You're Out of My Life

On Sunday, Sylvia Johnson, Angela's old homeroom teacher, was celebrating a birthday.

Bright and early that morning, Angela got a call from Vincent Boyd, her old class representative.

"Make sure you and Carl show up," Vincent said.

When Angela got to the private room where the party was being held, it was already filled with many of her old classmates, but there was no sign of Carl.

Vincent glanced behind Angela before asking, "Where's your husband? Is he parking the car?"

"He's not my husband," Angela corrected.

Chortling, Vincent replied, "He's not your husband yet, but he will be in a month, won't he? You guys have been dating for so long now. It's hard for relationships to survive this long. You're only a step away from marriage now, so stop fighting. Work things out with each other."

Sylvia was still the same caring teacher that Angela remembered, though she had a few gray hairs in the passing years.

Smiling, she also chimed in, "That's right, Angela. I've also witnessed the journey you two have taken as a couple. Are you two in a fight because of Lucy? I'm sure you must've misunderstood things.

"Carl and Keith were always the best of friends. Since Keith has passed away, Carl is just helping Lucy out for the sake of his old friend. You should have faith in your relationship. After all, you've been together for over ten years now."

Sylvia was their language teacher. She had always been kind and approachable. Angela adored her very much, but she was no longer a student. While Sylvia could teach lessons in school, she couldn't teach Angela lessons on marriage.

"I know what's best for me, Ms. Johnson," Angela replied.

Thinking that Angela was taking her advice, Sylvia became rather pleased. "You have always been a smart one. I'm sure you get it."

Just then, Carl came in, saying, "Happy birthday, Ms. Johnson!"

With a beaming smile, Sylvia replied, "Thank you! You and Angela are about to get married as well. I'll be sure to celebrate the wedding with you guys."

However, at the very next moment, her smile froze.

Lucy came in right behind Carl. She was wearing his jacket and holding his arm as well.

Smiling, she passed Sylvia the gift she brought and said, "Hi, Ms. Johnson. I'm Lucy. I'm so sorry. We would've arrived sooner, but it's all my fault. My period came all of a sudden, so Carl had to buy my pads for me. That ended up taking a bit of time."

The intimate tone she had when she mentioned Carl's name made everything clear. Even Vincent was startled. Patting Carl on the shoulder, he reminded Carl, "Angela's here, too. Why did you… bring her along with you?"

"Lucy has been feeling rather depressed lately. I don't feel good about leaving her alone," Carl said.

"What about Angela, then?"

Carl glanced at Angela before saying indifferently, "It's fine. There's no need to worry about her."

After thoughtfully guiding Lucy over to a spot on the couch, he even proceeded to set some snacks and fruits in front of her, saying, "Don't worry. These are all my friends. Everyone will take good care of you."

Leaning in close to Carl, Lucy said, "Of course. I only feel safe with you around."

All of the attendees here at Sylvia's birthday party were Carl and Angela's classmates. They all knew the two were a couple.

But after seeing this situation, no one knew how they were supposed to react, especially Vincent. He'd probably intended to try and help patch things up between Carl and Angela.

Angela knew Vincent was a warm, kindhearted person who meant well. However, judging from what was happening now, she knew he wouldn't be able to do the good deed he had been planning to do.

Sylvia's birthday party proceeded awkwardly. By the time it ended, everyone felt a sense of relief—apart from Carl and Lucy, of course.

Carl was holding Lucy by the hand, and when he walked past Angela, he said coolly, "I need to give Lucy a ride home. I'm not sure if I'll be back tonight. You can take a cab home."

However, Lucy tapped him and complained coquettishly, "How can you say that? Angie is your fiancée! How can you ask her to take a cab home just because of me?

"Don't listen to him, Angie. Get in the car with us. I'll make sure he gives you a ride home."

It sounded as if she were Carl's fiancée instead, while Angela was the outsider.

Brushing Lucy's hand off hers, Angela said curtly, "It's fine. My ride is here."

A honk rang out, and a black Maybach came to a stop in front of Angela.

Angela got into the Maybach with Carl and Lucy watching.

A group of their classmates who had exited together began teasing, "Oh, so Maybach drivers are doing Uber now? Since when?"

Carl's expression was rather unpleasant. He drove a Ford, which was still a decent car in its own right. Alas, it looked small and dated next to a Maybach.

Soon after Angela got home, Carl returned as well.

Startled, she asked, "Didn't you say you won't be coming back tonight?"

"You'd love that, wouldn't you?" Carl snarled, his expression stormy.

"What's your problem?" Angela mused.

"Who's the guy who came to pick you up today? What's his deal?"

"Him? He's my husband."

"Hah! I knew it!" Carl snorted.

Angela didn't get what Carl supposedly knew.

Taking a seat on the couch, he said with a smug smile, "You did it on purpose, right? You're just trying to antagonize me and get me jealous so that I'd care about you. It must've cost you a bomb to rent that Maybach, huh?

"That explains why you seem to have become an entirely different person lately. I've been wondering why you haven't made a fuss at all. Turns out you had this all planned out to bait me."

Feeling rather speechless, Angela replied, "If that's what you think, I can't do anything about it."

"Don't ever play these tricks again," Carl demanded disdainfully. "It's childish and pathetic."

"Think whatever you want."

"Angela, I know you're upset that the wedding was called off on such abrupt notice. You've always wanted me to marry you. I know that.

"But you need to accept that some things need to be prioritized more. Lucy is still grieving over Keith's passing. Her needs should be prioritized right now," Carl declared.

Angela couldn't resist asking, "Does that mean if Lucy never overcomes her grief, you'll never get married?"

"How can you be such a vicious person, Angela? Don't you want things to work out for Lucy? She's never done anything to offend you. Must you think so ill of her?"

Angela was fully aware of how protective Carl was over Lucy, but it was still the first time he called her vicious. To think that this was the man she'd spent over ten years loving and making sacrifices for. He almost became her husband, too.

This only made Angela even more disillusioned.

"I need your car keys for a moment."

"What for?" Carl asked warily.

"I'm retrieving something I left in your car."

Angela once made a crocheted horseshoe herself and hung it up in Carl's car as a good luck charm to keep him safe. Well, the current Carl no longer deserved the care and affection she showered on him.

"Lucy's things are in my car. You'd better not mess them up. I'll come with you," Carl said.

"Whatever."

Angela went down to the basement parking lot, and once Carl unlocked the car, she opened the front door to undo the crocheted horseshoe.

Alas, when she hung it up, she'd made sure to tie it securely out of fear that it might fall off. Hardening herself, she yanked on the yarn to undo the horseshoe instead. As a result, it transformed back into a long piece of yarn.

"Why did you pull it apart?" Carl asked.

"It doesn't matter if it's unraveled. It won't be of any use anymore."

Angela was backing out of the car when, from the corner of her eye, she spotted something black tucked beside the front passenger seat. She picked it up, only to realize it was a pair of black stockings—the kind worn by women.

It was obvious who it belonged to.

This was probably the "ordinary piece of clothing" Lucy left in Carl's car.

"Are you done yet?" Carl hurried Angela along. "Don't make a mess of the things in my car."

With a wooden expression, Angela stuffed the pair of black stockings back where she found them and said, "All done."

As soon as she got out of the car, Carl immediately shut the door and locked the car.

Angela didn't care. She tossed the ball of yarn she was holding into the trash.

Her phone started ringing, so she answered it. "Hello?"

"When will you be free? We can have the wedding in a month, but we should get our marriage registered first."

It was Julian.

"About that… There's no rush, right?" Angela replied. "It's very easy to get a marriage license these days. We can even get it done a few days before our wedding day."

At the mention of a marriage license, Carl grew alert. "Marriage license? What do you mean?"

"Is that your ex-boyfriend?" Julian asked over the phone.

He'd taken the initiative of referring to Carl as Angela's ex.

"Yeah," Angela replied.

"You should move out as soon as possible."

"I will."

"As for our marriage registration, just go ahead and check your schedule. Once you decide on a time, let me know, and I'll be there," Julian said.

Once the call was over, Carl eyed Angela suspiciously and questioned, "Who called you at this hour of the night?"

"Someone who wants to marry me and is asking me to register our marriage," Angela replied.

Upon hearing that, Carl let out a mocking laugh. "Angela, this trick only works once. It gets pathetic if you attempt it multiple times."

Angela breathed in deeply before humming in acknowledgment.

"Hey! I'm talking to you. Are you listening to me?"

"Relax. I won't ever bring this up with you again."

That satisfied Carl.

"It's getting late. I need to head back to Lucy."

"Go ahead."

Before leaving, Carl turned back and said to Angela, "Hang in there a little longer. Just wait until Lucy's condition improves. After all, you've been with me for so many years now. I'll still make you my wife."

This time, Angela said nothing.

…

The next day, Angela began packing her things. She didn't have that many clothes. The only possession of hers of any importance was her laptop. She was a programmer, and her years of coding were all stored in it.

When Julian came to pick her up, he raised an eyebrow at the sight of her carrying nothing more than a computer bag. "Is that all?"

"That's right," Angela said with a nod.

"I thought women loved collecting pretty clothes and bags."

Well, he wasn't wrong. Who wouldn't love having a closet full of pretty clothes and bags?

However, all their money went toward Carl's business, and over time, it became hard for them to make ends meet. Angela pawned off her jewelry, and it had been years since she last bought any new clothing for herself.

Therefore, she simply gathered some of her personal belongings and donated everything else to charity.

Glancing at her lonesome computer bag, Julian said gently, "I'll take you shopping this weekend."

"It's fine."

"Why not?"

"I haven't received this month's salary yet."

Julian couldn't stop himself from chuckling. "I'll give you an advance on it."

Angela chewed her lip. She still felt a little uncertain about the whole thing.

"Boss, are you seriously willing to marry me?"

"Why do you ask?" Julian queried.

"Is your family pestering you to get married?"

"They are. Moreover, being a married man makes me seem more trustworthy to the shareholders, so it's good for the company, too."

"That explains everything. I knew a cunning businessman like you would never do something if you didn't get anything out of it…"

"What did you just call me?"

Angela quickly waved her hands, saying, "Oh, it's nothing."

Smirking, Julian remarked, "You should probably change the nickname you set for me on your phone when you can."

"On it! I'll do it right this instant!"

Angela swiftly deleted the words "The Cunning Businessman" and changed his contact to "The Perfect Gentleman". Then, she held up her phone in front of Julian and said, "Look. All done."

After glancing at the screen, Julian pulled up by the side of the road.

"What's the matter?" Angela asked.

Julian took her phone and tapped on it for a bit before returning it to her. As he began driving once more, Angela checked her phone.

Julian was no longer listed as "The Perfect Gentleman" on WhatsApp. Instead, she saw the word "Hubby".

"We're not married yet, boss. Isn't this a bit too conspicuous?"

Cocking an eyebrow, Julian suggested, "Shall we head over to City Hall now, then?"

While speaking, he made it seem like he was going to make a U-turn.

"No, thanks. I don't think we can do it today, boss."

"Tell me, then. What's your excuse this time?"

"Well, he still has my Social Security card."

…

Carl was out shopping with Lucy when he got the call from Angela.

Lucy had changed into a strapless mini dress and was striking seductive poses in front of the mirror on purpose. When she saw the way Carl's eyes glazed over as he ogled her, she secretly took a photo of him before taking a selfie.

Then, she posted on Instagram. The caption read, "Fate must have made a mistake. Why are you only showing up in my life now?"

Lucy had posted two photos—a sexy picture of her and a shot of Carl staring dazedly at her. She adored the feeling of having Carl wrapped around her finger. It stoked her ego to no end.

But soon, Carl tore his eyes away from Lucy. Frowning, he took a call.

"Angela, didn't I tell you I'll be spending the next few days with Lucy? Why are you calling me?"

"Where's my Social Security card?" Angela asked.

"Why do you want it?"

"I need to register for something."

"Register for what?"

Lucy wasn't going to let Carl take his eyes off her. She purposely raised her voice and called out to him, "Carl, do I look good in this dress?"

Once again, Carl's attention was drawn toward her. When he saw Lucy making an adorable yet sexy pose in front of him, all he could think about was ending the call as quickly as possible.

"Your Social Security card is in the third drawer of the living room cabinet. I'm going to be very busy during this time. Don't call me if you don't have anything urgent. I'm hanging up now."