Laura only needed to wait for the journal's response to her paper. Once it was accepted, she could finally board a plane and leave everything behind. Her confidence in the research was unwavering—it was the culmination of over six months of painstaking effort, with countless late nights spent perfecting every detail.
The evening light cast long shadows across the apartment walls when Hector finally came home. The faint aroma of the city clung to him, mingling with the scent of the freshly boxed tiramisu he carried. His other hand held the latest Hermès handbag, its pristine leather gleaming under the soft glow of the living room lamps.
He set both items on the coffee table with practiced care before stepping closer to Laura, who was seated at the dining table with a mug of cooling tea. Leaning down, he spoke softly into her ear, his voice tinged with guilt but underscored by the charm he knew had always disarmed her.
"Don't be mad, baby. It was my fault for not spending New Year's Eve with you," he began, his tone coaxing. "But ever since we got engaged, I haven't celebrated the New Year with my friends. They insisted I stay, and I got caught up in the fun."
The subtle lift in his voice at the end carried an unspoken expectation—that Laura, as she always had, would forgive him with her usual warm smile.
Once, those words would have melted her heart instantly. She would have waved away her frustrations, delighted by his effort to bring her favorite dessert and a new luxury bag. But now, as Laura looked at his composed face, telling lies as easily as breathing, she felt a strange, almost detached amusement.
His facade was so perfect, so practiced. And yet, it was absurd.
Hector picked up the Hermès handbag and moved toward the walk-in closet, intending to place it alongside her collection. But the moment he stepped inside, he froze mid-step.
The shelves, which had once displayed an array of designer handbags he had gifted her over the years, were completely barren. Not a single bag remained. The empty space seemed to echo back at him, amplifying his confusion.
"Did we get robbed?" he asked, his voice sharp with disbelief. "Why would they only steal your bags? Wait—" He scanned the room, his eyes darting toward the corners. "Your LEGO sets... and your photo albums—they're gone too."
He spun back toward Laura, his expression a mixture of confusion and alarm. "Laura, what's going on? Didn't you say your school application hasn't been approved yet?"
Lowering his head slightly, as if piecing together a puzzle, he murmured after a pause, "If it's not for school, then... Are you planning to leave me?"
Before she could respond, Hector crossed the room in two long strides and pulled her into a tight embrace. His arms wrapped around her so forcefully it felt as though he were trying to anchor her to him. His voice trembled, fear laced in every word.
"Laura, I was wrong. I've been wrong about everything. I'll spend every Christmas and New Year's Eve with you from now on. Please don't leave me, okay?"
His desperation was palpable, his usual confidence unraveling in a way Laura had never seen before. She felt his body shake slightly against hers, his grip tightening as though he feared she might vanish at any moment.
But instead of comfort, Laura felt only cold detachment. She studied his face, noting the creases of panic at the corners of his mouth, the pleading in his wide eyes.
A quiet voice echoed in her mind: 'If you were so afraid of losing me, why did you cheat? Why did you trample on our relationship again and again, as if it were nothing?'
She gently pushed him away, her movements slow and deliberate. Her face was calm, her tone steady as she said, "I just have too many things. I want to declutter so I can focus better on my research."
Her voice was devoid of any emotion, a stark contrast to the turmoil she had once felt. Perhaps it was because her heart had finally gone quiet, its reservoir of love and pain drained dry.
Hector stared at her, his panic dimming slightly as he processed her words. He took her hands in his, his grip firm but no longer desperate.
"Laura," he said, his voice low and earnest, "I'll love you and only you for the rest of my life. Please don't leave me. I don't think I could handle it."
She offered him a faint smile, one so thin and fleeting it barely reached her eyes. "Got it. Now go wash up and rest. Don't you have a meeting at school tomorrow morning?"
Her gentle tone seemed to soothe him, his shoulders relaxing slightly. Her demeanor felt so familiar, so much like the Laura who had once revolved around him, that he allowed himself to believe everything was fine.
Leaning in, Hector placed a soft kiss on her cheek. His lips lingered, as though trying to convey a silent promise. "I'm going now," he murmured. "You're always so thoughtful."
That night, perhaps longing for reassurance, Hector stayed home, sitting beside her as she worked and chatting about trivial things until they both grew tired.
But the next morning, the fragile illusion shattered.
The faint glow of dawn filtered through the curtains as Hector's phone buzzed on the nightstand. He glanced at the screen, his brows furrowing as he read the message. Whatever traces of sleepiness remained vanished instantly.
Silently, he slipped out of bed and began dressing. Each movement was careful, deliberate, as though afraid of waking her. He gathered his things and stole one last glance at Laura, who lay motionless under the covers, her face serene in the morning light.
Satisfied she wouldn't wake, Hector tiptoed out of the room, the soft click of the door latch the only sound marking his departure.
Little did he know, Laura had been awake the entire time.
