The Search for True Love... or Regret

My superior, Ted Wayne, was delighted that I wanted to accept the job.

"That's excellent news!" he exclaimed. "I'll make the necessary arrangements immediately. It'll take about a month for me to get the paperwork in order.

"In the meantime, you can go ahead and begin the handover process. Then, you can take a few days off and get everything in order before you head overseas."

After doing a quick calculation, I realized my transfer would take place right after the divorce was finalized.

"Alright, Mr. Wayne."

When Willow returned home, I was reading a book in bed. After she got out of the shower, she came over to me and tried to kiss me.

I tilted my head away from her, and the kiss landed on my chin instead.

Usually, I was the one who clung to her and showered her with physical affection. Willow rarely made the first move. Hence, she found it odd that I dodged her kiss.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

I cleared my throat. "I think I might be coming down with a cold. I don't want you to fall sick too."

"Oh, did you go through the document I signed earlier? Did everything look okay?" No longer feeling suspicious, she proceeded to change the topic.

I kept my eyes on my book and replied, "Everything looked okay."

"Okay then," she said as she lay down and shut her eyes.

I put down my book and turned off the lights before going to sleep.

…

I wasn't sure when I'd return to the country after I left. So, at night, I invited some of my friends out for drinks so I could bid them farewell. I ended up having a great time.

When I walked out of the establishment afterward, I ran into Willow. I recognized the man standing beside her immediately. It was Zachary Smith.

"What are you doing here?" Willow stared at me.

"I was out with my friends," I replied.

Without missing a beat, Zachary asked, "Who's this, Willow?"

Willow had an awkward look on her face. It seemed like she didn't know how to introduce me. She clearly didn't want Zachary to know that I was her husband.

Willow and I got married in secret. She had specifically requested that we keep everything private. Aside from our close friends and family, not many people were aware that we were a married couple. So, since Zachary had been overseas this entire time, he had no idea that Willow was married either.

I smiled at Zachary and said, "I'm Benjamin Gray, her coworker."

Willow instantly looked more relieved.

Zachary, on the other hand, took out his phone and asked for my number. "Please look after Willow for me. I'll make sure to treat you to a meal someday."

Willow Lockwood was my wife, yet another man was currently asking me to look after her on his behalf.

I found the entire ordeal pathetic and laughable.

Zachary seemed to have noticed the strange look on my face.

"Benjamin?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and recomposed myself. Then, I exchanged numbers with him.

"I'll be heading off then," I said before swiftly turning to leave.

The following day, I received a text from Willow while I was at work.

"It's our fourth wedding anniversary today. Let's go out for dinner."

I was slightly surprised that Willow remembered our wedding anniversary. I immediately texted her back.

"Okay. I'll get us a cake."

After I placed an order for the cake, I sent her another message.

"You're not going to cancel on me at the very last minute again, are you?"

After some time, she replied with a voice message.

"No way!" she yelled.

I laughed at how determined she sounded. Every time our anniversary rolled around, she'd either forget about the occasion or claim that she had something to tend to at the very last minute. She always had a reason for being absent.

After I got off work in the evening, I picked up the cake and headed straight to the restaurant.

Willow arrived shortly after. I ordered her favorites. She must've been hungry because she dug in immediately after the food arrived.

The last dish was a lamb stew. Willow loved lamb. She looked like she was enjoying the meal very much.

"Here, have some. It doesn't taste gamey at all," she said as she tried to feed me a piece of lamb.

Back then, if she remembered our wedding anniversary and suggested we have dinner to celebrate, I would've been ecstatic. I would've also been overjoyed if she spoon-fed me some of her food. In fact, I would've completely disregarded my lamb allergy and eaten the food she offered me anyway.

Unfortunately, things were no longer the way they used to be. Instead of feeling happy, I gently pushed her hand away. I didn't even tell her that I was allergic.

Upon noticing this, she asked, "You don't want any lamb?"

I was just about to respond when her phone began to ring.

"Don't worry. I'll be right there. Just stay where you are," she said after she picked up the call.

Likely feeling too anxious, she ended up bumping into the table when she got up. Her bowl fell from the table and shattered as it hit the floor.