When Love Fades

On the way home after being bailed out of the police station by Camille, I filed for a divorce.

“Charlie, there must be a limit to willfulness.”

I looked at Camille who was concentrating on driving and suddenly laughed.

“I have thought it through. Camille…” I turned my head to her, my eyes firm. “Let’s go our own way.”

——

The Maserati stopped on the side of the road. The atmosphere in the car dropped to freezing point.

“Reason.” Camille held the steering wheel, her voice as cold as ice. “Give me a reason on why you did this.”

I looked at Camille and suddenly felt quite boring. I lowered the window and pointed at the car that had been secretly following us in the rearview mirror.

“You’ll get the answer within ten seconds. Someone will come to you soon.”

I counted down confidently.

“Ten.”

“Nine.”

“Eight.”

Before I could get to seven, a figure had already gotten out of the Porsche behind and the man came up with red eyes.

“Charlie, I really didn’t mean it today. I was asked to get the clothes because I had to accompany Camille to the dinner. I didn’t know you were sleeping at home and I didn’t know you would call the police.”

He continued, “This matter is my fault after all. Please don’t quarrel with Camille because of this. I beg you. If you are really unhappy,” the man grabbed my hand and pointed to his face, “you can hit me to vent your anger.”

My hand was pulled by him. I was about to hit him, but Camille shouted coldly, “Charlie, where is your manner? Embarrassing!”

I just thought it was ridiculous. See? I didn’t even do anything. I just sat here and passively accept it and it would become my fault.

I pulled my hand back and turned to face Camille. “Do you understand, Camille?”

I felt relieved. I was so heartbroken that I was numb and almost had no emotions. I unbuckled my seat belt and told her. “This is the reason. Camille, let’s get a divorce.”

I opened the car door and smiled at him under the shocked and sly eyes of Camille’s secretary.

“Congratulations. You have finally made it after all these years of intruding into my and Camille’s lives. I don’t want Camille anymore.” I turned around and left.

Camille hurriedly got out of the car and grabbed my wrist. “Charlie, what the hell are you going crazy about? Do you know that because you called the police today, I missed a project worth hundreds of millions? Just because you said you were afraid, I rushed to the police station like crazy and as soon as I arrived, I saw you calling the police to arrest my secretary!”

She continued, “I have tolerated you for a long time. You always target Dane and Dane has been saying good things for you, asking me not to be angry with you and to get along well with you! Don’t be so ungrateful!”

My hand was pulled so hard that it hurt and the scar on my wrist hurt even more. I frowned and looked at my wrist, which was already half red.

“Let go!” I pulled Camille’s hand away with force, rubbed my painful wrist, raised my hand and slapped Camille in the face.

“Camille! I have tolerated you for a long time, too!”

Camille and I had been together for ten years. Even though we had quarreled and had a cold war, I had never embarrassed Camille in front of outsiders like what she did to me now, but I didn’t want to tolerate it anymore.

I looked at Camille and went straight to the point. “I’m telling you, when I was hospitalized with a high fever, you accompanied your secretary without even visiting me. When my car was rear-ended, you accompanied your secretary to watch the stars and the moon and every time I had something to do, you chose your secretary! Until today!” I looked at Camille and let out my frustration.