Fading Away: A Quiet Goodbye

The setting sun cast a faint blush over my pale face. My hands trembled slightly as I held the diagnosis of my terminal stomach cancer.Dazedly, I dialed the number pinned at the top of my contacts.The familiar ringtone snapped me out of my daze, and I instinctively turned my head.Not far away, my husband, Ivan Sartore, was frowning as he held a woman in his arms protectively. Her face was pale without makeup, but something about her stirred sympathy.I recognized her. Early in my relationship with Ivan, I had once stumbled across her photo tucked inside his wallet. I had asked him who she was, and he had wordlessly snatched the photo back with barely concealed impatience.It wasn't until later that I learned the truth from his sister, Iris Sartore. The woman's name was Yuna Lindsay, and she was Ivan's first love.He had been head over heels for her, but their relationship had fallen apart after his parents disapproved of them. Yuna had gone abroad in a fit of anger, and Ivan h

Yuna's eyes filled with uncertainty like a deer caught in the headlights. "Ivan is lucky to have a wife like you. I wish you both happiness."When I made to leave afterward, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. There was a brooch resting on her couch, its pink diamond glinting under the sunlight.Nausea hit me hard. I clutched my chest and rushed out of Yuna's home.As I crouched by the side of the road, I vomited bile. My mind was consumed by a single thought.Why was Ivan's brooch at Yuna's house? Did they do something on the couch?…When Ivan came home that night, he was furious.The door slammed shut with a bang, which echoed in the hallway. The sharp noise pierced through my head, making me feel dizzy."Cordelia! Why did you look for Yuna?"His voice was loud and angry—something he had never directed at me throughout our marriage."She's already suffering enough. Why did you go and make things worse for her?"I stared at him dumbfoundedly, then tried to d

At last, I consulted a lawyer.He asked if I wanted to gather evidence of Ivan's infidelity to ensure he would be left with nothing upon our divorce. I thought for a moment and declined.I didn't lack money or love. I simply believed that all couples in the world should be as happy as my parents were. So, I trusted Ivan would fulfill his duties as a husband, just as I had wholeheartedly cared for him as his wife.When Ivan and I first got married, he had been in poor health, especially due to his sensitive stomach. At the time, I had thought it was due to his busy work life and the constant drinking during client meetings.In hindsight, I realized that a good portion of that alcohol was probably consumed in longing for Yuna. But I had been clueless back then. I had naively learned to cook various nutritious meals for him, hid his cigarettes, and reminded his secretary to keep an eye on him to prevent him from drinking.Sometimes, while I cooked, Ivan would come up from behind an

When Ivan got home, he discovered that Cordelia had left. However, her belongings were still there, and the dining table was set with cold dishes.Where had she gone? Ivan felt a wave of panic, but then he remembered that Cordelia had never argued with him over the years. Though he had recently grown closer to Yuna, Cordelia had been understanding and considerate.Thus, Ivan thought there shouldn't be any problems. When he tried to call her, it went unanswered. It was then that he realized her phone was also left behind at home.Although a sense of dread surged from the pit of his stomach, he quickly suppressed it and convinced himself that Cordelia was probably just out shopping.Thinking this, Ivan sat down on the couch and held a black velvet box with a small smile on his lips. He thought he could finally make it up to Lia.Earlier that day, he had finally clarified things with Yuna. He claimed he would still be responsible for her medical expenses, but he wouldn't be at

Yuna was actually an orphan.In the past 20 years, the only thing she had learned was deception. Once, she had sold out the innocent girl who had always regarded her as a sister for a few hundred dollars to buy alcohol.The first time she saw Ivan, she already plotted to use the persona of a pitiful girl who had worked hard to survive to trick him.Later, when meeting Ivan's parents, she had deliberately claimed she was pregnant to squeeze out more money. In the end, she successfully took away a million dollars and went abroad.She was clever enough to know that her little tricks could never fool Ivan's parents. Therefore, she had never intended to marry Ivan.Unfortunately, Yuna's life abroad hadn't turned out well. Most of the men she had attracted weren't wealthy; some had pretended to be affluent, while others had nothing to offer.Eventually, a painter fell head over heels in love with her, but Yuna unfortunately became pregnant with his child. The painter swore to earn a go