5 5#05
5
As the aircraft climbed into the atmosphere, I gazed out the window at the metropolis I’d called home for over three decades, now diminishing in the distance. The burden I’d carried finally eased.
Jacob, farewell forever.
The following day, I touched down in Switzerland. After some online exploration, I selected at snug guesthouse to reside in.
At the same time, Jacob was celebrating his nuptials with Daisy.
Just
Just before entering the chapel, Jacob couldn’t shake his worry about Larissa’s state, so he consulted the physician one final time.
The doctor assured him, “Since your departure, Madam has been slumbering. We’ve ensured her peace. We’ll notify her upon awakening”
Only then did Jacob step into the chapel, feeling somewhat relieved. Yet despite the reassurance, his thoughts remained fixated on Larissa.
The previous evening, he had jolted awake from a disturbing dream where she presented him with divorce papers. The dream’s impact had startled him, prompting an immediate call to the doctor to verify her continued rest. This brought him some comfort, but an underlying unease persisted, intensifying with each passing moment.
His attention began to waver. When the officiant inquired if he accepted the bride as his spouse, Jacob was oblivious to the words.
It wasn’t until Daisy gently nudged his hand that he snapped back to the present. However, instead of meeting her tender gaze, his mind was flooded with the image of Larissa’s crestfallen expression staring at him.
Alarmed, he instinctively withdrew his hand from Daisy’s and turned, dashing out of the chapel. “Mr. Lopez, the ceremony isn’t concluded! Where are you heading?” a voice called after him.
It was too late. Jacob finally grasped Larissa’s significance in his life. How could he betray her trust and wed another?
‘Larissa, please hold on for me; he thought silently.
Jacob hurried back to the medical facility, his heart racing. Upon arrival, he sprinted to her room, exhaling with relief when he spotted her form beneath the covers.
He opened the door quietly, smiling as he called out, “Wife, I’ve returned!”
55005
But silence greeted him.
He cautiously lifted the blanket, only to discover a pillow instead of Larissa.
“Where’s Larissa?” he cried out.
Alarm swept over him as he searched the room frantically.
“Larissa! Larissa, where have you gone?” he called, his voice trembling.
The room was vacant. Desperate, he pulled out his phone and attempted to call, only to hear the cold message: “This number has blocked you.”
Stunned, he quickly switched to messaging, but every text failed to send. Larissa had removed and blocked him across all platforms.
The previous night’s nightmare resurfaced vividly, draining the color from his face. Jacob promptly summoned the doctor.
The physician, equally perplexed, explained, “We’re at a loss. Last night, Madam instructed us not to disturb her rest. No one has entered the room since.”
After reviewing the surveillance footage, the truth emerged–Larissa had quietly left the hospital less than an hour after Jacob’s departure.
Now in full panic mode, Jacob alerted the authorities and rushed home.
Upon arrival, he dashed inside and grabbed a passing housekeeper.
“Where’s Madam? Did she return here?” he demanded.
“Yes… Madam came back briefly yesterday, but left shortly after. She mentioned collecting some items before returning to the hospital,” the housekeeper stammered, fear evident in their voice. Just as the housekeeper was about to continue, Jacob’s eyes fell on a document on the coffee table.
Releasing the housekeeper, he approached and picked up the papers with shaking hands. It was a divorce agreement.
His gaze landed on the final page, where Larissa’s signature was unmistakable. It felt as if the world had crumbled beneath him.
“This can’t be. It’s impossible. Larissa would never seek a divorce. This must be a misunderstanding!” he muttered to himself.
Overwhelmed by anger and disbelief, Jacob tore the agreement in two, scattering the pieces.
“Mobilize everyone immediately! I don’t care how, but locate Larissa right now!” he barked at the housekeeper before storming out of the house.
Regardless of Larissa’s whereabouts, he was determined to find her.
Meanwhile, Larissa had settled into a serene coastal bed–and–breakfast.
The scenery was absolutely stunning. Each morning, she would draw back the curtains to reveal cerulean skies and the vast, glittering sea. Gulls glided gracefully overhead, plunging into the water to catch their prey. The serenity and splendor of the location surpassed anything she had ever experienced.
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