He Ran From Me as I Ran Out of Time

"But I noticed Cecile hasn't been wearing the bracelet you gave her over the past few days. Didn't you say that it was your token of love, and that she would never take it off?"

Nina's casual remark made Caleb stand frozen in place.

He had bought that bracelet with his first paycheck. Although it was ordinary, it represented his promises to me.

He had once knelt before me, swearing that after we got married, he would buy me an even more expensive bracelet. He had promised to make me the happiest woman in the world.

But he never understood that I never wanted wealth or status. I just wanted someone I could spend the rest of my life with.

I had treated that bracelet like a treasure. I never took it off, not even in the shower. But now, that treasure was in the trash. I had thrown it out when I was clearing out his gifts.

Caleb thought carefully. Then, he realized that my wrist had indeed been bare the last time he saw me.

He hadn't noticed then, but now he remembered it had indeed been a while since I last wore it.

A flicker of unease rose within Caleb's chest. He took out his phone to call me and clarify.

But the moment his finger touched the screen, Gina grabbed hold of his hand.

"Caleb, don't worry. Cecile must have done it to get your attention. She loves you so much, so how could she ever leave you? If you give in now, that's exactly what she wants," Gina said.

Hearing Gina's words, Caleb felt she had a point. If I loved him so much, how could I bear to throw away our token of love?

So he quietly set his phone down.

The crew members, who were standing behind him, sighed at his reaction.

And I, as a wandering spirit, sighed along with them.

All those years I spent on Caleb suddenly felt so wasted.

…

That night, during the cast and crew dinner, Caleb personally peeled a bowl of shrimp and placed it in front of Gina.

Anyone who saw them would think they were the real couple instead.

Jessie Sinclair, who was from the same crew, deliberately asked, "Caleb, do you also peel shrimp for Cecile when you're home?"

Caleb froze mid-peeling and replied awkwardly, "She can do it herself, so why would she need my help? I'm only helping Gina because she's sick, and it's inconvenient for her."

I scoffed from the side.

Gina's face had an allergic reaction. That was it. Her hands weren't broken.

Jessie couldn't stand to watch anymore. She said, "That's true. Every time we have a cast and crew dinner, she's the one peeling shrimp for you.

"There was also that time when we were filming in the wild and got caught in the storm. The whole crew was stuck in the mountains. But you had a fever, and Cecile carried you over ten miles down the mountain to the hospital.

"Can't you see everything Cecile has done for you?"