The 24th Wish: Stop Loving You

I pushed open the door and stepped into the gathering, which felt both familiar and strange.

Unsurprisingly, Nora and Simon were seated together again.

Everyone scrutinized me, waiting for me to embarrass myself.

Feeling the peculiar atmosphere, I pretended nothing was amiss.

Finally, everyone arrived, and the gathering officially began.

I wasn't very interested, but since Nora was participating, I couldn't be the odd one out as her husband.

After a few rounds, Nora glanced at her role card and exchanged a meaningful look with Simon beside her.

"Ahem, be quiet."

"When night falls, close your eyes."

"Werewolves, open your eyes."

I lowered my eyes in silence as rustling sounds drifted from nearby.

Then came the wet slurping of lips locked in passion—intimate and intense—piercing the stillness like a sharp note.

Even God seemed to stifle a chuckle, holding back the next command.

The sounds lingered long after the dawn announcement. When I finally lifted my gaze, I saw my wife's flushed cheeks and glistening lips. There was a hint of flustered annoyance in her eyes as she glanced toward Simon, who wore a sly smile.

I stood silently, offering only a self-mocking chuckle as I allowed everything to unfold.

Over the course of our three-year marriage, I poured all my passion and dreams into our union.

I never stopped thinking about it, yet I found little reciprocation.

I could no longer bear the weight of this marriage alone.

As the gathering ended and the crowd dispersed, I pulled out a divorce agreement I'd prepared long ago and handed it to Nora.

"Nora, I have a gift for you."

My tone was flat, but my hand clutching the papers trembled uncontrollably; I was still reluctant.

Nora was busy peeling an apple for Simon and hadn't heard me clearly. She just gave a perfunctory reply.

"Just leave it. I'll sign it later. We agreed to take the day off. Why did you bring the contract again?"

I lowered my gaze. If it was an endorsement contract, that was fine. Just let me leave quietly.

"It's urgent. Just sign it."

I flipped to the last page of the agreement, handed it to Nora along with a pen, and pointed to the signature line.

"Sign here."

Without looking, Nora signed her name where I had pointed.

"You should rest, too. Don’t always overwork."

Hearing this, I just snorted. I tucked the agreement away and casually remarked, "Nora, my position will be vacant soon."

Without looking up, Nora accepted Simon's invitation to leave and hurriedly slipped on her coat.

"Wait for me."

As I listened to her footsteps fade, I finally couldn't resist chasing after her.

"Nora, that document was important. Aren't you going to look at it?"

She waved her hand dismissively.

"Just glance at the endorsement contract. Simon's rushing me."

Hearing this, I gave a wry smile and headed home.

"I divorced Nora."

I was lying on the balcony, talking to a friend on the phone. My tone was flat.

"What? After all these years, after you poured all your heart and efforts into her—helping her land film roles and setting up her studio—you're just divorced?”

Leo sounded utterly bewildered on the other end.

I stubbed out my cigarette in the ashtray beside me and said, "Simon's back."

At the mention of Simon, Leo fell silent.

He knew how much that name meant to Nora.

I exhaled a deep puff of smoke, enveloping myself in the thick tobacco scent. My tone was oddly detached.

"Anyway, I'm leaving the country in two weeks."

The words had barely left my mouth when a voice sounded behind me.

"We agreed not to smoke in the house."

I turned slightly and watched the approaching silhouette out of the corner of my eye.

Nora approached me in a burgundy evening gown, her long legs clad in high heels.

I ended the call with a flick of my wrist, waved away the lingering smoke, and stretched lazily.

"What's up? Something at the studio?"

Nora's lips parted slightly as she reached for my hand. I took a step back to avoid her touch, and my eyes flicked away.

Seeing my distant demeanor, a flicker of unease stirred in Nora.

"Trent, what was that endorsement deal from the party? Why haven't we heard anything yet?"

It had already been half a month. Only now did I realize it.

My mind had been consumed by Simon, leaving no room for such things.

I tugged at the corner of my lips, but before I could respond, Nora’s phone rang, cutting me off.

"Nora, I've got a fever. Can you take me to the hospital?"

Simon’s hoarse voice on the other end made Nora’s brows furrow. She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.

"Simon, I have a husband now. Stop bothering me.”

Nora's solemn declaration drew only a casual reply from Simon: "So what? That was always my place.”

The flippancy in his voice ignited Nora.

She, who had always presented herself as an unattainable flower, now sounded like a bitter woman, her voice thick with resentment.

"Then why did you run away from the wedding back then? Why were you cavorting with another woman?”

The phone fell silent for a moment.

Then came Simon's violent coughing. "I told you it was an accident. Back then... Forget it. I can go to the hospital by myself."

Beep-beep-beep—the call ended.

But Nora remained sullen, her knuckles turning pale as she gripped the hem of her skirt.

After hesitating for a moment, she picked up her phone and typed something resignedly.

"Address."

Then, she looked up at me, her face filled with apology.

I crossed my arms and pursed my lips.

"Go ahead. It's a rare friend."

A flicker of guilt crossed her eyes. She whispered, "I'll just take him to the hospital and be right back. Then we'll have dinner together."

I didn't respond, instead turning my back.

After listening to the sound of her high heels fade into the distance, I sat on the balcony for a long time.

By the next morning, Nora still hadn't returned.