Love Burns Without a Trace

Anthony hardly had time to go home while juggling work and an affair.

Meanwhile, Isobel received stack after stack of photos of Anthony and Sasha at home. Sasha herself had sent out the photos.

Love could be faked through performative acts. All the details in the photos were so similar.

Anthony had rented out an amusement park for Sasha, just as he had done for Isobel's 16th birthday.

Isobel contacted the photographer who had been capturing moments of her and Anthony for years and had all the negatives destroyed—including those taken at the amusement park.

Anthony and Sasha were pictured hanging a love lock at a famous bridge—just as he had done with Isobel on their second anniversary.

Isobel spent an entire day searching for the lock she and Anthony had once placed there. It was engraved with the words "Anthony & Isobel, together forever".

Weathered by time, the inscription had faded. Isobel borrowed a hacksaw, cut the lock off, and scraped away every trace of their promise.

Aside from the endlessly spinning vinyl records in space, there was nothing she could not erase.

Isobel vowed to destroy every proof of their love.

She gathered the photos of Anthony and Sasha and placed them in that gift box that was to be opened on Anthony's birthday.

…

On the eve of her departure, Anthony unexpectedly returned home.

"Yeah, just do as I said. Tomorrow..."

"What's going on tomorrow?" Anthony made her jump when he suddenly spoke from behind her.

Isobel froze for a moment before hanging up. She turned to look at him.

"Nothing. It's your birthday tomorrow. Of course I have a surprise in store for you. No more questions from you!"

Anthony chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

"Alright. I won't ask."

"Why are you home early today?"

"Tomorrow is the grand opening of the flagship store. I came home to go over the details with you. Also, I've booked the best stylist to come over. You'll have the most stunning entrance."

His gaze rested on her as if admiring his most exquisite masterpiece. But Isobel was no longer drowning in that look.

"Anthony, we've been together for more than seven years. Do you think I've ever done anything to betray you?"

Anthony's heart skipped a beat. He wondered what prompted that question.

"Of course not, Belle."

"And would you ever betray me?"

"Never," he answered firmly. "You are my love. I will never betray you."

At that moment, Isobel finally realized that Anthony's promises and vows weren't meant for her. They were meant for himself.

He was looking for excuses to convince himself that, as long as he loved Isobel, it didn't matter if he occasionally dated, kissed, or slept with someone else.

Isobel smiled, her gaze calm.

"I never said that you betrayed me. Why are you so nervous?"

"Belle, baby, you have to believe me."

She said nothing.

Anthony had noticed something was off about Isobel lately. But her behavior didn't seem like that of a woman who had discovered the truth. Otherwise, she would have been crying, screaming, and questioning him.

In the worst case, he would immediately cut things off with Sasha and get down on his knees to beg for Isobel's forgiveness.

He held her tightly. She was the one person he couldn't afford to lose.

Just then, his phone vibrated. Isobel caught a glimpse of the message.

Sasha wrote, "Do you want to have a peek at my legs, darling?"

A photo followed it.

Another text came in. It read, "Waiting for you."

Anthony quickly turned off his phone.

Seeing Isobel sipping her tea as if nothing had happened, he hesitated before speaking.

"Belle, I have to head back to the office tonight to oversee the final prep for the opening. I won't be coming home.

"Let's meet at the launch tomorrow, okay? I promise I'll take a whole month off to be with you after that."

A month off? Just wait and see. She tightened her grip around her teacup.

"Okay. Go ahead." She smiled.