After I Vanished, He Finally Realized What He Lost

Chapter 3

"Naia, where's your ring?!"

"Please don't tell me you left it at home!"

I understood exactly why Linus's reaction was so intense. In our eight years of marriage, my wedding ring had never once left my finger. Yet, his ring had never been worn outside. With everything that had happened earlier, I could see a trace of anxiety flicker in his eyes. He gripped my hand tightly, staring deep into my soul.

"Answer me!"

Just as I was about to speak the truth, Themis let out a sudden scream, her tears flowing freely. "Ouch! It hurts so much, Linus!"

The crowd turned at the sound, and they quickly spotted Themis collapsed on the floor by the grand piano, blood dripping from her palm. Linus pushed me aside, rushing to her side and cradling her in his arms.

"How could you be so careless?"

Tears streamed down Themis's face as she buried herself in Linus's embrace, throwing me a few fearful, pitiful glances.

"I don't know. Naia was supposed to check everything last night. I don't understand why there's such a big piece of broken glass on the piano cover," she said, her voice trembling. "Linus, it really hurts so much."

Linus's eyes locked onto the blood-stained glass shard on the piano lid, his expression shifting to one of visible anger. Without a word, he turned to me, his voice booming.

"Naia, have your schemes really gone this far? Hurting someone else?!"

Ignoring the disdainful stares directed at me, I stepped toward them, trying to stay calm. "It wasn't me."

He shot back, "If it wasn't you, then who else could it be? Everyone in the orchestra knows how possessive you are. You always personally inspect my piano, don't you?"

After scolding me, Linus grabbed a small ceramic figurine from beside the piano and smashed it onto the floor. In one swift move, he grabbed my hand and pressed it down onto the scattered shards.

My hands instantly turned red, blood mingling with the sharp ceramic pieces cutting into my skin.

"This is the lesson I'm giving you! No one else is allowed to help her clean up!" he shouted. "I expect you to think this through, Naia. When you've reflected on it, come and apologize."

With that, he lifted Themis into his arms and stormed off without looking back.

My eyes burned with unshed tears, my vision swimming. Drops of water fell, one by one, onto the broken ceramic pieces. The cuts stung, but the heartache felt far more suffocating.

The two small figures on the shattered figurine lay in pieces, revealing a talisman pouch tucked inside. That figurine had been a treasured commission from a church, a symbol of Linus's love when he proposed to me.

Back then, his eyes had been full of devotion as he looked at me and declared, "Naia, I vow before God that we'll be together for life."

But now, he was the one who had broken that vow.

With a mix of sadness and resolve, I gathered the broken remnants, along with my memories and any lingering attachment, and tossed them into the trash.

As I passed through the main hall, I noticed Linus had just finished his performance. The applause echoed through the auditorium like a thunderstorm, and he radiated happiness as he descended the stage, Themis's hand in his, both of them taking a graceful bow.

This triumphant moment was one Linus had experienced countless times in his artistic journey.

Not long ago, I overheard the boss say, "Naia has devoted so much to supporting you as your manager. You two are partners, married. Why not invite her to share this moment on stage just once?"