Chapter 3

"Attention, passengers. Flight ZR877 to Lindrow is now boarding..."

The announcement echoed throughout the airport terminal.

I sat in the departure lounge, holding two boarding passes to Sundale.

There were still 40 minutes before takeoff, and Jaxson still hadn't shown up. I didn't call him. I simply sat there quietly, watching the flight information flicker across the departure board.

Surprisingly, I felt calm. More than that, I felt a sense of relief. It was as if this was exactly what I had expected all along.

My phone screen finally lit up. A voice call from Jaxson came in.

I answered it.

"Mira, I'm sorry!" Jaxson's anxious voice came through the receiver, accompanied by rushing wind, heavy breathing, and the blaring of car horns.

He said urgently, "I got into a minor fender bender on the ring expressway, and the other driver just won't let it go. I probably won't make this flight. You go to Sundale first. I'll deal with things here and catch the earliest flight tomorrow morning to meet you there, okay?"

He sounded sincere.

In the past, I would have immediately asked if he was hurt and repeatedly reminded him to stay safe.

But now, I listened closely to the faint background noise coming through the phone.

"Passenger Ingrid Rice, your flight to Lindrow is taking off. Please proceed to your boarding gate immediately..."

The announcement was extremely faint and almost drowned out by the windy noise he had deliberately created, but I still heard it.

"Okay. Stay safe. I'll wait for you." My voice was calm and didn't give away anything.

With that, I hung up.

I stood up, picked up my suitcase, and walked out of the domestic departures area. Following the large overhead signs, I made my way to the international departures terminal instead.

Ten minutes later, I stopped outside the boarding gate for the flight to Esdarland. Through the glass, I saw Jaxson, who had claimed he was dealing with a traffic accident on the ring expressway.

He was perfectly fine as he stood there gently adjusting the cashmere scarf around Ingrid's neck with careful, tender movements. Ingrid looked up at him, and the two of them hugged each other. After some time passed, they were still reluctant to let go.

I stood outside the slightly open door of the VIP lounge with my suitcase.

Hidden in a blind spot, I happened to see Jaxson and his friend, Hank Zeller.

Hank handed him a cup of long black and let out a scoff of disapproval. "Bro, you ditched your girlfriend and sent her to Sundale alone just to come see Ingrid off. Aren't you playing with fire?"

Jaxson didn't take the coffee. He kept his eyes on Ingrid as she repeatedly looked back toward him from the security checkpoint while casually straightening his cuff.

He responded, "Mira's sensible. She's not like Ingrid. Without me, Ingrid wouldn't even be able to find the boarding gate. Mira can take care of herself just fine. When I fly over tomorrow, I'll just buy her that limited-edition handbag she's been wanting for ages to cheer her up."

Sensible, huh?

Again, it was because I was "sensible".

Through the glass, I looked at his gentle, attentive profile.

I remembered three years earlier when I'd come down with a high fever and gone to the hospital alone for an IV drip. During that time, I'd called him. He'd said his competition was at a critical stage and he couldn't get away. He'd just told me to make sure I took good care of myself.

So, my being sensible and strong had become the perfect excuse for him to abandon me whenever he wanted and favor another woman.

The young man who had once run all over the city to buy me cold medicine finally disappeared from my heart beneath the cold lights of the airport.

I took out my phone and opened the camera, aiming it at the two of them who were gazing adoringly at each other.

Following a click, I captured that moment of deep affection.

I put away my phone and walked over to a nearby trash can. I threw away the graduation island trip itinerary along with the two first-class tickets.

"I wish you two a lifetime of happiness."

I quietly said the words to my reflection in the glass before turning around and pulling my suitcase behind me as I strode out of the airport.

I immediately called my best friend, Tamara Small.

"Tammy, I need a favor from you. Help me contact a moving company. I'm moving."