- 4.
By midnight, Austin still hadn’t returned.
I sighed and took off my engagement ring,
placing it on the dresser.
We’d been together for seven years.
During his darkest days, when his parents
died leaving him in crippling debt, he’d even
contemplated suicide.
I was the one who pulled him through, who
supported him.
I worked hard to pay off his debts. We slowly
fell in love; he confessed his feelings and
vowed to spend his life with me.
After we got together, I did everything for
him.
I bought him quality goods, expensive clothes.
<
I scrimped and saved, not even allowing
myself a two–dollar bottle of water.
I practically gave him my heart.
And now that he was a successful doctor,
earning a million a year, he’d betrayed me.
The next morning, Austin posted a picture of
a sunrise on social media.
The caption read: “Beautiful sunrise today.”
Below, Yuki’s post featured a similar sunrise,
but with Austin’s back in the photo.
“No sunrise is as beautiful as you.”
I scoffed.
They really were a happy couple.
I grabbed my suitcase, ready to leave, but
hesitated at the door.
I couldn’t resist one last look at him, a final
goodbye.
- 5.
I bought Austin breakfast.
It was the last time I’d ever bring him
breakfast.
I used to bring it to him frequently, but he’d
eventually asked me to stop.
I hadn’t understood why then, but now I knew.
He’d been afraid I’d discover him with Yuki.
Midway, a conversation between nurses
stopped me in my tracks.
“Hey, did you hear? Dr. Xu and Yuki checked
into a hotel yesterday.”
“What’s so surprising? They’re practically
official.”
“Why?”
“Haven’t you seen how they are? Sharing
drinks, eating the same apple…Yuki calls him
‘A–qiu‘.”
So, unbeknownst to me, they’d been doing all
this behind my back.
We had argued about Yuki before.
He’d once come home drunk, with Yuki
having brought him back.
,
661
<
Ia peen Turious; ne a explained,
You re
always suspicious! Yuki’s just my apprentice,
fresh out of school. She helped me because
I’m her mentor. She’s not like you.”
He was constantly comparing us.
Yuki was perfect; I was flawed in everything I
did.
I walked away without listening to the nurses
anymore.
This was the last time I’d see Austin. After
this, we were done.
As I reached his office, I was halted by
sounds from inside.
“Hahaha, stop tickling me, you’re killing me!”
“Yuki, you’re so ticklish. Why didn’t you say
anything when I touched you last night?”
“You bad man, I was too busy enjoying it!”
Through the crack, I saw only Austin and
Yuki.
Yuki was sitting on his lap, and he had a big
<
It had been a long time since I’d seen him
smile at me like that.
Now that I saw it, it made me sick.
Even though I’d suspected their affair,
hearing it confirmed was nauseating.
I suddenly didn’t want to give him the
breakfast anymore.
I turned to leave, accidentally dropping my
keys.
“Who’s there?”
Austin called out, peering through the crack.
Our eyes met.
His eyes instantly filled with panic; he pushed
Yuki off his lap.
- 6.
“Let me explain.”
Austin rushed out and pulled me into the
office.
I smelled alcohol; a bottle of wine and two
glasses sat on his desk.
Some wine remained.
They had the leisure to drink and flirt on the
job.
“It’s not what you think, Yuki and I were just
playing around.”
“You know she’s young, still learning
boundaries.”
Austin kept trying to explain.
Yuki chimed in, “Yes, Mia, don’t
misunderstand. Nothing happened between
Austin and me.”
“We always act like this, it’s all playful.”
I looked at her; she implied that they were
often intimate.
She thought this would get a reaction from
- me.
But she was wrong, I was over Austin. I didn’t
care anymore.
“Okay.”
“I’m not angry.
く
My tone was even.
His eyes widened, disbelief in them.
Even Yuki looked shocked.
“You… you’re not mad?”
Austin stared at me.
“Why would I be? You already explained.”
He visibly relaxed.
“That’s good.”
“I’ll be home tonight. Make me dinner.”
Whenever he did something wrong, he’d come
home and have dinner with me, as if trying to
ease his guilt.
