I want only you, not just in this lifetime, but in the next one and the one after that as well." After their wedding, their relationship remained as sweet as ever. That was, until the day his arch-nemesis' family tragically died in a car crash, and he suddenly had to attend the funeral. That day, Tamara rushed over right after getting off her flight. The moment she stepped inside the funeral home, she saw Annalise, dressed in a black dress, nestled in Braxton's arms while he pressed a kiss to her forehead. Tamara's suitcase hit the floor with a loud thud. Braxton chased after her, anxiously explaining, "She's the only Prescott left. It was only a consoling kiss, as if I were her brother…" Tamara got into the car and left, but he ran after her. Suddenly, a car grazed past him and knocked him to the ground—yet even when he was sprawled on the ground, he continued to crawl forward after her. And so, her heart softened. After the funeral, Annalise vanished from the face of the earth. Some said she went abroad to study. One day, a work-related matter came up that required Tamara to travel to Yutran on business. Under the shade of the trees, where pigeons fluttered overhead, she saw Braxton and Annalise feeding each other ice cream. That was when she suddenly remembered that Braxton had recently purchased property abroad, and his overseas trips had also increased in frequency. She walked over, scattering the pigeons into flight. On the return flight, Braxton switched seats to sit beside her. "At first, it was really just a coincidence that I ran into her. I fly there mainly for work, and only incidentally look out for her a little. After all, she did agree to allow us to acquire Prescott Group without any terms. "Tamara, I just feel bad for her. That's all." Tamara stared out the window, choosing to trust him one more time. But that time, she added, "Fine. From now on, I'll handle her matters." Braxton readily agreed, but she still felt uneasy. That was when she received the diagnosis from the doctor. "Prolonged anxiety has caused you to develop alexithymia, making it gradually harder for you to experience emotions like everyone else." But a knife to the heart, no matter how numb one was, still hurt. … "Tamara!" Braxton's car pulled up. As Tamara approached, Annalise intentionally got out and moved to the back seat. Braxton hurriedly explained, "Annalise just graduated and came back to Sillidia, so we're throwing a welcome home dinner for her. Come with us." Tamara looked him straight in the eyes. "Don't you have anything else you want to explain to me?" He froze for a moment, clearly looking uncomfortable. "I really didn't know about her joining Merrick Group. She hid her identity during the interview, and she excelled in every aspect. By the time I found out, HR had already made the decision. "Please don't overthink it, Tamara." Tamara clenched her fists, forcibly suppressing the storm of emotions rising inside her. A thousand questions and accusations suddenly dissipated into nothing in that moment. She no longer wanted to expose his endless lies. With Braxton's backing, Annalise Prescott, the former heiress, was still the center of attention. Amid the bustling voices, Tamara felt a little suffocated, so she headed to the restroom. When she came out, she found Braxton leaning against a wall in the hallway. Michael Kitler, his friend, offered him a cigarette, but he refused with a frown. "We're preparing for a baby recently, so I've cut out cigarettes and alcohol. They're bad for Tamara," he explained. "As expected. Very impressive," Michael said, giving him a thumbs up. "But when the baby's born and it's time to fill out the birth certificate, your marital status will be revealed. With Tamara's personality, she'll definitely make sure you'll never be able to find her again in this lifetime." A flicker of something passed through Braxton's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Then I just won't let her find out. I'll have everything sorted out nicely by then." Michael glanced toward the private room they were using. "It's been a few years, but that little lady has only gotten much wilder. You'd better keep an eye on her. Don't let her stir things up in front of Tamara." The corner of Braxton's lips curved up slightly. "That's exactly what makes her different from Tamara. I like it when she makes a fuss. With or without the marriage certificate, Tamara will always be by my side. But Annalise is different. I need that certificate to keep her tied to me." Tamara gripped the doorframe so hard that she didn't even notice that her fingernail had broken. Droplets of blood fell into the small pools of water already on the floor, spreading and blooming into dark patches. Pain should've shot from her finger to her heart, but her heart no longer felt pain—only endless bitterness remained. She moved to another place and drank until she was completely wasted. In her haze, she vaguely heard someone ask where she wanted to go. "Can you get me a plane ticket? I want to go somewhere no one can find me," she replied. The person paused for a moment. "I don't have plane tickets, but how about a ticket for a boat?" Chapter 2 Tamara woke up in an unfamiliar room. A sticky note was stuck to the nightstand. "See you in two weeks at the pier." As the haze of alcohol wore off, her memories slowly returned. The man she'd met last night was none other than Marshall Ripley—the only person who could truly stand toe-to-toe with Braxton, and the only one capable of helping her disappear for good. When she grabbed her phone, it showed nearly 100 missed calls and messages, all from Braxton. … By the time Tamara arrived home, it was already evening. Braxton immediately ended the video conference he was in and hurried over to her. "Tamara, where did you go? You never came back last night after you went to get some air. If you'd been gone any longer, I would've turned the whole city upside down trying to find you." His eyes were bloodshot, suggesting that he hadn't slept at all last night. The laptop on the table was still on, and the screensaver was a photo of Tamara on their wedding day. The first time Braxton had seen her in that white wedding gown, he'd cried like a little child. Tamara stared at him for a long time. The love in his eyes was still overwhelming. It just… wasn't exclusively for her anymore. She looked away and said calmly, "I met a friend, and we ended up talking for a long time. I forgot to tell you." Braxton visibly relaxed. He took her hand and led her to the dining table, then rolled up his sleeves and began serving her. "You've been looking a little pale lately. Do you want to go to the hospital to get checked out?" Tamara's hand, in the middle of scooping up food, froze midair. She always told him in advance when she went out, and that day, when she'd gone to the hospital, it had been no different. But he'd been so preoccupied with Annalise that he didn't remember it at all. "The weather's too hot, so I don't have much of an appetite," she answered simply. Braxton immediately turned toward the kitchen. "Edna, make lighter dishes from now on. And go buy some of Tamara's favorite fruits and make some refreshing desserts—a different one every day." Edna Thatcher, their maid, agreed at once, but didn't head back to the kitchen right away. Following her gaze, Tamara noticed a lunch box placed on the cabinet by the door. Soon, her plate was piled high with peeled shrimp and other dishes. Braxton stood and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Babe, take your time eating. There's an emergency meeting at the office, so I need to run." He hurriedly washed his hands, and as he left, he didn't forget to take the lunch box with him. Tamara got up and glanced at the contents of the pot on the stove. It was peanut stew. The light in her eyes dimmed bit by bit. She had once gone into anaphylactic shock from peanuts. After that incident, Braxton had forbidden anything peanut-related from entering the house ever again. Even a maid with a few stray peanut shells stuck to her sleeve had been fired on the spot. Yet the peanuts that were practically poison to her were Annalise's favorite. Tamara turned and went upstairs, then opened the surveillance app on her phone. After she'd discovered that Braxton and Annalise were still in contact with each other, Braxton had voluntarily installed a camera in his office to put her at ease. "This way, you won't jump to the wrong conclusions again, Tamara," he had said. But at the moment, the feed streaming to her phone was pitch black. As expected, Braxton would never let himself slip up in front of her. However, just moments later, the image came back, and Annalise's voice drifted through. "I'm your legal wife, you know—and yet we're sneaking around like this." Braxton blew on the stew to cool it, then fed her a spoonful. "Don't be greedy, you little rascal. I risk losing Tamara just by giving you that status." Annalise pouted and threw herself into his arms. "I know. But that's what makes this exciting, you know?" Her eyes flicked straight toward the surveillance camera, her gaze full of provocation. Her tone, however, remained soft and sweet. "As long as I have you, that's enough." After a long silence, Braxton kissed the top of her head and said, "Timing really matters. If I'd met you first, maybe I wouldn't have chosen Tamara." In that instant, it felt as though every ounce of strength had drained from Tamara's body. She remembered her seventh birthday party. Her mother had pointed at the circle of boys downstairs and asked gently, "Tamara, which one do you like? Choose one, and he'll go to school with you from now on, okay?" Tamara had thought for a long time before pointing at a boy standing in the corner. "He looks really lonely. I'll keep him company from now on." "So… Braxton Merrick, it wasn't you who chose me. I was the one who chose you. But now… I regret it," she mused to herself. Tamara looked up at the massive wedding portrait on the wall and hurled her phone at it. The glass shattered on impact. Chapter 3 Beneath the shattered glass, the phone continued to stream the live feed. Braxton leaned forward, pinning the woman in his arms against the couch. "You only want me? Then what about this? Do you want this?" He raised his hand, letting a necklace dangle from his fingers. Tamara's eyes widened. Braxton had given her an identical necklace before. But he had clearly told her that it was a one-of-a-kind piece, the only one in the world. She immediately dug up an old photo of the necklace and sent it to a friend in the jewelry business. The reply came quickly. "It's a fake." A laugh escaped Tamara as she stared at those words. The necklace she owned was just like her status as Mrs. Merrick—both fake. As expected, one heart could never truly love two people. She gripped her phone tightly, watching as Annalise's eyes filled with tears. Batting her lashes, Annalise said, "I have one more wish…" The next second, Braxton's call came through. "Tamara, something suddenly came up, and I have to go on a business trip for the next two days. Make sure to eat properly even when I'm not around. Okay?" After hanging up, Tamara—almost as if possessed—drove to his office building, and just so happened to see Braxton's car pull out. She followed it for a long while, and they eventually turned into a winding mountain road, finally stopping at the entrance to a shrine. Mist and rain shrouded everything, and the path was slick and wet. Braxton bent down and carried Annalise on his back as he climbed uphill. This place wasn't unfamiliar to Tamara. At the end of a thousand stone steps stood a shrine where locals often came to pray for blessings. After getting married, when Tamara had failed to conceive, Braxton's mother, Marjorie Langford, had brought her here. "You have to kneel on each step and say a prayer. Only with true sincerity will you be granted a child." That day had been a rainy one like this one too. At first, her knees were stained with green moss, then eventually, they were scraped raw until they were bleeding. When she finally reached the final step, Braxton, who had hurried over, knelt down beside her. Later, he'd scolded his mother for her superstitious beliefs and refused to return to his parents' home for half a year. Tamara still remembered that on that day, the two of them had even hung a love lock together on Lovers' Bridge, a bridge just outside the shrine. She never imagined that when she'd return here again, it would be because she was tailing Braxton and another woman. Braxton and Annalise finally stopped at Lovers' Bridge. Annalise searched through the dense cluster of locks before suddenly stretching her hand out to him. He chuckled and pulled out a key. "I can't believe you actually found it." Tamara, standing behind a tree, clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Sure enough, the next second, Annalise unlocked one of the locks and tossed it off the mountainside, replacing it with a new one. Looking smug, she said, "You promised me that if I found the lock you shared with Tamara, I could do whatever I wanted with it. Since she's your ex-wife now, that lock obviously can't be hung here anymore." Ex-wife? Tamara suddenly remembered that on the day they registered their marriage, Braxton had prepared a thick stack of documents, claiming that he was going to transfer properties and assets under her name. She had signed them all without even giving them a second glance. Who could've guessed that buried among them was a divorce agreement? In just seven seconds, the marriage she had dreamed of throughout her entire youth had come to an end. And the only reason Braxton had married Annalise a year later was that he had to wait for her to reach the legal marriage age. He was willing to wait for her to grow up, yet he could spare Tamara only seven seconds before ending everything. That was the "love" he kept harping on about. … When Braxton returned home, it was already two days later than what he'd originally said. As soon as he walked in, Edna exclaimed, "What beautiful flowers. I've never seen anything like them." He offered them to Tamara proudly. They were a rare species that grew only on the sheer cliffs behind the shrine. Anyone could access them freely, but they had to risk their lives to pick them. Tamara, however, only gave them a brief glance. "Put them in a vase, Edna." "Don't you like them?" Braxton asked, noticing her indifference. Pulling her into his embrace, he continued, "Don't be upset, babe. I didn't come home on time because a TV station invited both of us to appear on a show, and I went ahead to scout the location first. "It's an outdoor interview with beautiful scenery. I'm sorry I've been too busy lately and neglected you. I thought I could use this chance to bring you along for some fresh air." Before Tamara could even respond, he was already instructing Edna to prepare things for their trip. Yet, Tamara had just seen Annalise's social media, which the latter had just updated. In the photo, Annalise was holding the same bouquet of flowers, and the red marks on her neck were glaringly obvious. The caption read, "He just left, and I'm already starting to miss him." Tamara clutched her chest. Her heart felt like a lone boat adrift at sea. Over the past three years, the happiness she'd treasured so dearly had probably been replicated countless times in this same way. And what she'd received had been nothing but fakes. The ache in her heart faded almost instantly, leaving only numbness behind. "My condition must be worsening…" she thought to herself. Chapter 4 On the day of the interview, Braxton and Tamara wore matching outfits. They took their seats, with Braxton holding Tamara's hand the entire time. When the talk show host asked about details of their relationship, Braxton answered every question flawlessly. He even took time to adjust the cushion behind her back. "From childhood sweethearts to walking down the aisle, and your relationship is still going as strong as ever—you're truly a model couple. I'm sure there will be even more happiness in your future—" Suddenly, a loud crash cut the host off mid-sentence, and everyone turned toward the noise. Annalise stood stiffly beside a collapsed flower stand, while her supervisor jabbed a finger at her and scolded her in a hushed, angry voice. Almost instantly, Braxton let go of Tamara's hand and strode over. "You're fired," he snapped. His gaze was fixed on Annalise's red and swollen forearm, but his words were directed at the manager. "When a subordinate makes a mistake, the supervisor bears responsibility as well," Braxton continued, not giving the manager any chance to argue. "Besides, treating an employee like this in public damages the company's image." Tamara remained in her seat, acutely aware of how everyone's gaze was darting back and forth between her and Annalise. But she maintained a perfectly composed smile the entire time. When the interview resumed, Braxton was clearly distracted. The host paused, taken aback. "Mr. Merrick, you got your wedding anniversary wrong." The hand holding Tamara's suddenly tightened, and Braxton instinctively looked at her. He quickly explained, "That's because Tamara always says we're so happy that every day feels like we're newlyweds." A wave of admiring cheers erupted from the audience. But Tamara knew the truth. The date Braxton had blurted out on instinct was his anniversary with Annalise. In this multiple-choice question called love, she had already become the option that was crossed out. Tamara gave a small smile. While taking a sip of water, she quietly withdrew her hand from his and never put it back. For the final segment, Braxton was supposed to carry her on his back through a wall of flowers. But just as she wrapped her arms around his neck, Annalise, standing nearby, suddenly keeled over. Before Tamara could even react, the support beneath her vanished. She stumbled and fell, scraping her knees badly on the gravel. Meanwhile, Braxton had already scooped Annalise into his arms and rushed toward the exit. Behind them, with the cameras still rolling, only Tamara's lone, disheveled figure remained in the frame. The staff helped her up and took her to the hospital as well. … In the hospital room, tears streamed down Annalise's pale face. "You should hurry back to Ms. Winslow," she said. "Don't let me get in your way of shooting a romance documentary." Braxton frowned. "Why are you throwing a tantrum? Tamara and I only came on this show for company publicity. It's all work. We have a partnership with Winslow Group." However, this only made Annalise cry even harder. She threw her arms around his waist and wailed, "It's all my fault. I'm useless. I'm of no help to you at all!" "What nonsense are you talking about? You've already given me everything. And I can't give you anything other than a title that can never be made public," Braxton said, stroking her hair tenderly. "I'm the one who's wronged you." Tamara stood outside the room, feeling her world spin. But she understood that being hurt by the truth was still better than being comforted by lies. Annalise's voice continued to drift through the door. "I really do love Edna's cooking. If only I could eat it every day." Braxton cupped her face and wiped away her tears. "That's easy enough." That night, Edna reheated dinner three times before Braxton's car finally pulled into the driveway. When he saw the white bandage wrapped around Tamara's leg, it seemed to finally register that he had caused her to get hurt earlier in the day. He held her in his arms and apologized over and over again. Then he went into the kitchen and personally cooked a few of her favorite dishes himself. "I'll make it up to you by cooking for you from now on, babe. That'll be my punishment." Edna laughed. "Wouldn't that mean I'll be out of a job then?" Early the next morning, Edna came to say her goodbyes to Tamara. Chapter 5 In the evening, Annalise updated her story. "I want it, I got it." The photo depicted a series of dishes that Tamara had gotten used to eating for the past three years. In the bottom left corner, a hand could be seen. Custom cufflinks with Annalise's name shimmered on his sleeves. Tamara's phone lit up with a text from Braxton. "I'm working overtime tonight, babe. Be a good girl and go have dinner first." Tamara opened the fridge. Braxton had always told Edna not to hoard food in advance for the sake of their health. She bought the ingredients she needed fresh daily. As a result, the only thing left in their fridge was a bowl of mac-and-cheese. Clearly, this had slipped Braxton's mind. After a simple dinner, Tamara got under the covers, but she couldn't fall asleep. The familiar yet terrifying feeling of suffocation gradually took over her. Rolling up her sleeves, Tamara realized that rashes had appeared all over her arms. It was an allergic reaction. A few memories flashed across Tamara's head. Not long ago, Edna had made peanut stew for Annalise. This time, she'd accidentally used the same pot to reheat her mac-and-cheese. As her consciousness faded, Tamara blacked out before falling off her bed. In the endless darkness, she was plunged into a dream, travelling back in time to the day her father, Charlie Winslow, passed. Braxton had been overseas negotiating an important deal. "I'll come home right now," insisted Braxton. "No need. Whatever you're handling is more important." Tamara sat in Charlie's bedroom. She had cried so much to the point where she felt as though her eyes had dried. "Wait for me." Braxton didn't hang up the phone. In the morning, when Tamara startled awake, she mumbled into the phone instinctually, "Are you still there, Brax?" Almost instantaneously, he replied, "I am." The door burst open. Braxton strode in and embraced her. "Don't cry. I'll take care of you in Mr. Winslow's place." Back then, it was as though he had tunnel vision whenever it came to her. The whole world mattered less to him than a single tear of hers. However, no matter how deeply he loved her, love ultimately lost to novelty. "Be gentle! Didn't you see her furrow her brows?" The noise dragged Tamara out of her dreams. She felt a prick on the back of her hand. Annalise simpered, "It was my fault. I got hungry and asked Edna to cook for me. That's why Tamara accidentally ingested peanuts." "It's not your fault. Tamara was just being too careless. Edna has made you your favorite peanut biscuits. Be a good girl and go back." Braxton coaxed Annalise till she left. The second the door shut, he leaned over Tamara's bed. When he realized that she'd woken up, his eyes lit up. "Are you feeling better, Tamara?" He grabbed her hand that didn't have an IV drip attached to it. "You terrified me. I walked into our room to see you lying prone on the floor. I've made them change out all the cooking utensils. There won't be any more peanuts, I promise." Tamara stared at him absentmindedly. She didn't point out why there were peanuts in the house in the first place. Coldly, she requested, "I'd like to drink Edna's soup." "Have you forgotten? Edna went home. The nutritionist I hired will be here in a few days. She's more professional than Edna. You'll like her." Eyes darkening, Tamara smiled self-depreciatingly. "Really? How lucky of me." Braxton pressed his lips against the back of her hand, every bit as devoted as he used to be. "Of course. I'd fly to the sky and get you a star if that was what you wanted." Tamara drew her hand out of his grasp silently and turned away. Braxton could give her everything, but only if it was something Annalise would scorn. In loving him, she'd done nothing wrong, but boy, did she regret it. Chapter 6 When Tamara was discharged, Braxton held a celebratory banquet in their home. He invited a few nutritionists to prepare various dishes. Braxton placed a hand on her waist. "Everyone else will only be able to eat dishes you've approved and tried. If not, they're prohibited from even touching it. Then, choose the nutritionist you like." Braxton's gentleness no longer made her heart flutter. She allowed him to lead her into the hall. The second she stepped in, she became the center of attention. Annalise was pushed into a corner, but her eyes were boring holes into Tamara. Once, Annalise had been the center of attention at an event like this as well. How had she fallen from grace to the point of only being allowed to eat Tamara's leftovers? If looks could kill, Tamara would've been dead. One of the nutritionists brought out a new plate of desserts and placed it beside. Suddenly, a loud clink disrupted the peaceful atmosphere. Everyone turned around to see that a bite had been taken out of the cake in front of Annalise. "Ms. Prescott, Mrs. Merrick hasn't tasted that dessert yet," someone pointed out. Calmly, Annalise put her fork down and said, "My apologies. I was just too hungry." Then, she slowly took a second piece out of the cake. Whispers erupted around her. "Where's this little rascal from?" "How could she disobey the rules set out…" "How did she even get in here?" As everyone tensed, Tamara was overcome by exhaustion. Braxton was already hers. Did she really need to claim ownership of a cake as well? Walking over, Tamara dismissed the onlookers by saying, "It's alright. There's no need to follow the rules so strictly. Just enjoy yourselves. I'm a little tired, so…" Before Tamara realized what was happening, she fell into the huge cake with Annalise. When Tamara scrambled to her feet, her dress and hair were covered in sticky cream. "What happened?" Braxton immediately rushed over and pulled out a handkerchief to help Tamara clean up. However, he was too rough. When he wiped over the needle wound where Tamara had been given the IV drip, she let out a noise from the pain. He stopped and turned to Annalise. "You like the cake, right? Take the nutritionist who made this cake, then. You're forbidden from firing her. She'll finish her three year contract with you, and she's not to take a day off. I'll be watching." The guests gasped in surprise. "This is a Vichelin-starred foreign cook, right? How could she afford it?" "She'll probably be sobbing every time she eats it." "When she took a piece of the cake, she should've known that this would happen." Annalise froze. In the end, she left with teary eyes. Tamara would've believed their act if she hadn't picked up on Braxton's concerned, longing gaze. While Annalise couldn't afford it, Braxton certainly could. Tamara felt as though all her strength had been sapped from her. She turned to go back and rest, but Braxton pulled her into a corner. "Why are you getting mad at her? She's just a little hungry rascal." "I'm not mad." Tamara's calm demeanor set Braxton off. "Right. You weren't mad. You just punished her on the spot." Tamara's head snapped up. She met his glazing eyes. Any trace of the warmth he'd displayed at the banquet was gone. "What do you mean by that? Do you think I'd intentionally pushed her into the cake with me?" Although Tamara found it ridiculous, she tried to keep her voice level. "Go and check the surveillance footage." Frowning in annoyance, Braxton said, "You know I'll never investigate it when it comes to you. That being said, Tamara, don't play these tricks out of jealousy. It's very out of character for you." Tamara stared into Braxton's eyes, studying her warped reflection. This was utterly absurd. Braxton, who'd once flown across the world just because she told him she missed him, could no longer be bothered to even hear her out. "You don't believe me, Braxton," said Tamara softly. It wasn't a question; it was a statement. She was sure. When Braxton's phone began buzzing in his pocket, he got into his car without looking back. With the hosts gone, the guests dispersed unhappily. Tamara sat back down and picked up her fork. She chewed and swallowed, repeating the motions mechanically until she could no longer stomach any of it. Rushing to the bathroom, she threw up. In the end, the pill she'd taken to regulate her emotions was flushed down the toilet as well. Chapter 7 The next day, Tamara only mustered the strength to get out of bed at noon. When she went downstairs, she found Braxton busy in the kitchen. Lunch had been laid out on the table. An untouched breakfast had been pushed to the side. Tamara didn't know when Braxton returned, nor did she care. "Why have the nutritionists all left? If you can't decide, just hire them all. I can afford it." Braxton took her hand. His tone was fond, as though the man who'd scolded her yesterday wasn't him at all. Tamara didn't move. She asked dispassionately, "Including the one Annalise took?" Braxton released her hand immediately and turned to her angrily. "How long are you going to keep this up? My patience is limited, Tamara Winslow." In the 20 years they'd known each other, this was the first time Braxton had ever addressed her by her full name, apart from their first meeting. The last time he'd told her that his patience was limited was when she was learning how to ride a bicycle. Back then, she kept falling into his arms. Braxton would tease her, but never once did he let go of her. Now, anything related to Annalise could set him off at a moment's notice. He could accept Annalise's spoiled behavior, but wouldn't tolerate her questions. Suddenly, Tamara didn't want to see him. Taking her bag, she left. As she shut the car door, she heard the sound of plates crashing onto the floor. Tamara only went home in the middle of the night, only to find Annalise on the couch. She explained, "Mr. Merrick's going on a business trip. I'm here for work." Ignoring her, Tamara went upstairs. After a while, Annalise knocked on the door. "Mr. Merrick sent me to pack his bags." Tamara flipped through her magazine. She pointed at their walk-in closet, but Annalise had already gone in. She ran her fingers through Braxton's clothes and studied the shining jewelry in the glass cabinet, greed shining in her eyes. Tamara acted as though she saw nothing. When Annalise left the closet, Braxton walked in. He said coldly, "I'm heading to an island for this business trip for a few days. You can come if you'd like to." There was a twisted expression on Annalise's face. Suddenly, the luggage by her side fell onto her legs. "Careful!" Braxton rushed over and picked her up. He even wanted to pull her dress aside to check whether she'd been hurt. Annalise shyly held his hand still, simpering, "Mr. Merrick, Ms. Winslow's still here." Braxton let her go. Without looking up, Tamara replied, "Have fun." Annalise sighed, her relief apparent. "Ms. Winslow, don't read too much into this. Mr. Merrick and I are travelling for work." "Hope it goes well." Her tone was not laced with any animosity, but Annalise still pouted, as though she'd gotten a scolding. As expected, Braxton looked displeased. Grabbing the luggage, he dragged Annalise downstairs. "We're leaving tonight." As they drove away, Tamara took her pills and went to sleep. She dreamed of Braxton and what he was like when they'd first met. "I don't like you anymore, Tamara. You didn't wait for me to leave school yesterday. Tamara, why did you ask him to help you get your kite? Why didn't you ask for my help? Are we going to play together tomorrow too?" Tamara's pillowcase was soaked by her tears. In the darkness, Tamara opened her eyes. Did Braxton dream of her too? Could he see her in his mind's eye as clearly as she did him? Chapter 8 On the third day Braxton was off on his business trip, Annalise began posting on social media. She uploaded pictures of herself in skimpy dresses on yachts, hiking photos with beautiful scenery, and clips of her eating at classy restaurants. Throughout everything she posted, one thing was constant—Braxton would always be in the corner of her pictures. In her newest posted picture, she had looped her hand through his. Half of Braxton's face had been captured. They could've passed as newlyweds. She captioned it, "Enjoying a paid holiday with my boss. Don't disturb me unless necessary." Tamara's thumb hovered over the post, and she ended up liking it by accident. Less than 3 seconds later, her phone buzzed. It was Braxton. "The weather forecast says there'll be a storm tonight. Close the doors and the windows. Don't be afraid if it thunders," said Braxton. Tamara could hear the sound of waves through the phone. Looking out, Tamara watched rain pelt the window. In the past, Braxton would've cut his business dinner short just to come home to her because she was scared of stormy nights. He would rub her feet to warm her up. In his arms, Tamara felt as though the world had gone silent. Now, she had to weather the storm on her own. Braxton was still speaking, but Tamara couldn't hear what he was saying. Suddenly, she heard a woman's voice. "Come here, Brax! Quick! The fireworks are about to begin. Gosh, is that my name? Is this your surprise? I love it!" Tamara could imagine Annalise jumping happily on the beach. After some rustling noises, Braxton hung up after wishing her a good night. Holding her phone, Tamara listened to the beeping tone interspersed with thunder. When a bolt of lightning illuminated the night sky, her tears fell like the rain outside. Her heart had numbed a long time ago, but her eyes provided an escape for any lingering melancholy. The rain only ceased at dawn. Tamara opened the window and realized that the garden was a complete mess. The harsh winds had destroyed the roses she'd planted with Braxton when they first married. Petals were strewn over the grass. A few years ago, she would've been heartbroken. However, considering her imminent departure, there was no point getting hung up over something she couldn't control. Tamara unzipped her luggage and began packing. She destroyed and dumped everything that didn't fit. Carefully, she pried herself away from this house she'd shared with Braxton. However, there was just so much stuff… Her phone buzzed with Braxton's texts. After a dozen pictures of jewelry, he said, "I've been too harsh to you for the past few days. I'm sorry. Let's love each other better in the future. I picked out all these gifts for you myself. Do you like them? Why aren't you texting me back? I'm going to be home soon. Miss you." Tamara didn't click into those pictures. Instead, she downloaded the surveillance footage from the office and the banquet. She wanted to prove to Braxton that she had never changed. He was the one who'd ruined their relationship. The sun suddenly peered through the clouds, illuminating her room. Tamara took a last look at the bedroom she'd stayed in for three years. When she left, she placed her ring and her phone on the living room table. Other than that, she left nothing behind. Suddenly, she felt relieved that Braxton had schemed to divorce her three years ago. It saved her a lot of hassle. Leaving the keys on the shelf, the door closed behind her for the last time. Tamara crossed her ruined garden, but felt no sadness. Like the arrival of spring and the melting of snow, this was goodbye.