Where Flames Consume Love

It wasn't until security intervened and dispersed the crowd that I was finally rescued. I called an ambulance and lost consciousness after being lifted into it.

When I next woke up, I saw dozens of missed calls on my phone—all from Frank.

After calling him back, I immediately heard his anxious voice on the other end. "Where are you right now, honey? Why didn't you pick up the call for so long? I was beside myself with worry!"

I opened my mouth, then paused. In the end, I lied calmly, "Sorry. I was attending a party at a friend's place, and my phone ran out of battery."

Frank seemed relieved to hear that. He said in a gentler tone, "As long as you're alright, babe. I'll officially announce your identity at the company's celebration banquet tomorrow night. Don't worry. There definitely won't be any accidents this time."

I simply hummed in acknowledgement.

Frank seemed caught off guard by my indifference and didn't know what else to say. After a long and awkward silence, he finally added, "You should hurry home then, honey. I'll miss you every second that we're apart."

Of course I would go home, but only to pick up my packed luggage.

After returning to the villa and making sure everything was packed up, the only thing I left behind was the signed divorce agreement on the bedside table.

It didn't matter whether Frank was willing to sign it. If he weren't, I would divorce him through legal means.

As a final touch, I intended to leave him a surprise.

I wouldn't attend the company banquet, but I would send someone to publicize all the evidence I had gathered on Frank's infidelity during this time.

After making all the arrangements, I arrived at the villa's backyard.

I lit a fire there and threw all the photos Frank and I had taken over the years into it—photos we had taken while vacationing at the beach together, photos of us kissing on our wedding day, photos we took to commemorate climbing to the top of a mountain…

The photos quickly curled and blackened in the flames. Eventually, they turned to ash and scattered away with the wind.

It was just like our marriage, which once seemed unbreakable but was now nothing but lies and betrayal.

I stood where I was, watching the fire grow smaller and smaller until the last ember was extinguished.

I felt no nostalgia or reluctance, only calm and relief.

I then picked up my suitcase and took a taxi to the airport without looking back.