A Billion Dollar Exchange

''I just want you to know that, okay?'' Jin Yue raised his hands and cupped her cheeks as he stared into her eyes. Xin Yong frowned as she saw how serious he sounded.

''Jin Yue, what's wrong?''

She could not help asking as her eyes began to water.

''I love you, okay?''

He said again, as though wanting to engrave it into her mind.

''Jin Yue…''

Jin Yue did not wait for her to complete her sentence, he quickly covered her lips.

Holding her head in place, he kissed her ferociously, as though he never wanted to forget the taste of her lips. He was so fierce that Xin Yong had to hold his head to slow him down.

She knew something was definitely wrong but she did not know what. Jin Yue pushed her to the couch and pulled her clothes away ferociously.

He was not gentle, but he made sure that he kissed every inch of her body before entering her.

Xin Yong held his shoulders tightly as she felt herself climaxing. Jin Yue climaxed after which, he hugged her body tightly, his head in the crook of her neck.

Xin Yong felt a tear drop onto her neck. She was not crying... who was crying?

Was he crying?

As she wanted to call his name, she heard him …

''I love you, Xin Yong '' 

Xin Yong froze. That was the first time he had called her by her name. What was exactly wrong?

''Jin Yue…''

Jin Yue stayed there for a while, breathing in her scent. She was the woman he loved, the only woman he had ever loved in his whole life, but sadly she did not love him back.

He would let her go; he would let her be happy.

After a while, Jin Yue stood up and carried Xin Yong, bridal style to the bedroom. He kept her on the bed and ran her bath water after which he carried her to the bathroom.

As he dropped her into the bath tub, he stared into her eyes.

''Do you really have nothing to say to me?''

He asked again, this time pleadingly, as though he wanted her to just say something. Xin Yong stared at him for a while and shook her head.

''Is there anything wrong?''

She asked peering into his face, confusedly. Jin Yue stared at her for a while before lowering his gaze.

''Take a bath. ''

He said, sounding a bit distant. He stood in the bathroom for a while before turning around and striding out.

Xin Yong stared at his retreating form speechlessly; she could not understand what was exactly wrong.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, Jin Yue was not in the bedroom, but he had placed her clothes on the bed. She quickly put them on and hurried out of the room. He was not also in the living room. She sensed that something was wrong.

She immediately dashed out of the house, only to realize that his car was no longer there.

As the cold gust of wind cut through her skin, it dawned on her that something had gone wrong somewhere. She raked her brain wondering what must have made him leave.

Like a speed of light, Xin Yong rushed back into the house; and into the bedroom picking up her phone, she dialed his number.

''Jin Yue please pick up your phone! What's wrong?''

It rang severally but Jin Yue was not picking up. Xin Yong felt her heart banging against her chest, the hands she held the phone with became very sweaty.

What exactly had gone wrong?

What did she do?

She kept on calling him but he did not pick up. Xin Yong's eyes became teary. This was the first time he had gotten angry with her; she wanted to know what she did. She wanted to know what made him leave the house at night.

Xin Yong kept on calling his number until he finally switched it off.

That was when she slumped on the floor, her hands shaky.

What did I do wrong?

…

When Jin Yue returned the next day, Xin Yong was lying crouched up on the couch, her phone in her hand. She didn't hear him come in; hence she was still sleeping silently on the couch.

The previous night, Jin Yue went to a bar and drank to stupor. He drank till his guts ached. He was trying to summon up courage to be able to do what was necessary. It was painful, grueling but he had no choice.

Although she had cheated on him, she was a good person, the most beautiful heart he had ever seen and she deserved to be happy, he would not come between her happiness.

After a long night of torment, he staggered to his car when the bar was about to close. Although he had drunk so much alcohol, Jin Yue could not explain why he was just so awake. He wanted to sleep and wake the next day and get everything over with, but it seemed even nature was against him.  Awake, he stayed in his car all night, reminiscing of the beautiful life he had with her and how it was about to come to an abrupt end.