After I Vanished, He Finally Realized What He Lost

Chapter 1

While I was enduring the unwelcome advances of a client, Linus Evans was off to the side, happily toasting with his assistant, a bright smile directed only at her. I drank glass after glass, trying to keep my composure, each sip feeling like I was drowning. Linus didn't even spare me a glance. He was too busy picking cilantro out of his assistant's bowl, gently coaxing her to eat, as if she were the only person in the room.

When the dinner finally ended and his assistant complained about how tiresome it had been, Linus tossed me out of the car without hesitation, eager to whisk her away to somewhere more exciting.

"The girl's been swamped with work lately. I'm taking her out to unwind," he said casually. "Besides, you wouldn't understand the younger crowd's scene, so don't tag along."

Then, as if it were an afterthought, he added, "Tonight's about making memories with her, so let's push our wedding registration to another day."

Five years into our engagement, this was the 99th time Linus had called off our registration without warning. I simply nodded. At this point, with his endless excuses, maybe there was no point in marrying at all.

From the half-lowered car window, Themis Turner stuck her tongue out in a playful apology. "Sorry, Naia! Linus just spoils me too much. When he gets back, I'll make sure he brings you something to eat!"

Before I could say anything, Linus chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Silly girl, just because you're a little glutton doesn't mean everyone else is, too."

He turned to me, his tone dismissive. "Don't mind her. And spare me your little acts, pretending to have some allergy or whatever. I don't have time for that."

So, he had noticed me struggling earlier. He assumed I was just putting on another jealous act.

In the past, I would have broken down, pleading my case and arguing with him. But this time, I held back, offering only a quiet, "Alright, have fun."

Linus paused, surprised for a moment, before slipping back into his usual teasing. "It's good you're not causing a scene."

The car sped off, and just before they disappeared from view, Linus lowered all the windows to make Themis more comfortable. I had always gotten car sick in his car, but he never allowed me to lower the windows. "With the wind blowing in, all the dust comes into the car. Can't you just stop being so picky?" he'd dismissively say.

A sudden clarity washed over me. I slipped off my engagement ring and threw it into the dark waters of the river.

The next morning, I arrived early at the orchestra to hand over my work. Since Linus had debuted as a piano prodigy, I had served as his manager.

"You're resigning? Does Linus know?" my boss asked, stunned.

"He'll find out when the new manager arrives."

With that, I left the office and stepped into the performance hall, where Linus, freshly showered and in a crisp new shirt, was adjusting his wrist. He looked down at me, explaining, "I drank a lot last night, so I rented a room to rest. That's why I didn't come home."

For the first time in ten years, Linus took the initiative to explain himself. I merely nodded, offering no response.

"Was there something urgent this morning?" he asked.

Looking up at him, memories flooded back, of all those mornings I'd woken at dawn, tirelessly preparing hangover soup and soothing dishes for him after every dinner event. I had done it since he debuted at eighteen. No wonder he seemed puzzled when he found nothing laid out for him this morning.

I simply nodded. "Something like that."

As I turned to leave, Linus's brow furrowed and he caught my hand, a dark look in his eyes. "Naia, cut this nonsense."

"It's just a rescheduled date for the marriage registration, not a cancellation. This fuss is getting old!"