Chapter 3
I stood in front of the office building where I had spent the past five years, holding the resignation letter I had just taken from the printer.
The sunlight bounced off the glass walls so fiercely that it made it hard to keep my eyes open.
It reminded me of three years ago when I left a secure job in my hometown and chased after Joseph into this unfamiliar city.
The director placed the contract renewal on the table and said, “You’re the best creative director we have. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?” I glanced at the tempting salary printed on the papers and brushed my fingers over the old acceptance letter hidden in my purse.
That letter was from the Berlin University of the Arts, an opportunity that could bring about positive change, which I had locked deep in a drawer.
Just three days ago, I got my acceptance letter from the University of Cambridge.
The blue glow from the laptop screen lit up my face, and suddenly I heard Joseph’s words in my head, “It’s safer to build a career close to home,” he had said casually while spinning his pen between his fingers.
It turns out some dreams don’t fade with time, they just get buried. under love.
As I cleared out my desk, my colleague, Rosalie, came over and asked,
“I heard you’re heading to England for school. What about your husband? Are you two going to live apart?”
I flipped the photo frame on my desk facedown, hiding the smiling couple in the photo. I murmured. “We won’t be living apart, because soon, he won’t be my husband anymore.”
When I got back to the apartment late that night, the sensor light turned on in the hallway.
Joseph stood in front of the mirror, fixing his bow tie. His silver suit made his face look even sharper and more attractive.
At his feet was a gift box wrapped neatly with black satin ribbon, the exact same kind he had given Hailey for her birthday last year.
“I’m meeting clients tonight.” he said without glancing at me.
His fingers flew over his phone screen, and his lips curved into a soft smile I had never seen before.
When a cheerful laugh came through the speaker, he even bit his lip slightly, his whole face lighting up in a way I didn’t recognize.
He kept smiling, but as soon as he caught me watching him, the smile faded from his face.
He always agreed to help Hailey, but when it came to me, he wouldn’t even offer a simple smile.
I turn my gaze away.
His expression suddenly turned cold and serious.
He didn’t finish his sentence and just looked down, clearly annoyed
He switched his shoes in a hurry.
Out of nowhere, I remembered how the first date went, he was so anxious that he wrinkled the rose’s wrapper while holding it.
Now, he’s grown into a mature and steady person, and he’s learned how to act warm and caring toward others.
I knew Joseph was about to give me the silent treatment again.
After we got married, he often gave me the silent treatment, all because of Hailey.
Whenever it happened, I was the one to back down first and try to cheer him up.
Even when he ignored all my texts, I would still show up to deliver him meals, no matter if it was sunny or in the pouring rain.
But this time, I simply watched as he walked out the door without a hint of warmth.
As soon as the front door slammed shut, the framed photo by the entrance crashed to the floor.
I crouched to gather the broken pieces, and out of nowhere, I started laughing.
I grabbed my tablet, pulled up some apartment listings in New York, and checked the list of New York restaurants I had saved.
The moonlight from the window lit up the plans in front of me.
The dreams and goals I had set aside are finally starting to come alive again
Chapman &
