Keith didn't return until the next day.
 
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The villa was unusually quiet, but he didn't think much of it. Seeing no one in the living room, he assumed Julia was still sulking and went straight upstairs.

He opened the bedroom door, speaking as he stepped inside. "Jules, are you still mad at me? Something really came up at work last night. That's why I couldn't make it. To make up for it, how about I give you my whole day today?"

The room remained silent.

Only his own breathing echoed through the empty room. The bed was perfectly made. She hadn't slept here.

He stepped farther in and checked the bathroom. It was just as quiet. She clearly wasn't there.

Keith frowned and muttered to himself, "Looks like she's really upset this time. She's even started sleeping in a different room."

He turned and walked out, never once noticing what had been l

The most recent one was when he missed Julia's birthday. Then, during the car accident, he had protected Catherine and let Julia get hurt instead. And before that, when they were kidnapped, he chose to save Catherine first, and Julia lost their child because of that.

The list went on and on.

Catherine had carelessly broken the framed photo Julia had placed in his office. He had used the very first forgiveness card to defend her.

The wooden box crashed to the ground, spilling the shredded cards all over the floor.

Keith stood dazed. Only now did he realize that Julia hadn't cheated. All one hundred forgiveness cards had really been used up.

He suddenly recalled what Julia had said the night before—something that had seemed strange at the time. He had wanted to ask but never got the chance.

"Are you sure you want to use the most important card on something so trivial?" she had asked.

Keith introduced himself as Julia's husband and immediately canceled the report, not giving Julia a chance to speak.

He waited until the call ended, then turned to her with a look of frustration. "Jules, Cate was with me the entire time. When would she have had the chance to push you?"

Seeing how blatantly he defended Catherine, Julia's eyes welled up with a bitterness she could no longer hold back. She clenched her teeth and forced out each word.

"It's not about what I say or what she says. There are surveillance cameras, and the footage will show everything. You're coming with me."

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and walked toward the surveillance room.

But Keith grabbed her hand and lowered his voice. "Jules, stop this. I won't go see it, and I won't let you either."

That moment shook her to the core. She stared at his face, and for a moment, he looked like a complete stranger.

Was this really the same Keith who used to love her like she was his whole world? If it was, then why did he care so little about her safety? Why did he keep defending the woman who had put her in danger again and again?

But then again, if it weren't for his indulgence, things would've never come to this.

In that moment, the last of her resolve crumbled. She knew there was no point in holding on any longer. Shutting her eyes, she swallowed the rising despair in her chest.

She didn't want to argue anymore, so she simply turned and walked away.

Julia returned to the lounge alone to change. Not long after, the cruise ship finally reached the shore.

She didn't wait for them. She got off the ship and took a cab straight back to the villa.

…

Three days later, on her birthday, the divorce agreement Miriam had helped her prepare finally arrived.

At the same time, Keith had his assistant deliver a bouquet of flowers along with a note. "Jules, I've reserved a table at the Velisse at 7:00 pm. I've got a surprise for you."

Staring at the bouquet, Julia suddenly remembered their first year of marriage. He had rented out an entire amusement park for her birthday. At the top of the Ferris wheel, he had kissed her and promised to love her forever.

But now, this so-called surprise was probably something he had squeezed in between moments with Catherine.

"Alright," she murmured.

She would treat it as a farewell.

Julia glanced at the clock. It was almost seven, so she changed quickly and headed out.

Candlelight flickered, and the scent of roses lingered. A violinist played a romantic tune nearby. Julia sat there in silence, waiting for Keith to show up.

But then 7:00 pm came and went. He didn't show. At 8:00 pm, there was still no sign of him. By 9:00 pm, she was still sitting there alone.

At 11:00 pm, she was still waiting.

The servers had glanced at her several times. Eventually, one walked over and said, "Ma'am, we're closing soon. Would you still like to order anything?"

Julia glanced at the time. It was midnight.

The candles meant for their romantic dinner had burned out. It had been five hours since the time they agreed on.

She pulled out her phone and called Keith. It rang for a long time before he finally answered.

"Jules, something came up at work. I probably won't make it," he said, his apology sounding half-hearted. "I'm using one of my forgiveness cards."

Julia's fingers clenched around the phone. "Are you sure you want to use the most important card on something so trivial?"

There was a brief pause on the other end. Keith sounded confused when he asked, "Most important card? What do you mean?"

She didn't reply.

The next moment, Catherine's sugary voice drifted through the phone. "Mr. Carson, the meteor shower's starting! Come here, quick!"

Keith quickly said, "I'm sure. Jules, I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

After the call ended, Julia opened her social media.

Catherine had just posted an update with the caption, "Watching the meteor shower with the one I love most."

The photo showed Keith's profile. He was looking up at the sky with a smile on his face.

Julia gave the post a like. Then, she stood up and walked out.

Back home, she placed the divorce agreement and all 100 forgiveness cards on the nightstand.

On top, she left a note that read, "All one hundred forgiveness cards have been used. I once told you that when these cards run out, I would leave for good. Keith Carson, goodbye forever."

She pulled her suitcase and left the villa without looking back.

The night breeze lifted her hair and swept away the last trace of attachment.

Keith didn't return until the next day.
 
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The villa was unusually quiet, but he didn't think much of it. Seeing no one in the living room, he assumed Julia was still sulking and went straight upstairs.

He opened the bedroom door, speaking as he stepped inside. "Jules, are you still mad at me? Something really came up at work last night. That's why I couldn't make it. To make up for it, how about I give you my whole day today?"

The room remained silent.

Only his own breathing echoed through the empty room. The bed was perfectly made. She hadn't slept here.

He stepped farther in and checked the bathroom. It was just as quiet. She clearly wasn't there.

Keith frowned and muttered to himself, "Looks like she's really upset this time. She's even started sleeping in a different room."

He turned and walked out, never once noticing what had been left on the nightstand.

Then, he pushed open the guest room door and called out, "Jules?"

There was

Chapter 9