Love Scatters, Hearts Break

Love Scatters, Hearts Break

Chapter 9

Jessica sucked, but at least she knew when to keep quiet. Sooner or later, Samuel’s money—and the title of “wife”—would be hers. Still, she understood she couldn’t rush things, so she had to put up with the situation for now.

It had been a long time since Samuel came home during the day. As he stood outside the familiar villa, he felt a strange mixture of nostalgia and unfamiliarity. Maybe this is why people say absence makes the heart grow fonder, he thought. “Emmy, I’m back,” Samuel called out as he walked briskly through the garden and into the living room.

The garden was neat and perfectly maintained. Inside, everything was just as it always had been—not a speck of dust, not a thing out of place. It was a home that reflected the care and taste of its owner. And that owner was Emily. Everything spoke of her touch—her effort. Samuel felt a sudden urge to hold her, to thank her. But she wasn’t there.

Finally, he asked one of the household staff, “Where’s Emily? Has she gone out?” She was usually home at this time of day.

The staff exchanged glances. No one seemed to have an answer. “We don’t know, sir. We haven’t seen her since this morning.”

Samuel frowned, displeased. “You don’t even know if she had breakfast?”

No one could respond.

Deep down, they were all scoffing at him. Shouldn’t you, her husband, know where she is? Why are you asking us?

Sensing the awkwardness in the air, Samuel sighed and said, “Forget it. No use asking. I’ll find her myself.” He assumed she was just sleeping in from boredom—like she used to back in their university days. He padded lightly upstairs to the bedroom, but it was empty too. The curtains were drawn open, and sunlight poured through the windows, making the room warm and cozy. But Emily—who should have been there—was gone. She was nowhere to be found. Samuel’s eyes scanned the room, and eventually, he spotted a sealed envelope beneath a box on the dressing table. It was a letter. Emily’s last words to him.

"I know all about you and Jessica. I’m leaving. Don’t bother looking for me."

She hadn’t even bothered to sign it.

With a few short sentences, she ended a relationship that had lasted more than a decade. Samuel didn’t realize it, but she had lost the will to explain herself long ago.

Almost immediately, he tried to call her—but she didn’t answer. He clutched the letter tightly, so tightly that the edge crumpled in his hand. He kept calling, again and again, even as he searched every corner of the house. But there was no trace of her. Not in the flowerbeds she loved, not on the rooftop swing where they used to stargaze. Emily had truly left.

“Sorry. The number you have dialed is currently unavailable…”

That robotic message played again and again until Samuel was forced to face reality. Emily wasn’t going to take his call. Still, there had to be a way to reach her. He told himself to stay calm. Slapped his cheeks a few times to focus.

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Then he opened his contacts list and searched for mutual friends—the ones they had known since school. They were the couple everyone admired, the fairy tale love story: high school sweethearts who’d married young. Surely someone would know something. He called Grace first—Emily’s closest friend. She didn’t answer initially. It was only on the third try that she picked up, begrudgingly.

When Samuel explained why he was calling, she scoffed.

“You’re her husband. If you don’t know where she is, why would I?” She hung up before he could say another word.

Samuel didn’t let it get to him. Now wasn’t the time to take things personally. He called more friends—but all the responses were just as cold. No one was willing to help. Though no one directly confronted him, it was clear they were all disappointed in him. They had seen the cracks in his marriage long before he did.

Still, Samuel refused to give up.

Finally, he called Tanya Scott—the last of their former classmates.

“Are you sure she didn’t talk to anyone?” he asked desperately. “If she really planned to leave… wouldn’t she have discussed it with someone?”

Tanya let out a laugh—as if he’d told a joke.

“You’re her husband. If you didn’t notice anything was wrong, why are you asking us? Instead of calling everyone else, maybe you should be asking yourself when you two last had a real conversation.”

Samuel was silent. She was right. It had been so long since he and Emily actually spoke. Had they argued recently? No. But not because things were peaceful. Because there was nothing left to say. She probably wouldn’t have left silently if she still cared enough to argue.

After ending the call with Tanya, Samuel’s panic only deepened.

Everything in the bedroom was still in place—except for one glaring absence. Emily’s belongings were gone.