It turned out that this betrayal still hurt me deeply. No matter how much I prepared myself to let go, letting go still hurt so much that it was hard for me just to breathe.

My fingers reached for the necklace around my neck, touching the "proof of love" Evan had given me earlier.

Now, this proof of love only felt like a cruel joke.

Evan claimed he loved me, but his way of loving only made me sick.

His gentleness and thoughtfulness now felt like an elaborate facade. His so-called affection had turned into a web of deceit.

I would rather have nothing than endure this kind of love.

"The flight is at nine o'clock tomorrow night. We’ll arrange for a crash then. Be prepared."

I listened to the instructions on the phone. With a calm voice, I answered, "I’ll handle it."

Moments later, Evan entered the room, his face shadowed with concern. "Isla, who were you talking to?"

"The team arranged for me to go on a mission. I’ll be leaving tomorrow at nine in the evening."

"You’ve been so tired lately and you were even so busy today. Why don’t you take some time off? I can talk to the leader for you. We could rest together," Evan suggested out of concern.

I did not argue. I treated his offer as a final goodbye.

Looking at his gentle eyes, I could not help but think of the stranger I had seen in the surveillance camera.

***

Evan accompanied me to watch boring family dramas.

A scene about cheating was being played on TV and I asked nonchalantly, "Do men cheat just because of physical desire?"

"Love and sex aren’t the same thing. That woman is attractive, though. It’s no surprise the man couldn’t help himself," Evan answered casually.

"What about you?"

He froze for a moment, then stammered, "Of course, I’m different. My body and heart have always belonged to you."

I lowered my gaze, hiding the mockery in my eyes.

His phone buzzed, breaking the tension. The name "Violet" flashed on the screen.

Evan pressed the phone to silence it, but the ringing persisted.

I knew he was torn, struggling between staying with me, his devoted wife, or running to the woman he could not resist.

"If you have something to do, you should go. I have a flight at nine. I’ll be waiting."

Relief washed over his face as he hugged me tightly. "I’ll go and come back soon."

I watched Evan leave with a smile, but the curve of my lips never reached my eyes.