Chapter 1

After leaving the private room at the clubhouse, I went straight to the mall where I had bought the watch.

The sales associate recognized me immediately.

Barely 30 minutes ago, I had beamed as she handed me the gift box.

Now, with the ribbon still tied, I was asking her to process a return.

"Ma'am, since the case back is custom-engraved, we can only buy it back at a discounted price."

"How much can I get back?" I asked.

"4,200 dollars."

It was a 6,000-dollar watch, funded by six months of my hard-earned savings.

Just like that, I was throwing away nearly 2,000 dollars.

I gave a nod. "Do it."

As the sales associate took the box, Miriam Briggs' condescending chuckle echoed behind me. "See? What did I tell you? I knew she'd return it."

My boyfriend, Carl Humphry, and the rest of the crew from the private room had followed me down.

They hovered outside the store like spectators at a circus.

One of his friends pulled out a phone and snapped a picture of the receipt.

"Spends 6,000 dollars on a watch and expects a sports car from Carl in return. With returns like that, even investment experts should take notes."

"Hey, Reyna dragged herself out of some backwater town to land Carl. Give her some credit."

Their words stung like icy needles.

Miriam strutted over and shot a dismissive glance at the buyback slip. "You guys are so naive. Cheap gold diggers just ask for cash outright.

"Her type is far more calculating. She spends a little pocket change, plays the martyr, returns the gift, and leaves the guy drowning in guilt. Next thing you know, she gets a house and a car."

The crowd burst into laughter.

"Ah, playing the long game! No wonder she hasn't accepted a single gift from Carl in three years. She's aiming to be Mrs. Humphry."

I grabbed my bank card and turned to walk away.

Carl grabbed my wrist. "Haven't you made enough of a scene?"

He pulled a black bank card from his wallet and jammed it into my palm. "I was too harsh earlier. Take it and buy yourself something nice. Just drop the attitude."

As I stared at the card, a heavy knot formed in my chest.

In our three years of being together, I hadn't spent a single dime of his money.

Yet even now, he believed that every ounce of my pain could be bought off.

I set the bank card down on the glass counter. "Carl, we're over."

His expression hardened instantly.

However, Miriam clapped her hands. "See what I mean? Returning the watch was just the appetizer. The breakup is the main course."

She turned to Carl, looking utterly confident. "She's put in three years of work, and she's right at the finish line. As if she'd actually walk away. She's just backing you into a corner so you'll propose."

The crowd immediately chimed in, "Come on, Carl! Get down on one knee! Better do it now, or next time she'll skip the watch and slit her wrists for attention."

Carl's furrowed brow slowly relaxed. He lowered his gaze to me, and a note of understanding crept into his voice as he said, "If you want to get married, just say so. Using a breakup to manipulate me is low."

I yanked my hand free. "I'm not trying to manipulate you. I just don't want you anymore."

Carl stared at me, his last shred of patience evaporating. "Fine. Let's see how long this little act of yours lasts."

I didn't bother to reply. I turned around and walked out of the mall alone.

I had just stepped into a cab when my boss, Steve Adkins, called. "We need someone for the Jeloria project right away. It's a three-year overseas assignment, leaving the day after tomorrow. The conditions out there are tough. Are you up for it?"

In the past, I had turned down two major assignments just to stay by Carl's side.

This time, I didn't hesitate for a second. "Count me in."

I booked a ticket for 9:00 am the day after tomorrow.

I had less than 48 hours left before I said goodbye to this city and Carl forever.