Chapter 2 She Might Be Leaving

• Raiden headed straight home, an uncommon occurrence during his usual working hours. There was no more trace of Isabelle left in the immaculately cleaned house, except for the divorce papers on the coffee table, which were scattered by a gust of wind.
• He went over and picked it up. The agreement was simple; she didn't ask for anything. Everything after their divorce would remain the same as before they were married. Her signature was already on the document; her handwriting was beautiful, elegant, and artistic.
• His gaze fixated on her signature, lost in contemplation. Time slipped away unnoticed until the creaking of the door broke his reverie. Startled, he turned his head toward the door.
• Ellie had just entered, her arrival coinciding with Raiden's sudden movement. "What's the matter?" she inquired with a puzzled look, observing the initial anticipation on his face transforming into calmness.
• "Nothing," he replied impassively. "Why are you here?"
• "I was worried that Isabelle would be bored alone at home, so I came to keep her company," Ellie explained, smiling as she approached. "Why did you return home unexpectedly today? Is there something wrong with Isabelle?" she asked, her brows furrowing with concern as she turned to look at one of the rooms.
• "She's fine," Raiden replied, looking at her. "Do you come here often?"
• "Not really, just once in a while," she said, her face showing awkward embarrassment. As soon as she said that, she noticed that he wrinkled his brow. Feeling guilty, she redirected the conversation to the document in his hand. "What's this?" she asked while reaching out in an attempt to grab it.
• However, before her fingertips could touch the document, he pinned it down on the coffee table.
• "It's nothing," Raiden replied, looking at Ellie. "If there's nothing, you don't need to come over. Isabelle is busy with her work. We'll go back to see you when we're free."
• "What work could…" she wanted to ask what work Isabelle could be busy with, but she quickly changed her mind at the last moment. "Okay." Then, she couldn't help but remind him, "Isabelle has been recuperating for over a year now, but there's still no news of her getting pregnant. Could it be due to some underlying health issues from back then? You should have her go to the hospital for a checkup in case she can't conceive."
• "It's me who doesn't want to have children," he replied.
• Ellie looked at Raiden in astonishment.
• He showed her the door, saying, "You can go back now. Don't come over again unless it's necessary."
• His mother parted her lips, wanting to protest against it, yet she faltered under his cold stare, then turned and left.
• Raiden watched the door close and looked around the house, which no longer bore any traces of Isabelle's life. Letting out a heavy breath, he took out his phone and called his assistant Stefan. "Stefan, schedule an appointment for me with Mr. Carter to deal with my divorce," he instructed.
• "Huh?" Stefan was stunned, thinking, Didn't he have me take his wife to the bookstore just yesterday? They didn't seem like they were falling out, did they?
• Raiden hung up the phone. After tossing the divorce papers in hand onto the coffee table, he turned and went out the door.
• …
• Isabelle moved back to her small house in the suburbs, which she had bought before her marriage. It wasn't spacious, just big enough for her to live alone. However, it was in this tiny space that she and Raiden had a one-night stand that resulted in her pregnancy, which became the reason they were forced into a relationship.
• That night, Isabelle couldn't resist her best friend Andrea Mccoy's pleading and attended a high school reunion with her. To her astonishment, Raiden, who had never been known to participate in such gatherings, was also in attendance.
• After graduating from high school, she and Raiden had completely lost contact with one another. Neither of them had joined any group chats or attended any reunions; they were like passersby in each other's lives, briefly crossing paths with one another before disappearing into their respective worlds. That being said, he had disappeared more thoroughly. No one knew where he had gone or what he had been doing. Despite her occasional attempts to inquire from her high school classmates, there was no information related to him.
• Hence, upon seeing the man, who had been missing for several years, Isabelle was both surprised and nervous. The love she hadn't dared to express in her youth stirred in her chest, but she never found the courage to confess her feelings. Even when she was talking to him, she became reserved and polite, especially since he was sitting next to her. Their proximity only magnified her self-consciousness. She was nervous deep down but was afraid of showing it, so she tried to conceal her unease by eating and drinking. Before she realized it, she had ended up drinking more than she had intended.
• At the end of the gathering, Raiden volunteered to give her a ride home, perhaps because they were seated together back in class.
• Isabelle lived alone and was drunk, though not to the point of losing consciousness. Still, her balance was affected under the influence of alcohol. As soon as she entered her small one-room apartment, she tripped over her shoes left at the door.
• Just as she was about to fall, Raiden swiftly reached out and caught her, pulling her into his arms. At the time, the lights were still off, and both of them had had a few drinks. She didn't know if it was the alcohol or the darkness of night. Still, the moment their eyes locked, they suddenly found themselves unable to take their eyes off each other. A man and a woman alone in the dead of night, both drunk, and the man was someone she had had a crush on for years. Consequently, their breaths drew closer and closer, their eyes glued to each other…
• She wasn't the kind of woman who was easily swayed; she had never had a boyfriend before. Nevertheless, she was swept away by the tenderness and intensity in his gaze. Those were the eyes and the man she had fantasized about countless times.
• That night, they gave in to their desires, inexperienced yet incredibly passionate. Isabelle was surprised to find that Raiden was just as inexperienced as she was in both relationships and intimacy. Given his family background and looks, it seemed impossible for him to be single.
• However, after two years of interactions, she began to understand why he had remained single. A man who was obsessed with his work had neither the energy nor the time for romance, and his strict upbringing also made him accustomed to a clean and disciplined lifestyle.
• That night was likely the only unforeseen event in his life, just as it was for her.
• Isabelle already had her life all planned out. She had majored in architectural design at university, possessed talent and abilities, and was in the process of applying to the Architecture Department at Zurich Federal Institute of Technology. However, the unexpected turn of events on that fateful night disrupted all her plans. She had never anticipated becoming pregnant.
• They didn't use any protection that night, and because of their debauchery, they woke up late the next day. She had an interview and thus didn't have time to go to the drugstore to buy emergency pills. She had clung to the hope that it was safe during her supposed safe period, only to discover she was pregnant. When she found out about her pregnancy, she was at a loss for what to do. However, Raiden suggested that they get married and give birth to the baby.
• It had only been half a month since that particular night, and they hadn't contacted each other. She didn't plan to let him know about it, but as luck would have it, she ran into him at the hospital where he was visiting his grandfather.
• Isabelle felt embarrassed and wanted to hide the test results, but it was too late; he caught a glimpse of the HCG report she had hidden behind her back. So, he extended his hand to her, saying, "Let me take a look."
• It was a straightforward and calm request, but it carried an air that brooked no refusal.
• She hesitated before handing him the test results.
• Raiden stared at the report in silence for a while before asking Isabelle, "What do you plan to do?"
• She shook her head in confusion. She didn't know what to do; she had never considered the possibility of her getting pregnant. This pregnancy had upset her entire plan for her life.
• "I'm more inclined to get married and have the baby," he said. "But the final decision is up to you. If you don't want to, I won't force you."
• "Get married?" She was stunned. She thought the man was joking.
• However, he replied with a slight nod, "I'm serious about it."
• He gave her two days to think it over.
• Isabelle had loved Raiden for so many years, but she had never imagined that one day he would say to her, "Let's get married." She considered it for two days in a conflicting mix of confusion and longing. After that, she asked him out, saying to him, "Well then… let's get married."
• Just like when they divorced, he nodded and replied calmly, "Okay."
• On the third day after that, they obtained their marriage certificate. It seemed absurd and yet logical.
• However, Isabelle didn't realize that she wasn't meant to have the baby. Her marriage to Raiden didn't last beyond the third year, either. It had commenced hastily and concluded abruptly.
• These two years felt like a dream to her. Looking at the familiar surroundings in her home, she felt a deep void inside, a profound sadness.
• Isabelle had nearly tripped over her shoes that night, and the way Raiden stared at her as he reached out to catch her kept replaying in her mind. She vividly remembered the intent look and fluctuating emotions in his dark eyes; even now, her heart would flutter at the memory. She had thought it was love—like her, he had loved her in secret for years, hence their sexual encounter that night. But as it turned out, he was just a bit drunk, too. Her heart ached with dull pain at the realization.
• She remembered having accompanied him back to his home several days ago when she passed by the study and accidentally overheard an argument between him and his father, William Galloway. "Back when your grandpa was seriously ill, he cared about you and hoped to see you get married before he passed away. You didn't want him to die with regrets either, so you hastily brought Isabelle home. Since she happened to be pregnant with your baby, I didn't say anything back then and let your grandpa pass away in relief. But it's been two years now, and fate had other plans for that baby. Are you still going to spend the rest of your life with her like this?" William reproached Raiden.
• "I have my own considerations. You stay out of this," Raiden replied.
• "What do you mean by telling me to stay out of this? How can I stay out of this? They say drinking leads to mistakes. Just look at yourself. You refused to have a girlfriend all this time because of Lola. Yet, you let that woman take advantage of you because you attended some lousy high school reunion—"
• "Dad!" Raiden interrupted him abruptly, his voice icy. "It was my fault. It had nothing to do with Isabelle."
• William replied, "Okay, okay, I won't talk about her. Every time she's mentioned, you just defend her. Let me ask you this: if Lola comes back, what are you going to do? Don't forget that you're engaged to her."
• "She'll never come back."
• Isabelle noticed that Raiden's voice had softened as he spoke. It was one of the rare occasions when she could detect other emotions beneath his usual calm demeanor. Apparently, the girl named Lola Robinson held a special place in his heart.
• This was the first time Isabelle had heard Lola's name, and she was stunned for a moment. Isabelle couldn't quite describe how she felt. She just felt confused all of a sudden, but she wasn't repulsed or averse to the name. Strangely, the name evoked a subtle feeling of closeness within her.
• Isabelle didn't bother to find out who Lola was since it wasn't necessary. The problems between Isabelle and Raiden weren't caused by someone else; she just happened to appear at a time when he urgently needed a marriage to comfort his grandfather. Now that both his grandfather and the child he had to take responsibility for were gone, there was no need for them to be bound together for life anymore.
• She knew that as long as she didn't say anything, he probably wouldn't bring up the subject of divorce. He would continue the way they were, living with her peacefully for the rest of his life. However, she didn't want to go on like this anymore. This wasn't the married life she desired. She wanted a husband whom she loved and who loved her in return. He didn't need to be wealthy, but he should be warm and supportive; he should understand her and be able to lead a cozy and fulfilling life with her. She didn't want a man who had someone else in his heart and treated her as a responsibility. That was why she initiated the divorce, a thought that had been lingering in her mind for half a year.
• Just as Isabelle had anticipated, Raiden let go of her without hesitation. She thought, He's probably relieved.
• The dull pain in her chest persisted. She placed her hand on her chest, surveying the small space that had once been filled with her expectations. She was feeling more and more upset, but there was a vague feeling of resignation, a quiet acceptance of letting go.
• After a long while, she took out her phone and called the real estate agent through whom she had bought the house. "Hi, I'd like to sell my house in Hillview Bay. Can you help me with that?"
• The real estate agent still remembered Isabelle, whose young age, beautiful appearance, warm and gentle demeanor, and good temper left a deep impression on him. "No problem, of course," he agreed readily. "Miss, are you planning to upgrade to a bigger house?"
• "Not really." She smiled, bringing the topic to a close. "Thank you for your help, then."
• …
• Two days later, Stefan happened to come across the listing of Isabelle's house while browsing online for a new place. He had been contemplating the idea of relocating closer to his workplace, prompting his online search for available houses nearby. Her neighborhood, conveniently situated near Raiden's office, promptly surfaced in his search results.
• Back when Raiden and Isabelle got married, Stefan had been assigned to help her move. The clean and elegantly decorated interior of her house left a lasting impression on Stefan, so he recognized it immediately. In an instant, he was stunned. He couldn't help but glance toward Raiden in his office.
• Raiden had asked Stefan to help with the divorce procedure, so he was aware of Raiden and Isabelle's divorce. In his memory, their relationship had been quite stable. Although they weren't as lovey-dovey as other young married couples, they weren't an unhappy couple, and the issues between them didn't seem serious enough to warrant a divorce. So, he couldn't fathom why they had suddenly decided to end their marriage.
• In the past few days, Raiden hadn't displayed the despondence typical of a divorced man. Except for that one unprecedented incident where he left a meeting abruptly, he seemed no different than usual. If anything seemed amiss, it was that he had been spending more time at the office, almost treating it like his home. Moreover, his demands at work had become stricter. Wherever he went, everyone felt as though they were walking on thin ice, and the whole office building was filled with a tense atmosphere where everyone felt insecure.
• Stefan couldn't shake the feeling that Raiden had more or less been affected by the divorce. He wondered if the young couple had been having a disagreement. He hesitated whether to let Raiden know about Isabelle's listing of the house. To Stefan, selling the house was tantamount to leaving. There might still be a chance to mend their relationship if she stayed, but if she left, that possibility would vanish. He didn't want to continue working in this oppressive atmosphere. At that moment, he found himself lost in this dilemma.
• Suddenly, Raiden's gaze turned away from the laptop screen and landed on Stefan. "Is there something you want to tell me about?"
• Stefan was startled. "N-Nothing," he replied.
• "Then, why did you keep staring at me?"
• "I, uh…" Stefan was hesitant.
• "Just spit it out," Raiden urged.
• Stefan gritted his teeth and turned his phone's screen toward the man. "Isabelle seems to be selling her house. She might be leaving."
• He noticed that Raiden's hand, which had been resting on the mouse, paused at once. He thought the man might say something, but to his surprise, Raiden indifferently turned his gaze back to the laptop screen. "So?" Raiden asked calmly and indifferently in reply.