Chapter 23
Anthea agreed.
But in the photograph, they stood far apart from each other, the space between them like an unbridgeable chasm.
She wouldn’t come closer, and he couldn’t cross over to her.
The photographer jokingly remarked that they didn’t look like a couple having a photoshoot–rather like a divorced pair capturing one final goodbye.
Lance’s lips curved in a bitter smile. Wasn’t that exactly what they were?
On Anthea’s last night in New York, Lance unexpectedly handed her a newly drafted divorce
settlement.
“When I signed the original papers, I wasn’t thinking clearly,” he explained. “Many of the terms weren’t properly written. I want to do this right–let’s sign a proper divorce agreement.”
Anthea bit her lip before finally accepting the document.
In truth, her only goal the first time around had been escaping him, allowing him to be with Hedy.
She’d walked away with nothing–a clean break.
This new agreement included numerous provisions heavily tilted in her favor.
The financial settlement alone totaled over a billion dollars, not to mention the properties and vehicles he’d insisted on adding.
She stared at the papers for a long while before asking softly, “Do I really have to sign it?”
“Sign it,” he said quietly. “If you don’t, I’ll find a way to give it all to you anyway. And honestly? Your signature might ease my guilt a little.”
Held the pen in her hand, Anthea finally signed her name at the bottom of the agreement.
On the day of her departure, the weather was perfect.
ect: This Time I Choose to Let Go
17.3%
Chapter 23
Throughout the airport, travelers bid farewell to loved ones with smiles on their faces, secure in the knowledge they would meet again.
Only Lance and Anthea stood without even a hint of a smile.
“Will you… ever come back?” Lance asked.
Though he already knew the answer, he still clung to a sliver of hope.
Maybe she would. After all, she’d spent over twenty years here, created countless beautiful memories beyond just those with him. Surely she’d feel nostalgic someday, want to return to see it all again.
But Anthea was determined to disappoint him. “No. Home is wherever my parents are now.”
At her words, the light in Lance’s eyes instantly dimmed, but he still couldn’t give up.
“What about me? Could I visit you instead?”
Even if just to see her from a distance.
This time Anthea didn’t speak. She simply gazed at him silently, her answer painfully obvious.
“Heh…”
Lance lowered his head with a hollow laugh. He should have known.
After everything he’d done to her, her not hating him was already the best outcome he could hope for. How could he possibly expect the privilege of seeing her again?
The announcement for her flight to London began playing over the speakers.
Anthea said a quiet goodbye and turned toward the gate.
The realization hit her then–his kindness toward her had never been love. It was just obligation born of their families‘ friendship, just his innate good manners, just the fact that he was, fundamentally, a decent person.
Panic flooded Lance’s eyes. He lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her waist. “I was wrong, so wrong. Please, don’t go…”
17.6%
Chapter 23
Anthea looked down at the hands encircling her waist and spoke softly, “Lance, there’s no medicine for regret in this world.”
“No matter how much you regret it now, we can’t go back. We can only move forward.”
The hands that had finally held her tight reluctantly loosened.
Lance watched helplessly as the woman he loved, the woman who had once loved him–disappeared through the gate.
Unable to contain his anguish any longer, the pain in his heart tore through his nerves, and blood suddenly burst from his mouth!
Amid passengers‘ screams, Lance collapsed to the floor.
This time, there was no one who loved him rushing frantically to his side.
In the hospital, doctors gently advised him to rest, but Lance could tell from Fred and Hosea’s tearful whispers outside his door that he didn’t have much time left.
He wasn’t surprised.
During the period after Anthea had left him, he’d spent his days chain–smoking and drinking himself into oblivion.
That he’d survived this long was already a blessing.
But he said nothing about his condition, simply gazing at Anthea’s latest Instagram post.
In the photo, she stood embracing her parents, all three smiling brightly at the camera.
Her caption read: [Hope we can live happily ever after.]
Lance smiled to himself and whispered. “Anthea, I hope you’ll be happy forever.”
Just without me in your rest life.
(1)
