Chapter 20 When Timothy returned home , the entire house lay in utter silence , empty and still . A chilly air mingled with the faint trace of Shirley's perfume lingered in the rooms . The house felt hollow without Shirley . From the bedroom to the study and even the bathroom , every space had been arranged by her hands . Back then , she'd asked him to help pick furniture , but he'd claimed to be too busy . When he returned home , the rooms were already perfectly furnished . Shirley knew every inch of those spaces , every item in every corner . Now, everything remained exactly as she'd placed it , yet the person who created it all was gone . He'd searched once already , but Timothy couldn't shake the feeling she might have left something behind . Trembling uncontrollably , he began tearing through the house again . Inside closets , behind desks , even in the cracks of doors - he left no spot unchecked . The entire house was in disarray , yet there was no trace of her . Finally , he pinned his hopes on the messy bed . Still nothing . 0.00 % 00:33 Chapter 20 288 Vouchers He felt as though thousands of silver needles were piercing his heart , the excruciating pain nearly unbearable . With chilling clarity and despair , he realized her resolve to leave . Timothy had imagined she might crumble at the mention of divorce- perhaps weeping hysterically or even attempting suicide . None of that happened . From beginning to end , she did only one thing . Divorce him and walk away . Timothy barely slept all night . The next morning at the office , his assistant waited by the entrance . " Mr. Mitchell , the three o'clock meeting this afternoon- " " Cancel it . " He cut her off , massaging his temples . Out of the corner of his eye , he caught his secretary's hesitant look . " Spit it out . " " It's just … Boss Timothy seems unusually concerned about Shirley's whereabouts lately . But before … " The assistant trailed off . Timothy stared through the floor - to - ceiling windows , his brow slightly furrowed . " Was I truly that awful to her before ? " " Speak freely . Just be honest . " 24.58 % O 00:33 Chapter 20 288 Vouchers The assistant took a deep breath . " You rarely acknowledged Shirley's feelings , sir . And you forbade us from ever mentioning her . " " Yet she always remembered your stomach troubles , preparing coffee in advance . Even your offhand comments - she treasured every word . " Memories suddenly flooded back . One late night during overtime , he'd irritably shoved aside the warm milk Shirley offered . Scalding milk splashed across her hand . She merely quickly wiped it away , then immediately brought a fresh cup . On their third wedding anniversary , he stayed out past midnight celebrating Patricia's birthday . Returning home , he discovered she was waiting for him , the custom - made cake she'd prepared still sitting on the dining table . Timothy abruptly stood up , his chair scraping harshly against the carpet . He walked to the floor - to - ceiling window , staring down at the endless stream of headlights below , his throat tightening . She always seemed endlessly patient with him . Yet he only ever had eyes for Patricia . His phone rang - a message from the private investigator . " The final lead indicated Shirley boarded flight CA7949 bound for the Netherlands , but her exact whereabouts remained unknown . " Timothy's hand clenched the phone , trembling slightly . Finally , he understood the source of that deep ache in his chest - the 48.40 % 00.33 Chapter 20 288 Vouchers ache he felt seeing the divorce papers in the garage that day . The panic of realizing something precious only after losing it . " Mr. Mitchell ? " His secretary's voice came from behind . " Suspend all projects . I'm going abroad . " As Timothy turned , the look behind his glasses made his secretary pause . He grabbed his suit jacket and strode toward the elevator . " Book the earliest flight to the Netherlands . Now . " The elevator doors slid shut at the corridor's end . Timothy stared at his haggard reflection in the mirrored surface . He once believed Shirley's love would forever keep her waiting . Only now did he understand : even the fiercest devotion withers when met with indifference . When the elevator display hit B1 , he recalled Shirley's final unread message . A pang of pain shot through him . This time , he would go find her . 79.95 % NDO G2 O