The Day My Contract Ended I Married Another Man novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4

In that moment, all color drained from my face.

After a long pause, I could only manage to say two words, “Okay.”

I lowered my head and walked out, and just as I reached the door, a gust of wind slammed it shut with a loud “bang.”

The warm orange light from inside spilled through the window, but the rain pelted down on my

face like ice.

Inside and outside–separated as if they were two different worlds.

I stood at the door, feeling as helpless as I had three years ago, when the landlord had kicked me

out.

I guess I would still be cast aside, after all.

I looked up at the rain, which seemed as if it would never end, so cold that my fingertips began to

tremble.

I truly thought I had become fully aware of everything, but deep down, I still regarded this place

as “home.”

My second “home“…

I didn’t let myself feel miserable for too long. I opened my umbrella and stepped into the rain. Just

then, Lily called.

“Your contract with Alexander ends on August 16th. I’ll book a flight for you a couple of days later, since August 17th… is Alexander’s birthday.”

I had once considered spending his last birthday with him.

But now…

Taking a deep breath, I replied calmly, “No need. Just the flight on the 16th back to the U.S.”

Let Alexander and I end things on the day it was meant to end.

I checked into a hotel, and that night, Alexander didn’t send me any messages.

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That evening, after washing up, Lopened my phone and saw the headline from the London Evening News.

#US piano virtuoso Vivienne Ashford to hold her first concert in London!#

The woman in the photo was the same woman who had come to the apartment earlier today.

My finger paused on the screen for a long moment before I opened the app and searched “Vivienne Ashford,” scrolling through several pages before finally finding news about her and the Whitmore family.

Vivienne Ashford was the daughter of the Whitmore family’s gardener.

The two young masters of the Whitmore family had grown up with Vivienne Ashford, and their

affection for her was well–known in the high society of New York City.

Vivienne Ashford loved playing the piano, and the eldest young master didn’t hesitate to spend

millions on a crystal piano for her.

Vivienne Ashford loved bellflowers, and the second young master personally planted an entire

bellflower garden for her.

Four years ago, Vivienne Ashford accepted the eldest young master’s proposal, stating that her

relationship with the second young master was purely that of “ordinary friends”…

I stared at the words “ordinary friends,” and suddenly, the image of that kiss in the video flashed

in my mind. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

I had thought I would wait until after Vivienne Ashford’s concert for Alexander to contact me

again.

But the next morning, I received a message from him.

[Come back.]

I immediately hailed a cab to the apartment, but when I arrived at the door, I saw several workers hauling things out of the apartment.

I slowed my pace, overhearing one of the workers mutter quietly.

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“Just because a woman said she didn’t like it, he threw everything out. Damn rich people…”

My steps faltered. I looked up and saw Alexander standing at the door, his expression indifferent.

Just then, another worker, holding a cartoon plush toy, seemed to notice how meticulously crafted the toy was, its clothes handmade, and the owner likely treasured it. The worker cautiously asked Alexander, “Do you want to keep this one?”

I was about to say that I wanted it, but before I could speak, I heard Alexander’s cold voice,

“Throw it out.”

My heart sank instantly.

That plush toy was a gift from Alexander.

It was from when we had first started seeing each other. One day, I mentioned that when I was younger, my mom bought plush toys for my sister, but not for me.

I had always promised myself that once I grew up, I would buy one for myself, but when I finally had the money, that toy had been discontinued.

At that time, Alexander hadn’t said anything to comfort me. The next day, he returned to the U.S.

I thought he hadn’t cared about it, but when I came home the day after, I found that exact discontinued plush toy on my bed, with a note attached.

“As long as you want, everything can be made right.”

That was when I realized Alexander had intentionally delayed his trip for three days, coming back

to the U.S. just to find that toy for me.

No one had ever cared about my words like that.

It was the first time I forgot my own identity, held onto Alexander without hesitation, and cried

uncontrollably in his arms.

He would probably never understand how important that toy was to me.

So it was easy for him to casually say “throw it out.”

To see that toy, which had been with me for three years and carried so many complicated emotions, thrown into the trash just because of Vivienne Ashford’s words…

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I stood there, staring at the toy. My body moved instinctively, and I stepped forward to pick it up. But just as I took my first step, the worker stumbled, and the toy fell into the trash truck’s deepest compartment.

I stood still, watching as the toy was buried under the trash, and with it, the Alexander who had once said everything could be made right, seemed to be buried as well.

Suddenly, Alexander’s voice rang out, “What are you doing?”

I turned to face his cold gaze and snapped back to reality.

I wanted to smile, as I usually did, but it felt like something was lodged in my throat, preventing me from doing so.

Instead, I quickly reached out and looped my arm around Alexander’s, lowering my head so he couldn’t see my expression.

“I received your message. I came back from the hotel in ten minutes. Did I come back fast enough?”

Alexander glanced at me but said nothing. His tone remained indifferent as he casually remarked.

“From now on, you’ll live here. Don’t leave anything behind.”

My hand stiffened, and I looked at the garbage truck, where everything I had was now piled up.

After a long silence, I softly nodded.

“Okay.”

When I leave, I will make sure I leave nothing behind.

Chapter 4