Chapter 5


    The day Heidi attempted suicide, ra had bombarded him with calls about her excruciating


    cramps, and although he had answered at first, in a fit of anger, he eventually hung up on her. He


    couldn’t shake the thought that she would break up with him over this.


    With his gaze cast downward,n listened to Edwin and Chase spewing venom at the scumbag of a


    husband He was so lost in thought that he didn’t even feel the cigarette burning into the back of his


    hand.


    Restlessness consumed him all evening. At times like these, ra would have already called,


    concerned. Yet now, well past midnight, not a single message had pinged his phone.


    A bad feeling suddenly gripped him.


    He stubbed out his cigarette and, clutching his phone, left in a hurry.


    Stepping out of the bar, he saw a little girl approaching him, her basket brimming with fresh flowers.


    “Sir, would you like to buy some for your girlfriend?” she asked with a smile.


    “Pack them all up for me,” he said.


    The girl beamed, swiftly bundling the flowers and handing them ton, her words a stream of


    cheerful blessings.


    For the first time that night,n’s stern face softened. He pulled out a few crisp hundred–dor bills


    from his wallet and handed them to the girl.


    But when he got home, flowers in arms, he wasn’t greeted by that petite figure he expected, but by


    the housekeeper instead.


    “Sir, wee back. I’ve made you some chicken noodle soup. Would you like a bowl?” she


    offered.


    The housekeeper hesitated, then said, “Ms. ra’s gone. She asked me to give this to you.”


    Dialing ra’s number, he waited through endless rings before she finally picked up.


    “What is it?” ra’s voice was hoarse but clear.


    “I’m sure, ra replied, her calmness like ice.


    “Don’t you dare regret this, ra.” With that, he hung up and stormed upstairs.


    “Sir, the flowers-” the housekeeper called after him.


    “Trash them!” His voice was sharp, and he didn’t look back as he continued on.


    He reached the bedroom and saw his white Samoyed Snow wearing a yellow charm around its


    neck, one he recognized from ra’s social media. She imed it was a charm for her beloved,


    fetched from a sacred ce.


    Turns out, her beloved was the dog.


    “What are you barking for? Your morris ditched you!”n spat before mming the bedroom door


    shut.


    The next morning,n reached out habitually to pull someone close, only to grasp at empty space.


    His eyes snapped open, the realization hitting him–ra was gone.


    A suffocating feeling weighed on his chest.


    Mornings had always started with a unique feast, where he watched his sweetdy moan beneath


    him. It filled him with an indescribable feeling. It was like poison, slowly seeping into his bones,


    making him now almost lose control with the urge to find ra.


    The thought of her leaving without a word had him boiling with rage.


    Would he go after her? Not a chance!