Five days before my departure, I submitted my resignation to the school. Back then, to be with Wendy, I'd rejected Professor Kelley's offer to conduct research with him. Instead, I chose to become a schoolteacher.

My colleagues were startled by my resignation.

"Why are you resigning, Mr. Hill?" one of them asked. "You were handing out your wedding invitations a while back. Could it be that you've decided to become a househusband? Your future wife sure is lucky."

Holding my things, I chuckled and said, "No. Actually, the wedding has been canceled."

…

As soon as I opened the door of my house, I saw Harvey and Wendy, whom I hadn't seen in a week.

When Wendy saw the things I was carrying, she asked out of habit, "What are those things you have with you?"

I brushed her off with an excuse. "It's just some stuff I don't need anymore, so I brought them back."

Nodding, Wendy looked around the house before asking doubtfully, "I was only gone for a week, but why does it feel like the house is now a lot emptier?"

I set my box of things down in the bedroom before calmly replying, "I just got rid of some unnecessary clutter."

Wendy opened her mouth to speak, but Harvey beat her to it.

"Wendy put a lot of effort into going on this trip with me, Nate. I also have to thank you for allowing her to fulfill a dream of mine by having a wedding photoshoot with me. How's this? Let me treat you guys to a meal to thank you for looking out for me. I'm afraid I'll have to continue troubling you for some time. I hope you won't mind my presence, Nate."

Judging from the goading look in his eyes, I deduced that he was getting antsy. After all, I'd shown no reaction at all since the day I received Wendy's pregnancy report. I didn't even confront Wendy about it.

Needless to say, I wasn't keen on engaging in such pointless fights with Harvey. In five days, I'd be out of Wendy's life for good. All I wanted to do now was get everything settled here in Rockshire so that I could leave in peace.

My silence led to Harvey asking hesitantly, "Wendy, is Nate upset? After all, you two are about to get married, but…"

Hearing that, Wendy immediately frowned and reprimanded me in displeasure.

"What's with that attitude? Harvey is sincere about wanting to thank us! It's just a meal. It's not like anyone's going to poison you. You're going. A grown man like you shouldn't be engaging in such petty jealousy."

I hadn't even said a word, but Wendy was already making me the bad guy. In the end, she succeeded in dragging me out.

At the restaurant, the server asked us for our order. I'd only just opened the menu when I heard Wendy say, "Keep everything low sodium and lightly seasoned, and make sure the chef doesn't put chives in anything."

Once the food arrived, Wendy attentively served some food onto Harvey's plate before shoving a large platter of shrimp over to me.

"Harvey can't have seafood. I got this for you."

Staring at the platter of shrimp, I lost all my appetite. I set my cutlery down and said, "I'm allergic to seafood."

What a joke this was.

We'd been dating for five years, yet Wendy was oblivious to my seafood allergy. On the other hand, she knew Harvey's dietary requirements like the back of her hand. She even remembered minor details like his dislike for chives.

Evidently, my seafood allergy was new information to Wendy, whose eyes went blank for a moment. When she finally looked at me again, there was a tinge of guilt in her gaze. She ordered a few more things for the table, but I never picked up my cutlery again. Instead, I merely sipped my water throughout the entire meal.

We were walking down the steps leading out of the restaurant when I got Gemma's call.

"Nathan, Professor Kelley wants me to confirm whether you're serious about sticking to the research's projected schedule. Our first research involves a confidential project. You might not be able to have any contact with the outside world for a year or two."

My gaze fell on Wendy and Harvey, who were walking shoulder-to-shoulder ahead of me. As Wendy went down the steps, she instinctively supported her abdomen with one hand.

My tone was even as I replied to Gemma, "I'm sure about it."

Relieved, Gemma said, "That's good to hear. Professor Kelley was afraid you wouldn't bear to part with your future wife."

I withdrew my gaze and started heading off toward the other side, all the while telling Gemma, "The wedding has been called off. I've already made all my preparations to leave."

As soon as I said that, I heard a puzzled voice ringing out behind me.

"Who's leaving?"

Wendy, who had just escorted Harvey to the car, overheard the last few words I said. Sensing that she didn't hear the first half, I gave her a made-up story.

"My friend's leaving Rockshire soon."

Wendy nodded and didn't bother asking any further.

…

Four days before my departure, Wendy brought back the photos from her wedding photoshoot with Harvey. Holding her phone up with one hand, she got Harvey on a video call and proceeded to show him the framed photo with a blissful smile on her face.

"Our wedding photos are ready, Harvey. When I went to pick them up, the staff said the photos came out really well."

That was precisely the sentence I heard when I happened to head toward the kitchen for some water.

Eyes flickering with awkwardness, Wendy looked at me as if she wanted to say something. I glanced at the photo and remarked with a straight face, "The photo does look pretty good."

Wendy was dumbfounded. It abruptly occurred to her that it'd been ages since I last initiated a proper conversation with her. I didn't even send her a single text when she went on a week-long trip with Harvey.

She wasn't used to this.

Harvey was still chattering away over the video call, so Wendy shook her head and brushed it off, thinking that I was just too tired from all the wedding planning.

…

Two days before my departure, I realized that I'd have to bring all the things I might need with me when I moved into the research lab. I also needed to get a supply of commonly used medication, so I dropped by the hospital pharmacy to get some.

I didn't expect to run into Wendy and Harvey, who were coming out of a prenatal examination.

Wendy wanted to speak, but Harvey spoke up first. He came up to me and got on his knees, saying, "Nate, I know you still haven't agreed to let Wendy get pregnant, but I can't wait any longer. My doctor says I'll only have a year left to live at most, and I want to witness the birth of my child.

"Once the baby is born, I'll leave and take the baby with me right away. It won't affect your relationship with Wendy at all."

I didn't even get to say anything before Wendy pulled Harvey back onto his feet with a look of tender concern.

"You can't strain your body like that. You're already in frail health!"

Then, she turned to me and said, "Well, since you know about it now, I won't try to hide it from you anymore. Don't worry. I'm still in my first trimester, so it won't affect our wedding."

If the old me from a month ago heard this, I would've felt a swirl of fury and anguish. I would've had an emotional breakdown and started doubting myself. I would try to figure out how I'd failed as a boyfriend and a fiance, which led to Wendy willingly getting pregnant with another man's child.

But after I'd gone through everything this past month, the truth dawned on me. I hadn't been inadequate in any way. Wendy simply didn't love me. That was why she could do something like that without any concern for my feelings about it.

I'd long since been made aware of Wendy's pregnancy, and I'd already given up on my feelings for her. They didn't have to act as though I were the evil villain separating two star-crossed lovers.

Eyeing them coolly, I simply said, "I got it."

Then, I walked off with the medication I came for. I was leaving Rockshire very soon, but I still needed to organize my luggage.

Clearly, Wendy and Harvey didn't expect me to remain this calm, especially Wendy. She had mixed emotions as she watched me leave.

I'd spent an entire month arguing with her over the pregnancy, but I showed no reaction at all upon finding out that she was pregnant. For some reason, it made her feel uneasy.

When I reached the stairs, Harvey ran up to me and caught my sleeve. As Wendy was still some distance away, he finally revealed his true colors to me.

"How does it feel, Nathan? Your future wife is about to marry you while pregnant with another man's child, but I guess you'll just have to put up with it."

Not wanting to waste time on a meaningless fight with him, I wanted to shake him off so that I could leave. However, I'd only just started moving my hand when he began veering dangerously over the stairs. I had to catch him instinctively to stop him from falling down.

Before I could release Harvey, a furious voice rang out from behind.

"What are you doing?" Wendy snapped accusingly.

At Wendy's arrival, Harvey immediately put on a hurt expression and said, "Wendy, all I wanted to do was thank Nate for being so gracious. Who would've thought that he'd…"

Wendy's expression turned stormy.

"Nathan Hill! I never pegged you for someone who'd be capable of doing something like that! Apologize to Harvey at once!"

The fact that Wendy didn't even bother to get her record straight before accusing me made me scoff in anger.

"You want me to apologize? Go and check the security footage for yourself and see whether it's me or him who has to apologize to the other!"

I didn't think Wendy would assume I wanted to push Harvey down the stairs before she even checked the security footage.

"Harvey's sick! Why would he try to cause any harm to himself on purpose?"

Harvey's eyes flashed with panic.

"Let's forget about it, Wendy. It's understandable for Nate to be upset with me. Let's just go."

Wendy refused to let up.

"Nope. He has to apologize to you today!"

I refused to apologize, of course. I wasn't going to admit to something I didn't do.

Harvey was worried that if this continued, Wendy would actually check the security footage, which would expose what he'd tried to do. Thus, he started clutching his stomach and saying that he felt unwell.

Wendy's rage immediately morphed into concern as she quickly took Harvey away to get a doctor.

As I watched them leave, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming wave of sorrow envelop me.

I'd spent over two decades by Wendy's side, and we'd been in a relationship for five of those years. But none of that earned me even an ounce of her trust. Thankfully, I'd awakened to reality and managed to extract myself from this relationship before it was too late.

…

It was the day before I left Rockshire. Wendy didn't come back to the house. I figured she was busy looking after the "sick" Harvey.

I had all my luggage shipped to the research lab beforehand, leaving only a backpack to take with me.

That night, Wendy showed up, looking as angry as she was before.

"Harvey is still in the hospital right now. He's sick! Can't you be more understanding and gracious? Why are you being so petty and calculative?"

Gracious and understanding? I was pretty sure I'd been acting like a saint. I'd allowed Harvey to take a wedding photoshoot with the suit and photographer I'd prepared for myself. I'd allowed the woman who was supposed to be my wife to bear his child.

And now, I was even giving him my place beside Wendy.

Meanwhile, Wendy's expression eased up when she noticed the date on the calendar marked with a bold red circle.

"Whatever. We're getting married tomorrow, so I don't want to fight. You can apologize to Harvey after the wedding, and then we'll go on our honeymoon."

I said nothing.

If Wendy bothered to pay even the slightest bit of attention, she would've noticed that the house was devoid of anything related to the wedding.

"Let's…"

I'd barely begun telling Wendy the truth when her phone rang. Harvey's voice came through the speaker, and Wendy immediately looked anxious.

"Hang on. I'll be right here," she said before ending the call and dashing for the door.

"Harvey's feeling unwell. I'm going to check on him. I'll be back in time for the wedding ceremony. Wait for me at the hotel tomorrow morning."

It was only after the door had shut that I finished the sentence I meant to say earlier.

"Let's break up, Wendy. I canceled the wedding."

My voice echoed in the empty house. The only answer I got was the clock ticking away on the wall.

I sat in the living room until dawn, watching as the night sky turned bright once more. My phone buzzed, reminding me it was three hours till my flight boarding time.

Striding toward the bedroom, I retrieved the backpack I'd prepared. Then, I got a marker and crossed out the date that had been circled on the calendar.

Beneath it, I wrote, "Let's break up, Wendy."

After placing the calendar in the most prominent spot in the house, I pulled on my backpack and got a cab to the airport.

This was goodbye, Wendy.