Snow Fell, I Walked Away: He Came Back Too Late

Celine turned and left, then took a cab straight to the police station. "Mr. Mercer, I want to apply for the five-year classified training program." Graham Mercer held his coffee cup in midair, his eyes full of surprise. "Are you sure? You meet every requirement, that's true, but this program is selecting talent for the country. It's brutally demanding, and once you go in, you won't have any contact with the outside world for five years. Weren't things always good between you and your husband? Are you really willing to leave him?" "Yes. We're already in the middle of a divorce." Celine nodded firmly. "I only have one request. Help me get the divorce finalized as soon as possible." "No problem." Graham set his coffee cup down hard. "Don't worry. In one week, I guarantee you'll have the divorce decree in hand and be able to leave with peace of mind." Only after settling all of that did Celine make her way home in a daze. It was already dark, and the house was silent. She turned on the light and immediately saw the note on the table. "I have a business dinner tonight, so I won't be back. There's porridge in the pot. Don't forget to eat." At the sight of his familiar handwriting, it felt as if an invisible hand had seized her heart and squeezed. She was always too busy with work to eat on time, and worried she would run herself into the ground, Adrian had taught himself to cook for her. He had done it for ten years. She had thought that was love. But in the end, it turned out it had all been nothing more than wishful thinking on her part. Her throat tightened. She looked at the pot of cold porridge in the kitchen, and it felt just like their marriage, long stripped of warmth, reduced to something bland and shapeless. In the end, she calmly reached out and dumped the entire pot into the trash. It was not until early the next morning that Adrian hurried home, carrying takeout from Celine's favorite spaghetti place. They had once made a promise that no matter how busy work got, they would still sit down together and have a proper breakfast. Today was no different. By the time Celine got out of bed, Adrian was already in the kitchen with everything ready. "You're up? Come eat. I went out to get your favorite spaghetti." Celine stood in the kitchen doorway without moving. She looked at Adrian bustling around the kitchen in matching loungewear, dressed like the picture of a perfect husband. If not for the red mark on his neck giving him away, she might still have been trapped inside the dream she had built for herself. When she said nothing for a long moment, Adrian frowned. "Busy with work again?" There was irritation in his voice. "Why didn't you eat the porridge last night? If you skip food again today, your stomach's going to act up." As he spoke, he stood and reached for her hand. "Are you done acting?" Celine stepped aside and avoided his touch, the four words leaving her lips cold and sharp. "What?" Adrian clearly didn't understand. "Yesterday... I saw everything." Celine lifted her head, her gaze locked on him. Adrian stiffened all over. His expression shifted several times before he finally let out a soft laugh. "Celine, why did you have to drag it into the open? I know this is hard for you to accept right now, but what man in our circle doesn't do this? I've stayed faithful to you for ten years. Don't I deserve a little freedom now?" "Freedom?" Celine suddenly lowered her head and laughed. "Sure. I'll give you freedom." But Adrian clearly missed what she meant. Instead, he let out a breath of relief, his face easing into satisfaction. "I'm glad you understand. Don't worry. No matter what happens, you're still my legal wife. That will never change." There was no need for that. They would be divorced soon enough. Celine shook her head with a bitter smile, but she never said the words out loud. She was about to leave for classified military training, and the last thing she wanted was more complications. Looking at the hypocritical man in front of her, Celine did not want to stay there for even one more second. She turned to change, but Adrian refused to let it go and caught hold of her. "Celine, eat before you go. Your health comes first." Just as Celine was about to shake him off, Adrian's phone suddenly rang. "Okay. I'm on my way." After hanging up, Adrian grabbed his coat and rushed toward the door. "There's something urgent at the office. I need to go deal with it." Even on his way out, he still remembered to say, "Eat the spaghetti on the table. If you really don't have time, take the sandwich with you." The front door closed behind him. Sitting alone in the empty house, Celine felt utterly exhausted. She had heard it clearly just now. Lydia had been the one on the other end of the call. But she hadn't said a word. What was the point of saying any of it now? In just one more week, she would be gone. Celine left the breakfast untouched and didn't take the sandwich either. Remembering there were still things at the station she needed to hand over, she changed her clothes and was about to leave when a call from a colleague came in. "Ms. Fairmont, get here now. Your husband's in a fight!"