“It won’t be necessary, Professor,” I replied somberly. “Please… just apply to have all my records erased.”
There was silence, followed by a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line.
“What? Why? Once we erase your file, Easton Blackwell ceases to exist. Don’t you have a wife, Annette? What if she can’t find you?”
A bitter smile tugged at my lips.
“She cheated.”
The line went utterly still before a long sigh came through.
“Actually, when you called yesterday, I suspected something had happened between you and Annette. I just didn’t expect it to be…” He didn’t finish his sentence. “Very well. I’ll delete your records. Use these three days to tie up whatever loose ends you have.”
Relief washed over me. Once my records were erased, I wouldn’t even need to waste time going through a divorce with Annette.
“Thank you, Professor.”
Just as the words left my mouth, a familiar voice came from behind me.
“Who cheated?”
I turned, meeting Annette’s slightly anxious gaze. My own expression remained calm as I replied.
“Professor’s other students’ wife.”
She studied my face carefully, searching for any cracks in my composure. Finding none, she finally relaxed and slipped her arms around my waist with a coy smile, “Don’t worry, honey. That could never happen to us.’
I looked straight into her oh-so-sincere eyes and asked, “What if it were?”
Without the slightest hesitation, Annette shook her head.
“Impossible. Because I only love you.”
“But what if.”
She paused, then her hands gently cupped my cheeks as she whispered, “If I ever cheated, then punish me by never letting me find you again.” She let out a soft sigh. “Because you are my life. If you weren’t by my side, I wouldn’t want to go on living.”
I gave her a small smile but said nothing.
Annette, your punishment is coming. In three days, I’ll disappear and you’ll never find me.
She opened her mouth to say more, but a man’s voice cut in.
“Mrs. Callahan, everything is ready.”
Kevin stood in a sleek black suit, his voice clipped and professional—nothing like the domineering man pressed against her at the window yesterday.
Annette’s face returned to an impassive mask. She gave a small nod, then waved him away.
Watching their performance, I felt only cold irony.
Their acting was impeccable, perfectly in sync. If I hadn’t seen them with my own eyes, I might have kept believing their lies forever.
Annette slid her hands over my eyes and whispered in my ear, “Darling, I have a surprise for you.”
“Five, four, three…”
When she finally let go, the night sky erupted with fireworks. Blossoms of red roses bloomed above us, until the sparks formed a giant number: 10, frozen against the darkness.
Annette wrapped her arm around my waist, her tone wistful.
“We’ve been together for ten years. Can you believe it? Time really does fly, huh?”
I stared at the glowing number, momentarily lost.
Yes—ten years. From when I was nineteen until now, twenty-nine. A whole decade had passed, and time had changed so much.
It changed the woman who once loved me so deeply into someone I could barely recognize.
It also changed what used to be a genuine love… into nothing but lies.
Annette turned, her eyes brimming with false tenderness. Her hands slid around my neck as she leaned in for a kiss. Just as I was about to turn away, her phone buzzed with a message notification.
Annoyance flickered across her face.
“I told them no one was to disturb me today. Let’s see who dares defy me.”
