Gone Quiet, Gone Love novel Chapter 11

The staff at the airline counter barely glanced at Nester before politely replying, "I'm sorry, sir. We can't disclose passenger information."

"She's my wife! I need to talk to her!" Nester barked, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"If you have an emergency, please try contacting her directly."

"She's turned her phone off!"

"Then I'm afraid there's nothing we can do."

Standing in the bustling airport terminal, Nester felt an immense sense of confusion and helplessness for the first time.

In utter disorientation, he wandered through the terminal, watching the flight information on the scrolling screen update constantly, bound for destinations all over the world.

He had no idea where Sabrina had gone and didn't even know where to start looking. In the end, he could only drive home.

That villa without Sabrina was as cold as a freezer.

In the past, there was always a lamp left on for him in the living room, no matter how late he returned. But now it was pitch-black.

When he switched on the lights, the harsh whiteness made the entire house feel hollow. He walked up to the bar to grab a bottle of strong liquor, then drank straight from the neck.

The alcohol burned his throat, but did nothing to calm the hollow panic in his chest.

Halfway through, he rushed into the bathroom and vomited. Kneeling on the floor, he retched until the world around him spun.

When he lifted his head, he saw himself in the mirror with bloodshot eyes and an unshaven chin, looking like a wreck.

After looking down at the faint mark on his ring finger, he pulled the ring off and was about to throw it away, only to tighten his fingers around it. He couldn't bring himself to do it. In the end, he clenched it tightly in his palm until it hurt.

Just then, his phone rang with a call from Della.

"I'm scared of being home alone tonight, Nester… Could you keep me company?"

"Get lost! All of you, get fucking lost!" he roared into the phone before flinging it away.

Then, he started smashing the bottle of liquor and anything within the living room.

In the end, he collapsed amidst the wreckage and stared at the wedding photo on the wall.

In it, Sabrina was dressed in a white gown, smiling with eyes full of light. Meanwhile, he was expressionless and had an indifferent gaze, as if he were checking off a task.

That was when he understood that the light in her eyes had been love, which he had snuffed out with his bare hands.

…

In the days that followed, Nester searched for Sabrina like a madman. He dug out all the gifts she had given him over the past five years.

There was a hand-knitted scarf for his birthday, with crooked, uneven stitches. He had found it ugly and never wore it, so he casually stuffed it into the back of a drawer.

The thick photo album made for their wedding anniversary was filled with their few photos together. Under each, Sabrina had meticulously labeled the time and place. He hadn't even glanced at it and left it untouched in a dusty corner of the study.

The breakfasts she made every day were varied and creative. He often left it untouched because he woke up late or had no appetite before heading out the door.

When his stomach hurt, she stayed up all night giving him massages until her fingers ached from the effort. He would complain that her hands were cold and told her to stop.

Nester had taken Sabrina's love, efforts, cautious care, and wholehearted devotion for granted. He had even scorned it and trampled them under his foot.

When she kept walking, he rushed forward to block her path. "Please, just tell me."

Claudia stopped and turned to look at him.

In just a month, he looked utterly wrecked and gaunt, with bloodshot eyes and dark stubble on his chin. None of his former glory as the polished CEO of Blackwell Group remained.

She stared at him for several seconds before bursting out laughing sarcastically. "Stop looking, Mr. Blackwell."

Nester stared at her. "You know where she is, don't you?"

"I don't," she replied. "And even if I do, I won't tell you either."

"Why? I'm her husband!" He grabbed her arm with such a firm grip that she frowned.

"Ex-husband," she coldly corrected him. "You're divorced, Nester."

Nester's hand stiffened, but he didn't let go. "I'm begging you, Claudia… Tell me where she is. I just want to see her once and say a few words to her…"

"Say what?" Claudia snapped and shook off his hand. There was a sharp, cutting look in her eyes.

"Are you going to tell her that you're sorry, that you'll change, and that you've suddenly realized you love her?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

"Ask yourself, Nester," she said, each word hammering on his heart.

"Are you searching for her like a madman now because you've suddenly realized you love her, or because you were used to her presence? And now that she's gone, you're just not comfortable with it."