When Old Love Fades, New Love Finds Its Way

Third Person's POV

"Your overseas assignment has been approved. You’ve got a month to hand off your responsibilities," the manager informed Aiken Gray as he handed over the paperwork. After giving some advice, the manager also commented with a knowing smile, "Anyway, I haven’t seen you this motivated since you got married, Aiken."

Years ago, when Aiken tied the knot with Chelsea Jackson, her focus had been on building her career. But the time came when her parents needed someone to take care of them. Selflessly, Aiken had turned down a major promotion to stay closer to home and care for her aging parents. Back then, it had felt like the right thing to do.

But things had changed. Chelsea didn’t need him anymore—she had found someone better to lean on—her personal assistant.

Aiken stared at the words stamped across the document in his hands: [Overseas Assignment.] This wasn’t just a career milestone; it was the final step toward the end he’d seen coming.

Forcing a polite smile, he replied, "I’d like to keep this under wraps for now."

The manager nodded, assuming Aiken’s concern was about someone else taking the opportunity. "Don’t worry. Once it’s official, nothing will change."

Aiken just smiled, thanking him without offering an explanation.

Back at the villa, Aiken wearily placed the document on the table when a familiar click of heels echoed from the doorway.

"Why aren’t you in bed resting?" Chelsea asked, stepping inside. She frowned as she concernedly remarked, "You just got over that fever."

The faint scent of a perfume he didn’t recognize hung in the air as she walked toward him. Wanting to check his temperature, she reached out to his forehead, but Aiken suddenly leaned back, dodging her touch.

"I’m fine," he murmured. "Just need to rest a bit."

Just then, his mind drifted to the time right after he graduated and started working. Back then, he braved freezing winds to deliver documents to a client, catching a cold in the process. He ran a high fever that night and wouldn’t subside. Thus, Chelsea, wearing barely enough to keep warm, had mindlessly rushed to the pharmacy to get medicine for him and even stayed up all night to care for him.

But this time, she had only sent someone over to hand him a bottle of fever-reducing pills.

Chelsea's hand froze in the midst, surprised by Aiken's sudden reaction.

Aiken plopped down on the leather sofa and looked up at her as he hoarsely asked, "Shall we have dinner tonight? I’ve already made reservations."

But she glanced at her watch and reasoned, "I'm sorry, honey. I have work to finish at the office. I just stopped by to grab something."

"But today’s our wedding anniversary," he reminded her quietly as if trying to anchor her to the moment.

However, Chelsea only leaned in, placed a quick kiss on his cheek, and smilingly replied, "We’re not newlyweds anymore, Aiken. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow—it’s the same thing."

Aiken was about to reach for her hand to talk to her when her phone suddenly buzzed, showing [Hadwin Curtis] on the screen.

His hand froze midair, but Chelsea seemed oblivious to this. She simply silenced the call, offered a brief reminder for him to eat something, and left.

Not long after, the doorbell rang. Aiken’s heart leaped, thinking she had returned. But when he opened the door, a delivery man greeted him with a cheery smile.

"Ms. Chelsea asked me to deliver this," the man said, holding out a large bouquet of crimson roses along with a beautifully wrapped cake. "Happy anniversary!"

Aiken’s throat tightened as he accepted those.

After that, the delivery man handed a sleek gift box next, saying, "She said this is a special gift—a new design from her company. She wanted you to have the first one."

Chelsea’s company was involved in multiple industries, but she particularly loved designing watches. Aiken, however, had no interest in watches and never wore them, so Chelsea shifted her focus to designing clothes instead.

"Keep the cake for yourself and toss the roses," Aiken said, his voice flat and quiet.

As for the watch, Aiken took it and forced a smile. "Tell Chelsea that I’m very happy."

Sitting on the soft, comfortable sofa, Aiken thought that if Chelsea had stayed just a little longer, she might’ve noticed the document sitting on the table.

But she hadn't.

Just then, his phone buzzed, and for the second time around, he again thought she must have forgotten something and would come back. But to his disappointment, he only found a message from an unknown number.

Curious, he opened it and a picture of Chelsea popped right in front of his eyes.