Damned by My Memories

Theodore's usually immaculate suit was covered in dust, and blood smeared his temple. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes widened the instant he saw Calista and Aveline.

This was the first time Calista had ever seen this detached man looking so disheveled.

After discovering that they were missing following the car accident, Theodore immediately sent people to track them down and rushed to their location as fast as he could.

With only one minute left before the bomb exploded and time to dismantle a single device, Theodore chose Aveline without hesitation.

He worked rapidly on Aveline's explosive without lifting his head. "Calista, once I get her out, I'll come back for you immediately."

Calista laughed. Strangely, her heart didn't ache anymore, perhaps because she no longer loved him.

After Theodore dismantled Aveline's device, the countdown showed only 20 seconds left. Aveline gripped his arm tightly, her voice trembling so hard she could barely speak. "Theodore! We have to go! It's going to explode!"

For the first time, Theodore pushed her away, urging her to escape before turning back to defuse Calista's bomb.

But Calista suddenly grabbed his hand and shoved him away. She said calmly, "Theodore, take her and leave. Remember, from this day on, I don't need you anymore. Whether I live or die is none of your business. I'm not someone no one wants. If you don't love me, plenty of others will!"

Theodore froze in shock.

Aveline broke down in tears beside them. "Theodore, I'm so scared! If you don't leave, I won't leave either!"

As the seconds ticked down to detonation, if they didn't leave now, all three would die. At the critical moment, Theodore picked Aveline up and rushed out.

Calista closed her eyes, her fingers moving swiftly across the explosive. She had taken a demolition course in college, and now that knowledge came to her rescue.

A soft click sounded. She successfully disconnected the fuse at the final second.

Yet an explosion still went off. As the blast hurled her into the air, she caught a blurry glimpse of Theodore running back.

…

Calista opened her eyes in the hospital to excruciating pain radiating from her arm.

Theodore was sitting by her bed. When he saw her awake, he quickly steadied her. "Don't move. You just had a skin graft for Ave."

"What did you say?" Calista asked.

In her daze, she almost thought that she had misheard him.

Theodore stayed silent for a moment, his voice carrying a rare hint of guilt. "Ave's arm was injured in the explosion. She didn't want a scar, and since your skin tone is the closest match, we took a graft from you for the transplant."

Calista stared at him in disbelief. "Theodore, did you even ask me?"

He tried to soothe her. "I'll make it up to you. Haven't you always wanted to go on a date with me? Once you're discharged—"

She cut him off, "Who cares?"

She ripped out her IV needle forcefully, blood trickling down the back of her hand. "You can't just treat me this way!"

Theodore was stunned.

Calista's eyes were bloodshot, and her voice trembled. "She's everything to you, and I'm nothing—is that it? You just took advantage of my feelings for you… You just used me—"

She couldn't bring herself to finish.

Theodore felt a tightness in his chest as he suddenly recalled her words in the warehouse. "If you don't love me, plenty of others will."

Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang.

The anxious voice of his assistant, Lucas Ashford, buzzed through the phone. "Mr. Montclair, the Princess Danielle limited-edition necklace that Ms. Montclair has always wanted is being auctioned tonight in Valdoria. Do you want to go?"

Theodore gave a brief affirmation and hung up.

He put his phone away and looked at Calista. "I have to go abroad for a few days. I'll bring you a gift when I get back."

After a pause, he added, "Don't worry. I'll keep my word about the date."

With that, he pushed open the door and walked away quickly.

The moment the door closed, Calista could no longer hold back. She slowly curled up, hugging herself tightly as tears streamed down.

Calista stayed in the hospital for three days.

On the day of her discharge, she received a call from the embassy informing her that her permanent residency for Nordland had been approved. This was the only piece of good news she had heard lately.

Calista stood at the embassy entrance. The sunlight was so blinding that it brought tears to her eyes. She raised her hand to shield them. She had removed her wedding band long ago, leaving a faint mark on her ring finger.

It was time to end this.

After collecting her residency permit at the embassy, she went straight to a law firm. She drafted a divorce agreement, signed her name, and then dialed Aveline's number. "Come out and meet me."

…

Inside the cafe, Aveline glared at her warily. "What are you trying to do? I'm warning you, if Theodore comes back and finds out that you bullied me—"

Calista stayed silent, then pulled the wedding ring from her bag and slid it across the table to Aveline. "Try it on."

Aveline gave her a suspicious look, but almost instinctively, she reached out and slipped the ring onto her own finger. It fit perfectly.

She was stunned. "You—"

Calista smiled. "Haven't you always wanted to know why Theodore suddenly started avoiding you?"

Aveline's fingers trembled slightly.

Calista stared into her eyes and spoke slowly, word by word, "Fine, I'll tell you the truth. He avoids you not because he married me and not because you upset him, but because he likes you.

"In his prayer room, he keeps a lifelike doll that looks exactly like you and indulges his desires with it every single day.

"On the night you stayed at our house, while you were sleeping on the couch, he secretly kissed you for three minutes. This ring was also custom-made to your exact measurements. The person he wanted to marry has always been you."

At her words, Aveline's expression shifted instantly. A wave of emotions flickered in her eyes—shock, disbelief, embarrassment, and delight.

Calista looked at her and suddenly found the situation absurd.

Theodore had been afraid to confess his feelings to Aveline, fearing he might lose her, so he forced himself to suppress his desires through prayer. Yet he had no idea that Aveline felt the same way.

Calista stood up, took the signed divorce agreement from her bag, and slid it across the table. "Give this to him when he returns. Tell him that I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together."

After saying that, she turned to leave. Aveline finally came back to her senses and called out to her. "Calista, where are you going?"

Without looking back, Calista replied, "Since I'm divorcing him, of course I'm going to live my own life. From now on, your affairs have nothing to do with me. And Aveline, if you ever dare to lay a hand on me again, I'll make sure you pay for it a hundred times over!"

…

Calista pulled her suitcase through the airport. Just before boarding, her phone vibrated.

She glanced down and saw a message from Theodore. It was a photo with the caption, "I've landed. Here is a gift for you."

She opened the image to find a plain bracelet, not even presented in a gift box.

Calista smiled faintly. She knew it was merely a freebie. He had gone abroad this time specifically to bid on that Princess Danielle necklace for Aveline. What he gave her was nothing more than an afterthought.

Yet Calista felt no sadness. Since she no longer loved Theodore, he had lost the power to hurt her.

Holding her boarding pass, she walked quickly toward the boarding gate. When she looked up, she happened to see Theodore. Dressed in a black trench coat, he stepped out from the VIP arrival exit in the distance with a stern expression.

She didn't call out to him, choosing instead to watch him walk away in silence. In her heart, she wished him a happy divorce and freedom, while celebrating her own liberation.

In the next moment, she blocked every one of his contacts without hesitation. Then, she turned and walked in the opposite direction from him.