Chapter 4

Silas returned to the seat just as the movie was about to end. He still reeked of that sickly-sweet scent. It was unmistakably unpleasant. Besides that, he still brought back a box of popcorn. "Elodie, I'm sorry I took so long. The popcorn machine at the cinema broke down, and they took forever to fix it. This batch is freshly made. You should have some while it's warm." She waved. "I don't want it anymore." "Why didn't you drink the warm brown sugar ginger tea?" "I don't feel like drinking it." "Alright, no food and drinks then. Let's just enjoy the movie." She sneered. "The movie's coming to an end." "This is all because of the repair guy. It took him forever to fix it." "So you spent three hours waiting for him to fix it?" He nodded earnestly. "Yes. The manager can vouch for me. You can ask him if you don't believe me." "There's no need for that." She grabbed her bag and walked away. He took her coat and the popcorn before chasing after her. "Elodie, what did I do wrong? Just tell me. I'll make it up, okay? Please don't shut me out like this. It scares me." "Scares you?" "I'm scared that you don't love me anymore." She turned around and looked into his eyes. He was the one who betrayed their love first. He was the one who said one thing and did another. He was the one who stopped cherishing her. Therefore, she chose to protect her heart and herself now. She had already given one of her torn and blood-stained shirts to the fake death agency with blood drawn from her own fingertip on it. He would receive that bloodied garment a week from now. She would then be gone forever. "Elodie, why aren't you saying anything?" She let out a deep sigh and said faintly, "It's just my period. I'm a little tired." "I'll take you home to rest then." "Okay." Silas kept trying to talk to her and telling her jokes on the way home. However, she simply said, "I'm a bit tired. I'd like to rest." Only then did he stop talking. He walked her to the bedroom once they arrived home. She asked, "Do you still need to go to the company tonight?" He nodded. "There are a few things I didn't complete yesterday. I'll need to work overtime tonight." "Then you should go." She lay on the bed, her back facing him as she dismissed him. He just stood there. He seemed to sense something amiss but couldn't quite figure out what it was. She suddenly decided to toy with him a little. "Can you not go tonight?" He seemed to visibly relax a little. She still relied on him. She still acted like a child in front of him and wanted to keep him close. This meant she hadn't found out anything yet. He said gently, "My sweet girl, I had promised to attend tonight's meeting. A lot of executives are waiting for me. I swear I'll make time for you next week, okay?" "Next week?" "Yes. Next week is our fifth wedding anniversary, remember? I'm planning a grand celebration. I want everyone in Helton City to know that you're the love of my life." A grand celebration? She laughed. That would make everything even more thrilling. "Alright then, go ahead." "You're the best. I had better get going. It's almost time. I can't keep them waiting." Couldn't keep them waiting? Or just her? He then left in a rush. His tablet vibrated on the couch again. They got in touch again. Silas had sent a message that read, "Are you ready?" Avery sent him a photo. She was dressed in a nurse's costume this time. It was certainly not a proper costume. It revealed every part that should and shouldn't be covered. Silas replied, "I'm going to destroy you tonight." She shut off the tablet and began packing her things, including her clothes, bags, shoes, and every gift he had ever given her, until she pulled out a tin box tucked at the back of the closet. Her hands trembled slightly. Inside was a thick stack of love letters he had once written to her. When they first got together, he had written. "From now on, Elodie will be the love of my life." On his birthday, he wrote. "My only wish is to grow old with you, Elodie." On her 20th birthday, he wrote. "You've finally reached legal age. I can't wait to marry you." On their wedding day, he wrote. "Welcome to my world, my most beautiful and adorable princess." She didn't bother reading the rest. She took all the letters outside and set them ablaze. The next morning, she was woken by the sound of Silas entering the house. He seemed to be quite furious. "Elodie, our wedding ring was stolen by a beggar! He sold it to a pawn shop!" She was slightly disappointed. He found it after all. "And he sold it for only ten thousand dollars! It's such a disgrace to our ring!" He walked over and took her hand before trying to slip the ring back on her finger. "Now, returning it to the rightful owner…" She pulled her hand back and refused to wear it again. He looked confused. "Elodie, what's wrong?" "Nothing. I've just gained a little weight lately. The ring doesn't fit anymore." He laughed as he said, "No problem. I'll take it to the jewelry shop and have it resized." "Suit yourself." She then asked, "You didn't do anything to the beggar who sold the ring, did you?" He came up to hug her again. "Don't worry. I know you've got a kind heart. You couldn't bear to watch him suffer, so I let him go." "Give him some money. He seemed quite pitiful." "Alright, I'll give him another ten thousand dollars." Her phone rang at that moment, and she answered it. "Hello, Ms. Hartwell. We're calling from the fake death agency. We've prepared your new identity document at your request. Would you like to come collect them?" "Yes. Please send me the address." "We'll send the location to your phone shortly." "By the way, can the new document be used to book flights?" "Yes, you can absolutely do that." "Alright. Thank you." Suddenly, he felt slightly anxious after she hung up the phone. "Elodie, what's with the new identity document and the flight ticket? Are you leaving? Where are you going?"