Her Rose Bloomed Elsewhere

I can see flowers blossoming around a person when they fall in love. The stronger their love, the more beautiful the flowers. When Ann Liston proposed to me when I was 22, 99 white camellias had blossomed around my feet, stretching down the whole street. Seven years later, the flowers began to wither. Even so, she insisted that love always fades anyway, whereas companionship and responsibility were far more precious. That was why she no longer sneaked kisses when I'm asleep, but still came home punctually every day. That was why she no longer prepared surprises for me, but added my name into every estate. Even if work was busy, she'd spare a whole day for me every month. I was convinced that this was the ideal form of marriage too. Until three months ago, when she was caught in an avalanche in the mountains. It was the rescue team medic Martin Irwin who dug through layers of snow to reach her, carrying her down the mountains on his back when she was barely breathing. Once she made a full recovery, she spent $3,000,000 setting up a fund for rescuers, claiming that it was to repay her life debt to Martin. I never thought much of it…until our seventh wedding anniversary. We were once again in the restaurant where we had our first date on our anniversary. Halfway through it, Martin came to our table. Dressed casually, he smiled, "What a coincidence, Ms. Liston." Ann stood up, politely shaking his hand with a calm expression and demure mannerisms. In a split second, countless roses bloomed wildly around her feet, covering every inch of the restaurant. They were so much more radiant than the white camellias that had bloomed for me. Chapter 1 Martin Irwin soon withdrew his hand as if he had just noticed the cake and candles. "Sorry, was I imposing?" he asked, waving his phone with a helpless look. "I was going to have dinner with a colleague, but he had to leave since he had an emergency surgery. Ann Liston nodded without hesitation. "Join us. You're already here anyway." I turned to look at her. During our past dates, she would start complaining if a waiter asked one too many questions. But now, she was already on her feet, pulling out a chair for Martin. Still, Martin didn't sit down immediately. He instead turned to me and asked, "You wouldn't mind, would you, Mr. Jenkins?" I was still looking at the roses blooming beside Ann's feet, but I shook my head. "No." Soon, Ann picked up the menu, flipped through a couple pages and quickly made her order: steamed bass, mushroom soup, and lobster salad. As she finished, she added, "No nuts in the salad, and no peppers in the soup. Poor stomach." Martin smiled. "I just mentioned it casually in the mountains. I'm surprised you remembered." Ann's smile was perfectly natural. "How could I forget? Your stomach was aching the whole night during that rescue operation." With that, they smoothly moved on to how the stars looked within reach at the towering peaks, and how they had to press against each other to survive the freezing night in a cave, and the beauty of first light piercing through the snow when rescue finally came. As for me, I kept my head down. I quietly ate while they kept reminiscing. Those memories were an invisible wall that kept me out completely. Even so, Ann didn't forget about me. She was impeccably attentive as she put food on my plate and refilled my glass. Only I could see the bright red flowers growing out from beneath the table, the roses even creeping up to her ring finger. Then, more grew past the table fringes, and crept around Martin's fingers as well. Vibrant, yet subtle. Even on the way home, Ann was busy texting, and I could see Martin's contact name popping up repeatedly on top of the screen. She blackened the screen when she caught me looking. "It's just work. Don't worry about it." My expression was obscure under the dim streetlights. I kept staring at our wedding ring finger, now covered under roses. Then, I said calmly, "I want a divorce." Chapter 2 Ann was left stunned for a couple beats, but soon frowned. "Just because I invited Martin to our table? Even jealousy should follow reason, don't you think? Or is it that bad to buy a man who saved my life dinner, too?" As I hung my head in silence, her tone softened. "Look, I might have been a little inconsiderate tonight, but I'll make another reservation next week. Just the two of us, okay?" As she spoke, she reached out to hold my hand. "It's the feeling of owing that ties me to Martin. That won't hurt our relationship." Her palm felt warm like always, but I can't feel an ounce of sentiment. I glanced at the white camellias that had stayed by her feet when she was with me for seven years. They were nothing but dried branches now. Suddenly, I don't even feel the strength to argue. "Yeah. I was being paranoid." Ann sighed in relief like she always did, thinking that it's over just like every other argument. After getting home, she headed straight to her study. I waited until I heard her door close, then locked myself in my bedroom before whipping out my phone to call my lawyer, Max. "Please help me draft a divorce agreement." After hanging up, I tapped into a plane ticket app and booked a flight to New Zulu after five days. Before Mom died, she bought me an apartment in Areston and an inheritance that only has my name on it. She said that it's so I always have a place to go even if my marriage turns unhappy. I was convinced I'd never need it. As the next afternoon arrived, a certain social media post hit trending. [Scandalous! Liston Corp CEO goes on date with savior!] Attached to it were photos of Martin and Ann leaving the restaurant, along with accusations that he was using a life debt to sabotage a married woman's marriage. Soon, he was doxed. Ann was frighteningly cold when she entered the room. "Did you upload that post?" I put down my book and replied, "No." Even so, she stared at me in disappointment. "You're the only one who knew Martin was with me. I know you're upset, but he's a doctor. Don't you understand that reputation matters a lot to him?" I raised a brow. Three years ago, my studio had been framed for plagiarism. Ann didn't even look at evidence as she announced in front of cameras that she trusts me, her husband. I really thought that she would trust me without hesitation no matter what happens. As it turned out, that trust had an expiry date. "So in your mind, I'm that sinister?" I asked quietly. Ann was silent for a moment, but soon snorted. "Delete the post and apologize to Martin. Then we can put this behind us." I simply smiled silently. Her phone rang, shattering the suffocating silence. It was her assistant, Bob. "The police made an arrest. It's a woman, an admirer of Dr. Irwin. He rejected her, so she stalked him for days and took photos to spread those rumors." Ann was still standing by the doorway as she hung up, the look on her face now clearly uncomfortable. Eventually, she said, "I jumped to conclusions… Martin just survived an avalanche. I don't think he could survive the flaming." She was still on Martin's side even though she was apologizing. I didn't expose her, instead handing her the documents I had on hand. "I'm buying a studio in Areston. I need you to sign off on it." Ann took the papers and had barely reached page two when her phone rang again. It was Martin, complaining about journalists camping outside his house and preventing him from getting home. Her tone grew at once soft as she reassured him, while swiftly signing the column I highlighted. "You like it, then you can have it," she said, sliding back the papers to me. "Like I said before, I can get you anything you want. Don't push me with that divorce talk again." I waited until she left before taking out the thin stack of divorce papers, where Ann's name was written clear and sharp on the last page. Taking photos for further proof, I looked outside at the darkening skies. Patience. In just five days, I would be gone. Chapter 3 Strangers camped outside Martin's address for days after he was doxed. Ann had him move in with us using the excuse of safety. However, she only informed me after all his suitcases arrived at the guest room. "He's just staying for a couple days. He'll leave once the scandal blows over. There's plenty of rooms in this house, so you won't be affected at all." I nodded without arguing, nonchalant. I'd be gone in a few days, anyway. Martin established himself in no time at all, putting his white shoes between mine and Ann's. He even had his duty roster pinned on the fridge. Even the servants were to cook dinner according to his work hours. When Ann came home, she used to ask where I was right away. Now, she asked about Martin, while also always giving him rides to the hospital. Once, when I sat in the front passenger seat, I noticed the seat was lower than usual. One of Martin's shopping receipts was tucked behind the sun visor. Ann casually adjusted it for me while saying, "I’ve been driving him around a lot these past few days. I just forgot to set it back." She said it like it was of no concern. Still, I simply nodded and went back to organizing my late mother's belongings. Although I had hoped these final days would pass in peace, things didn't go as planned. Martin’s charity foundation was shooting a promotional video for a charitable cause. He had to pick my greenhouse, which my mother had dedicated heart and soul to. Inside, my mother kept an original white camellia cultivated from a seedling, along with her flower catalog, horticultural journals, and photographs. I had always forbidden outsiders from entering. A fact Ann was well aware of, but she let Martin in anyway. By the time I arrived, the greenhouse was congested with his crew. To set up their lighting, they had switched off the climate-control system, shoved aside the plant stands, and piled their equipment right on top of the vases. While moving some gear, a crew member accidentally snagged an overhead light rig, which toppled over and crashed into the white camellia placed at the center. The pot shattered, and the plant’s stem snapped clean off. Standing at the doorway, I froze, my mind going blank. Martin hurried over. "I’m so sorry, Mr. Jenkins! I had no idea these were so important to you." Ann was suddenly at his side, checking first to see he wasn't hurt, before turning to me. "It's an accident, and that's just a plant. I'll buy you a better one." I ignored her and walked towards the camellia, carefully gathering the broken stem. Ann knew perfectly well that my mother worked so hard to grow it, and it was one of a kind… And yet, there she stood, frowning at the mess she and Martin made. Far from feeling any guilt, her tone was reproachful as she continued to chide me. "I told you long ago to clear out all this useless junk, but you just couldn't bring yourself to part with it. Human lives matter above anything else, and Martin almost got hit by one of those light fixtures. You owe him an apology for your negligence." I was staring at my mother's catalog and journals, now a wrinkled mess after getting soaked in muddy water. Rising to my feet, I turned and slapped Ann across the face. Her head snapped to the side, and it took her a while to turn to glare at me in disbelief. "Sean!" Martin cried out in alarm and rushed over to separate us. "Please, if you're upset, you take it out on me! Ann was just worried about me…" I grabbed the cup of coffee on the table and splashed it all over his face. "Shut up. You don't get to speak here." Ann's face dropped, but even as she reached out, ready to attack, I held up my phone. "I'm going to call the cops. This is my personal property, and you are all intruders who vandalized my late mother's possessions and nearly caused a safety hazard." As I called logistics to move everything out, Martin became teary-eyed. "It's all my fault. I'll leave. Please don't fight over me." Ann scowled at me, and grabbed my arm. "It's just an accident. Do you have to make a scene every single time?" I shook her hand off and pointed at the door. "This is my property. If you can't take it, get off with him." Ann held my gaze for a long time, but ultimately grabbed her jacket and left with Martin, slamming the door shut in my face. I dropped to a crouch, picked up the snapped camellia twigs. That same night, I sent all of Mom's possessions over to New Zulu and canceled my joint accounts with Ann, as well as insurance beneficiary and emergency contact. As I packed my clothes, identification and Mom's old photos in my suitcase, my phone chimed. It reminded me that there were just two more days left until my flight. Chapter 4 The next morning, Ann came home and put a suit in front of me. "There's a function held by a charity foundation in the afternoon, and PR is saying we should make an appearance since the flaming hasn't stopped. If you show up, I'll forget about what happened at the greenhouse." I stared at the suit, thinking to myself how ridiculous everything looked. They were the ones who barged into my greenhouse and destroyed my mother's flowers. And yet, Ann was acting like she and Martin were the ones who were being magnanimous, forgiving my childish tantrums. "Fine." Still, I picked up the suit. This would be the last time I stood by Ann's side as her husband. - Suspended above the main stage at the press conference was a metal installation designed to simulate a snow mountain rescue. As Martin stepped onto the stage, a harsh snap echoed above him. Before I could even react, Ann had dashed forward to Martin. She tackled him to the ground and shielded him with her own body. However, the inertia knocked me off balance. I crashed into a display table nearby. Shards of glass sliced into my arm, and a deep gash opened across my palm. Even as fresh blood trickled through my fingers, Ann was busy checking if Martin was fine. It was when she was finally done that she remembered me. "Sean!" she cried as she hurried toward me. For once, she was showing me a look of concern. That was when Martin cried frantically, "Wait, Ann! The stage crew discovered that the installation had been tampered with!" Staff members soon arrived with security camera footage and backstage logs. Before the incident, someone had used my pass to enter the control area. The computer commands to adjust the equipment were also executed with my clearance. Right then, Martin turned to me tearfully. "I know you don't like me, Mr. Jenkins, but I never imagined you would..." Clutching my bleeding hand, I kept my voice steady. "My pass went missing after you people showed up at my greenhouse. My clearances were clearly compromised." On the other hand, the concern in Ann’s eyes turned to suspicion. "You threw Martin out just yesterday, and now this happens? How am I supposed to believe that this was just a coincidence?" Martin promptly stopped her. "It's alright, I'm not pressing charges. Mr. Jenkins is probably upset, and I won't put you on the spot." But the more he appeared generous, the colder Ann's glare became as she looked at me. As I looked down, the roses blooming around Ann's feet were creeping upward, rapidly enveloping Martin. Suddenly, I laughed. "Quit lying to yourself, Ann. You're not taking his side repeatedly because you're trying to repay a favor. You're already in love." Ann's face dropped, guilt showing in her eyes as I unraveled the secret she refused to admit. However, that same guilt turned to rage in a split second as she bellowed, "That's enough from you!" I certainly didn't want to stay and argue with her, and I turned to leave. She promptly dashed up to me and grabbed my injured wrist. "Let go!" I flailed in reflex as pain struck. She started dragging me, snapping, "Running from the crime scene, are we?" Even as my wound bled again and I pushed her with my other arm, she shoved me back in relation, sending me crashing into an already broken display table. I could feel the sharp pain on my back. Ann froze when she saw blood seeping out my shirt. "I just…" That was when Martin gasped in pain behind me. "Ahh…." Ann closed her eyes, her tone harsh again as she turned to her men. "Take Sean home. He's under house arrest, and he's not to come here ever again." I looked up at her. "You're locking me up?" "I just want you to calm down," Ann retorted with a tone of finality. "You're refusing to listen to reason, and you'd hurt Martin even more if I leave you be. Tomorrow, we'll hold a press conference. You'll apologize to him in front of everyone. Until then, consider your freedom restricted." Chapter 5 Early next morning, Ann arrived with a statement of apology. She paused when she saw my wrist, bandaged heavily, but still held it out to me. "I'm at fault for not controlling my strength. I'll go with you to the hospital once the press conference is over." I picked up the paper, where it was stated that I had been jealous of Martin and vandalized foundation property, causing a major safety incident. If I signed it, I'd be admitting to every charge. Looking into her eyes, I asked, "You really believe it was me?" She promptly turned away. "There's no point arguing that now. Martin is already giving you a chance by not getting the cops involved. So get this done, and once it blows over, I'll make it up to you." That was when Martin called her, exclaiming panickily that the press and all the foundation staff had arrived. "It's alright," Ann promptly assured him softly. "I'll be there soon." At the same time, I could see the roses blooming at her feet, even covering my shoes. I picked up the statement and said, "Alright. I'll apologize." Ann sighed in clear relief, already assuming that I would cave in to her like I had always done for seven years. "I'll head over first," she said, her tone already milder now. "You have to take a bath and put on some nice clothes. My chauffeur will give you a ride." As she started to leave, she paused at the door and turned. "Just apologize, and this will be over. Things won't change between us." I nodded. As soon as she closed the door, I tore the statement of apology into tiny pieces and dumped everything into the trash can. Max and my cabbie were already waiting at the backdoor. I headed to Ann's study, taking off my ring and leaving it on her desk. I also left the house key and the divorce papers which had her signatures on it, without claiming anything or nitpicking my gains or losses over the last seven years. On my way to the airport, Ann kept sending me texts. [Where are you?] [The whole press is already here.] [Martin is willing to accept your apology.] [Stop being so childish!] [When it's over, I'll go with you to the doctor.] I never replied, while the city faded into the distance outside the window. As we passed the usual bakery, I noticed a camellia shaped cake on display. When Ann had proposed to me, she ordered one baked in the shape of a camellia, saying that it was a flower that never wilted. Since then, on the one day she spends with me every month, she would buy one for me. That was why I treated it as a promise that would last a lifetime. Only now did I understood that all flowers wilt, just as hearts were changeable. Just then, the speakers boomed as they announced that my flight was boarding. Passing through the checkpoint and the long hallway, I noticed the camellias blooming around my feet had faded away entirely. There were no dried branches, let alone petals; as if the camellias were never there. The airplane soon rushed to the skies, carrying me across the seas to a place without Ann or the marriage that ran its course. With the city disappearing under the clouds, our seven years together were left behind. Ann could groom her vibrant roses while I walked my own path in a different corner of the world, never to cross paths ever again.