Love Reset, Life Reboot

The high heel marks by the entrance stabbed into my eyes like sharp thorns. They're not my size, and the heels are still stained with the limited-edition lipstick I bought just last week. My knuckles went white gripping the doorknob, and when I pushed open the door, the chandelier in the living room was swaying, making me dizzy. Caleb Lewis was slouched on the sofa, smoking, ash falling onto the pillow I embroidered with my own hands — a gift I'd spent three months making for our seven-year anniversary. "You're back." He looked up, his tone flat, like he was just commenting on the weather. I didn't say anything, my eyes scanning the clothes scattered all over the floor, finally resting on the master bedroom's half-open door. "Caleb Lewis," my voice shook, but I forced it steady, "This is the tenth time." He stubbed out his cigarette and came over to me, the sharp smell of his cologne hitting me — not the white tea scent I usually wore, but a heavy rose fragrance. "Catherine, stop making a scene." He reached out to hug me, but I turned aside to avoid him. "Making a scene?" I laughed bitterly, but the tears came first. "There's another woman hiding in our home, and you say I'm the one making a scene?" The master bedroom door clicked open, and a woman wearing my silk nightgown stepped out. The neckline was dragged down low, revealing suggestive red marks on her collarbone. "Catherine, don't get the wrong idea. Caleb and I really love each other." Her voice was sultry and brazen — it's rare to see such arrogance in front of the real woman. Before I could say anything, Caleb stepped in front of her. "Catherine, Nicole is still young and naive. Don't make things hard for her." "She's naive? And what about you? Are you any less naive?" My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a hand, aching so badly I could hardly breathe. "Caleb Lewis, we've been together for seven years." "So what if it's been seven years?" He frowned, his tone dripping with impatience. "Look at you now, stuck in the kitchen and doing chores all day. Compared to Nicole, you're lacking that feminine charm." The woman proudly linked her arm with Caleb Lewis's, flashing me a taunting look. Suddenly, I felt calm. All those endless fights, the tears I cried waiting alone at night, his repeated promises of 'this is the last time'—they all felt like a joke now. "Caleb Lewis," I wiped my tears, my eyes clear, "In three months, our ten-year promise will be up." He froze for a moment, clearly not understanding what I meant. "That's when I'll leave." I turned and walked toward the guest room, leaving him and that woman, Nicole, standing there stunned. The moment I shut the door, I slid down against it and finally burst into a raw, painful sob.