You're Out of My Life

Angela posted on Instagram.

"I'm looking for someone to marry. Kindly introduce me to any responsible bachelors you know."

Soon, the comments were filled with people eager for gossip. Some asked if she had gotten into a fight with Carl. A few told her that it was normal for a guy to flirt with other women and not to kick up a fuss about it. Or else, she would end up losing a good man because of her temper tantrums.

Some even questioned if she thought she was being fair to Carl by doing this.

These comments made Angela laugh. She'd been with Carl back when he was a nobody with nothing to his name. She accompanied him through the trials and tribulations as he started his own business.

Therefore, she could proudly proclaim with an easy conscience that she had been nothing but fair to him from the start.

Carl was the one who made an unreasonable request while disregarding their relationship that had lasted for over a decade.

It was time to make a clean break and have a fresh start.

When Angela's phone buzzed again, she assumed it was another one of Carl's friends messaging her to rebuke her.

To her shock, she got a message from her boss, Julian Fuller. She'd saved his contact as "The Cunning Businessman".

The Cunning Businessman: "You're looking for someone to marry?"

The Cunning Businessman: "I'll do it."

Angela froze. She'd forgotten to keep the post restricted from him.

The Cunning Businessman: "When's the wedding?"

Clutching her phone, Angela responded nervously, "In a month's time."

The Cunning Businessman: "That works for me."

Angela Thompson: "Are you being serious about this, boss?"

The Cunning Businessman: "Shall we register our marriage right away? Wait for me. I'll pick you up at your place in half an hour."

Angela hastily put a stop to that.

Angela Thompson: "I still have some things to settle, boss. It can wait a month. That'll give you time to think about it, too."

The Cunning Businessman: "I don't need to think about it. Let's get married in a month."

Angela remained in a daze as she stared at Julian's message.

Just then, she heard the sound of someone unlocking the front door.

Carl came in with a rather somber expression.

"Angela, let's cancel the wedding for now. Lucy is in a bad place right now. I don't want to have the wedding at a time like this. It'll trigger her."

Nodding calmly, Angela replied, "I see."

Carl was rather startled. "You're not going to make a fuss about it?"

"Why should I?"

"I thought you'd be upset about it. After all, we've been dating for over ten years now."

Angela snorted inwardly. What a mockery it was, alright. They'd been in a relationship for over a decade now, and yet, he could call off the wedding for the sake of Lucy, a complete outsider and his so-called best friend's widow.

Throughout all these years, Carl seemed to have grown accustomed to being the one who decided everything. As long as he made up his mind, Angela had no choice but to respect his decision and go along with it. She wasn't allowed to make any objections.

All along, she compromised on things that didn't go against her principles because she didn't want to argue with him. But this time, she wasn't going to tolerate it at all.

"Is she feeling any better?"

"She still needs someone to be with her at all times," Carl said. "When she's alone, she keeps having bad thoughts. It's best… if she has the child as soon as possible."

"Fine. You should spend more time with her, then."

"Looks like this argument of ours worked out for the best. You've become a lot more reasonable," Carl praised with a smile.

But he was wrong. Angela didn't become more reasonable. She simply gained clarity.

"I'm feeling lonely. Oh, I wish I'd find a lover that could hold me…"

Carl's phone started ringing, and Angela was taken aback. It was strange to see someone like Carl, who was rather masculine in an old-fashioned kind of way, using a popular love song as his ringtone.

And when he answered the call, he spoke with a level of gentleness that Angela had never been on the receiving end of.

"Lucy?"

That explained everything. The ringtone was specifically set for Lucy.

"What? Okay. I'll bring it over to you now."

Once Carl got off the phone, he grabbed his car keys and began rushing out of the house. He was already at the door before it occurred to him to explain things to Angela.

"Lucy left her clothes in my car. I'm taking it over to her now."

"What kind of clothes?"

Carl's expression became a little peculiar as he replied stammeringly, "I-It's just an ordinary piece of clothing. Anyway, I'm heading off now."