“Hello?”

“I’ve been calling you…” His voice was smooth and warm; as always, yet it made my blood boil. Anger rose inside my head, challenging the little bit of control that I had left for him. I gnashed my teeth, trying my best to control myself. I was not the Bella that I was before.

“Did you receive my messages? Why didn’t you call me back?” he said, concern lacing his tone. “Are you sick?” Those were the lines that he always used. Wasn’t it tiring using the same lines repeatedly?

“Mr. Lin… it’s late. Is there something that you need? I can email it to you tomorrow.”

A long stretch of silence followed my words. Clearly, I had surprised him. Perhaps it was because this was the first time that I used a cold voice with him.

“You— Ah—Is this about marriage?”

“Mr. Lin…”

“Bella, listen. Can we talk about this when I get back? You know I have to travel at the last minute sometimes.” Damn, this man was really good at manipulation. My lips twitched. How could he use the same lies repeatedly? The same script, the same tone, the same words. Did he really think I was a fool?

“I know you are still upset about it. I promise… I will — “

“I don’t think there is a need for us to talk about anything, Mr. Lin. I told you yesterday, our relationship is done.” I interrupted him this time.

“You— “

“Aren’t you tired of this? Because I am.” I wanted to applaud myself. I didn’t know where I got the courage to keep my calm, but it was crucial I did so to put the next steps of my plan in motion.

“Bella… how could you say that? I know you’re still angry. Why don’t you take some time off from the work part of the relationship? Do you want a vacation? You need it. I can book a vacation with your parents. What do you think?”

“Thank you for your concern but it’s unnecessary. Since we’re done, please don’t call me again after office hours. I don’t see any reason for us to communicate outside of the office. Thank you, Mr. Lin, and have a wonderful business trip.”

I didn’t wait for him to say anything else as I ended the call and immediately blocked his number.

Damn! That was… refreshing.

A smile blossomed on my face. Since we started our relationship, this was the first time that I hung up a call on him! I didn’t know doing something like this could feel so good!

“Was that your boss? Was Evan overworking you again?” My father asked when I went inside the study again. They knew that I worked for Evan since I graduated college. They suspected I wanted more from him but were too polite to mention why I could never aspire to being his wife. And besides, they didn’t like him the way they liked Cedric.

Looking back, my father always thought that Evan was like a cunning fox. He used to say that Evan wasn’t that intelligent, yet he was scheming. At that time, I didn’t know what he meant by those words. By the time I understood them, I was already blindly following Evan.

“No. It’s fine. I’m just making a plan to find a new job.”

Surprise flashed in his eyes. “You want to stop working for Evan? Why?”

“Career change.”

My father stared at me as if wondering if I were trying to prank him. “Are you sure? Did something happen? Did that man— “

“Pa, I just think working for him is really tiring. I don’t even get days off anymore.”

“Then you should move back here. Your mother and I will take care of you.”

I smiled at him. “Don’t worry Dad, I already have a new company in mind, and I’ll start working there soon.” Working with Cedric was crucial to help him prevent all the tragedies that would destroy Silk and Laces in the future.

“Hmmm. All right. As long as you are happy. However, if— “

“I know. I know. I will come back if I get sick or overwork. You and Mom will take care of me.” I laughed at the remainder of his words. My father never wanted me to live in my own home in the first place. They wanted me to stay here until I got married. Of course, they didn’t know I hadn’t been living alone, and wouldn’t be now.

“Hmm… all right. You should sleep early. Your room is clean. You should stay for the night. Riding a cab at this hour can be dangerous.”

“It’s all right. I still need to finish something at home.”

He shook his head as if he was already expecting this.

“And I already called a taxi. So…” I smiled.

“All right. Call me when you get home.”

I nodded and bid him goodbye. When I walked outside of the house, I immediately saw Cedric’s Volvo. I knocked on the window and waved at him.

“Shall we go home?” he asked.

“Nope. I have other ideas,” I responded just as my stomach grumbled. Now that I was allowing myself to eat normally again, it was like I had 5 years of hunger all at once. I needed food. And most importantly, I need to celebrate hanging up on Evan.