Chapter 5

On the way back to the apartment, Leonardo tried to hold my hand.

“Violet, I misunderstood you earlier. I shouldn’t have raised my voice at you.

“But I also didn’t want you to misunderstand me. I was busy in the kitchen just to leave a good impression on my friends.

“Don’t be mad, okay? Didn’t I leave the party early and agree to spend time with you alone?

“Let’s go back, send the person viewing the apartment away, and tell the agent we’re not subleasing anymore. Please?”

I shook his hand off and looked at him seriously.

“Leonardo, do I look like I’m f*cking with you?

“Since you insist on coming back with me, that works. You can take all your things with you.”

Seeing that I wouldn’t give in, he grew annoyed.

“Violet, aren’t you going too far this time?

“We’re in a relationship. You didn’t even discuss it with me and just decided to move out on your own?”

I found it funny.

“Leonardo, when you decided to go to Sicilia, not only did you not ask for my opinion, but you didn’t even plan to tell me. So why are you suddenly making an issue of it now?”

“How is that the same?”

He raised his voice, his chest rising and falling.

“That wasn’t decided yet back then. Besides, I was doing it for your own good. I didn’t want you to overthink.”

A surge of anger rushed up my throat.

“Stop making excuses for yourself. You were the one who took the initiative to develop this business in Sicilia. Don’t tell me you had no idea whether you’d be sent there.

“Since you never planned to include me in your future, I don’t need you in mine either.”

Leonardo froze for a moment, his tone weakening.

“Violet, what do you mean by that?”

Soon, we arrived at the apartment.

He saw the matching scarves we bought last Christmas, the photo from Starlight Island that we had developed and framed…

More than a dozen items, big and small, carrying nearly a year of our memories, including that Hermès bag.

All of them were placed on the coffee table.

He stared in shock. “You’re not taking any of these?”

“No.”

“Where are you moving to?”

“Work transfer to Sampa, Pindorama.”

After hearing that, Leonardo let out a short laugh.

“Violet, are you trying to piss me off on purpose? Didn’t we already reach an understanding about me going abroad?

“What, do you think doing this will make me stay?”

After that day, I packed all of Leonardo’s belongings into cardboard boxes and threw them outside the door.

During the three days we had no contact, Leonardo didn’t know that on the same day he was leaving for Sicilia, I was also heading to Pindorama.

The flight from Bayview to Sampa would take nearly ten hours across the ocean.

I felt uneasy about the unknown future.

But more than that, I felt relieved.

Once I arrived, it would be time to formally break up with Leonardo.

Unexpectedly, a severe storm in the Mediterranean shifted course and hit Sicilia.

Leonardo’s flight was delayed.

When he called me, I had just passed airport security.

“Violet, I think this is a chance for me to make things right.

“Let’s meet. I don’t want to carry our unresolved issues abroad.”

The background noise in the call grew louder.

I looked around and noticed a young couple having dinner in a nearby restaurant.

The restaurant was running a promotion.

There was a poster on the wall advertising a couple’s set meal.

Through a pane of glass, Leonardo saw me as well.

Before he could speak, I said calmly, “There’s nothing left to talk about between us. I won’t interrupt you two on your couple’s meal. Leonardo, let’s break up.”

Then I hung up.

Leonardo ran out after me.

“Violet, it’s not what you think. Katrina wanted the promotional doll, so I just accompanied her for the meal.”

Then he finally noticed the suitcase beside me.

His face turned pale instantly.

“Where are you going?”

He realized then that we were in the international departures hall.

“You’re really going to Pindorama? Is your family business really that important to you?”

I nodded. “Leonardo, there’s something you said that was right.

“Everyone should be responsible for their own choices.”

When the boarding announcement sounded, he grabbed my suitcase and refused to let go.

His eyes were slightly red as he spoke through clenched teeth.

“Violet, if you really break up with me, then I’ll get together with Katrina!

“You might not know this, but half a year ago, the day you came to get back together with me, Katrina confessed to me.

“It’s not like I can’t live without you!”

I smiled. “Alright, then go be with her.”

He stared at me, his gaze turning colder.

“You said it. I hope you don’t regret it.”

“I won’t.”

After saying that, I turned around and didn’t look back.