Chapter 4

The guests exchanged awkward glances, and a tense silence fell over the living room.

Ignoring the awkwardness, I politely greeted everyone and made my way to our bedroom to start packing my things.

Suddenly, Clement grabbed my wrist. He spoke in a casual, matter-of-fact tone:

"Caroline, today is Grace’s birthday. Give your tenure promotion slot to her. Just consider it a birthday gift."

"You’re injured and need to recover anyway. Your old, less demanding teaching assistant job is much better suited for your recovery."

Thinking about how I would be leaving soon anyway, I simply nodded.

"Okay."

Clement obviously didn't expect me to agree so easily.

Realizing his demand was indeed a bit selfish, he stood there, momentarily stunned.

A few seconds later, a smile returned to his face. He handed me a slice of birthday cake.

"Weren't you looking at flights the other day? Once you’re fully recovered, I’ll take you on a trip abroad."

I found his attempt at compensation absolutely hilarious.

In all our years of marriage, he had spent almost every vacation taking Grace abroad. The times he had traveled with me, his actual wife, could be counted on one hand.

I set the cake back down on the table and shook my head dismissively. "We'll see."

"I'm exhausted. I’m going to lay down."

With that, I walked straight into the bedroom.

The next morning before classes started, Clement left my favorite breakfast on my desk.

My colleagues giggled and teased me.

"Clement is so sweet! He's not only the youngest professor on campus, but he's also so devoted to Caroline..."

I just smiled, handed his breakfast to them, and opened my laptop to draft my resignation letter.

During lunch break, an unwelcome guest walked into my office.

Grace came in, wearing a fake, sweet smile to thank me for giving up the promotion.

"Caroline, you're so amazing. You can get promotions just by relying on your academic skills."

"Unlike me. I have to rely on Clement for everything."

A smug glint flashed in her eyes.

She reached out to touch a trophy on my shelf. "Oh, this trophy is so pretty. Oops! How did it slip?"

Before her voice even faded, the golden ceramic trophy shattered onto the floor, breaking into a million pieces.

That trophy was won years ago when Clement, then a graduate senior, led our team to victory in an international competition.

I was one of the team members back then. It was during that trip that I fell head over heels for him and chased him for three long years.

That trophy held a special meaning for us. I had always kept it in my office, cherishing it.

And now, shattered on the floor, it looked exactly like my fragile, dying marriage with Clement—broken beyond repair at a single touch.

Quietly, I swept up the sharp ceramic shards and threw them all into the trash.

As I walked out of the dean's office after submitting my resignation, Clement stopped me.

"Caroline, what were you doing in the dean’s office? What's that in your hand?"

He reached out, trying to grab the resignation letter from my hand.

My heart skipped a beat. I quickly stuffed the letter into my bag, trying to hide my panic.

Just then, Grace stepped out from behind him, her eyes red and watery.

"Caroline, I really didn't mean to break your trophy. Why did you have to go to the dean to complain and try to take away my promotion?"

Clement’s face darkened, his gaze turning cold and demanding.

"Grace already told me everything. It was just an accident."

"Stop being so petty."

I had skipped grades since I was a child. Technically, I was two years younger than Grace.

I replied flatly, "I don't care about it."

I tried to walk past them to leave.

But Grace wouldn't let me. She blocked my path, tears spilling over her cheeks.

"Caroline, if you really don't care, why are you lying? This promotion means everything to me. You already have Clement, why do you have to steal this from me too?"

As she grabbed me, her fingers dug forcefully into my fresh abdominal stitches where Clement couldn't see.

The intense pressure caused my stitches to rip open. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. Gasping in pain, I instinctively pushed her away.

Grace stumbled back a few steps, falling right into Clement's arms, sobbing hysterically.

"Clement, I don't know why Caroline hates me so much! What did I do wrong?"

Clement's eyes turned ice-cold.

"Caroline, apologize to Grace right now!"

Clutching my bleeding stomach, I gritted my teeth. "Why should I?"

Slap! Clement raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

"Caroline, stop playing these pathetic mind games behind my back. Do it again, and we are getting a divorce!"

I stared at Clement’s back as he walked away, gently cradling Grace in his arms. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth.

"Clement, you got it."

I packed up the rest of my office belongings and mailed them directly to New York. Then, I mailed our house keys back to Clement.

Looking around the empty office, I suppressed the final trace of hesitation in my heart and turned to leave.

As I walked out of the campus gates, my phone buzzed with a message from Clement.

He said Grace had received her official promotion email, and they realized they had misunderstood me. He wanted to buy me dinner to make it up to me.

Perhaps this would be our final dinner together.

Fine. Let's consider this the official end of our relationship. I agreed.

When I opened the passenger door of Clement's car, I saw Grace sitting there. Clement said casually:

"Grace's parents aren't home to cook for her, and she wanted to apologize to you in person for what happened this afternoon."

I simply nodded, climbed into the back seat, and closed my eyes to rest.

All the way to the restaurant, Grace chatted excitedly with Clement about her promotion.

She mentioned how her new office would be so much closer to his now.

Clement kept checking my expression through the rearview mirror, remaining unusually quiet.

Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the restaurant.

Halfway through the meal, Clement suddenly asked, "Why is your office completely empty?"

"Oh, I just wanted to move to an office with better sunlight," I lied, my voice devoid of any emotion.

Near the end of the dinner, the chandelier above our table suddenly flickered, then crashed down with a deafening shatter.

Glass shards flew everywhere as panic erupted in the restaurant. Since I was sitting closest to the blast, a sharp piece of glass sliced deep into my arm. Blood began to pour.

Without even glancing at my bleeding arm, Clement instantly scooped Grace up in his arms and rushed out of the restaurant.

Two hours later, after making sure Grace was safely settled in a hospital bed, Clement finally remembered me.

A sudden wave of panic washed over him. He rushed back to the restaurant, but I was nowhere to be found.

"Caroline!"