The study was quiet for a moment.

Jason pushed the door open and walked in, holding a stack of documents. Dressed in a sharp suit with his hair meticulously styled, he looked as though he had just returned from the office.

He placed the documents on the desk in front of me and said softly, "This is the latest proposal for our company’s new energy project. I’d like to hear your thoughts."

I looked up at him, noting the apology and expectation in his eyes.

"Don’t be mad. Gianna and I are really just colleagues now, nothing more," he continued. "I know I was wrong today.

Next Monday is your father’s retirement celebration, right? I’ll go with you."

"Just colleagues now?" Was this a game of semantics?

Whenever I’m hard to placate, he promises to attend events I’ve wanted him to but he’s always avoided.

Yet, at this moment, I had little interest in his gestures.

But deep down, I couldn’t help feeling a pang of sadness, as it was the first time Jason had willingly agreed to attend my father’s event.

I recalled inviting him before the wedding, only for him to decline with "I have to prepare the quarterly performance report."

In three years of marriage, he had never attended any of my family’s events.

Perhaps, no matter what the future holds, it was time to make an appearance.

I nodded, "Alright, let’s go together."

Jason smiled and reached out to embrace me.

I gently stepped away, saying, "I’m tired. I need to rest first. Tomorrow, I have to prepare for Dad’s retirement celebration dinner."

Jason stood there, stunned, as I walked toward the guest room.

After work on Monday, when I went to pick up Jason from his office, I saw him walking out of the building alongside Gianna.

They were both dressed in fashionable professional attire, looking quite the pair.

Seeing my car, Jason bade Gianna goodbye and hurried over.

Gianna gave me a knowing look and mouthed something I couldn’t quite catch.

But today was my father’s retirement celebration, and I had no time to dwell on these details. We headed straight to the hotel where the event was being held.

However, before we reached the venue, Jason’s phone rang.

The caller ID showed Gianna’s name.

He hesitated but eventually answered the video call.

"Mr. Trivett, I’m sorry to intrude on your personal time," Gianna’s voice came through the phone, "There’s an issue with the quarterly project progress report. Could you come back? All the data is on your computer."

I looked at Jason calmly. "Today is my father's retirement celebration dinner, and it’s the first time you’re attending a family event."

Jason looked troubled. "But Gianna..."

"Don’t worry, I’ll handle it and come right over."

Before I could say more, he had me pull over. From a distance, I saw him get into a nondescript BMW 5 Series.

I knew it was Gianna’s company car.

In the end, I attended my father's retirement celebration alone.

Standing in the venue, watching my father’s satisfied smile, I suddenly felt a profound sense of loneliness. Two hours passed, and Jason still hadn’t shown up.

When I left, it had started raining heavily outside. Just like my heart at that moment—cold and desolate.

I opened my laptop and began browsing internal job postings and MBA programs from various universities.

Later, Jason told me that there had been data issues, and they had stayed up all night to recompile the report.

Did he believe that?

I certainly didn’t.

But I was no longer interested in exposing his excuses.

My focus had shifted to my own career planning. Perhaps it was time to do something for myself.