He Canceled Our Ring to Buy Her a Bag, and I’m the One Who Looks Foolish Chapter 04
Ryan came home at one in the morning.
He smelled of alcohol and of the gardenia perfume Lily always wore.
When he saw the suitcase by the entryway, he stopped short.
“Why are you packing?”
I pulled the zipper shut.
“There’s a photography project.”
Ryan frowned.
“Why are you running off for a shoot right before the wedding?”
He sounded as if this were only natural, as though for the next two weeks, my entire life should revolve around the wedding, the new home, and him.
I did not explain.
Ryan stared at me for a while, then his tone suddenly softened.
“Evelyn, I was wrong today.”
“Lily is leaving on a business trip tomorrow. I just had dinner with her.”
“Stop overthinking everything.”
As he spoke, he took a box from his pocket and set it in front of me.
“For you.”
I opened it.
Inside was a simple ring-pendant necklace.
It was thin and ordinary.
The tag was still attached.
The price was $99.99.
Ryan leaned back against the sofa and rubbed his brow.
“I’ll buy the ring again when things calm down.”
“Be good. Don’t make me so tired.”
Be good.
For four years, that was what he liked most about me.
I was good enough not to ask why he went to pick up Lily in the middle of the night.
Good enough to watch our new home be changed beyond recognition and still clean up someone else’s cat hair.
But all of a sudden, I did not want to be good anymore.
I closed the necklace box and put it back on the table.
“It’s late. Go to sleep.”
Ryan seemed relieved.
He probably thought this was over again.
Just like countless times before.
As long as he gave me one small scrap of affection, I would swallow my hurt on my own.
He did not know that some people do not argue before they leave, because there is already nothing left in their hearts.
I went back to the bedroom just as my phone screen lit up.
It was Daniel.
Daniel: [Of course it does.]
Daniel: [Evelyn, someone with your talent should never have been trapped at home in the first place.]
Daniel: [Iceland is ready for you whenever you are.]
I stared at those lines, and my eyes suddenly burned.
Not because of Ryan, but because it had been too long since anyone remembered that I used to be a photographer, too.
I opened the airline app.
For flights to Iceland over the next few days, there was only one business-class seat left, departing in two hours.
Four thousand dollars.
I looked at that number and hesitated for a long time.
It was too expensive.
Ever since I was little, I rarely bought myself anything that expensive.
Even my bridal manicure had been done with a Groupon.
Even for my own birthday gifts, I could never bring myself to choose anything over fifty dollars.
But the next second, I suddenly remembered.
Every time Ryan took Lily on a trip, he booked business class.
He said girls got tired sitting in economy on long-haul flights.
He said Lily’s lower back was bad and she should not have to suffer.
So he understood all of it.
I simply had never been worth it.
I closed my eyes and hit pay.
The bank notification popped up.
Payment successful: $4,000.
I looked at the screen and suddenly gave a very soft laugh.
It turned out the money for a wedding ring could also buy a ticket to freedom.
I did not hesitate again.
I picked up my suitcase and quietly closed the door behind me.
By the time I reached the airport, boarding announcements had already begun.
I sat down by the window, and my phone screen lit up.
It was an iMessage from Ryan.
Ryan: [Where did you go?]
Ryan: [The light at Lily’s place is broken. She’s scared alone, so I’m going over to take a look.]
Ryan: [I’ll be back in half an hour at most. Don’t start overthinking again.]
I looked at those lines, and they suddenly felt very far away, so far away they seemed like messages from a stranger.
The plane began to taxi.
I pulled out my SIM card, snapped it in half, and put it into the trash bag the flight attendant handed me.
The divorce agreement was already on Ryan’s desk.
As for where he went tonight, or what light he fixed for Lily, none of it had anything to do with me anymore.
