Chapter 3

After submitting the departure request to the Capo, I began handling the final project handovers before leaving.

The person taking over my assignments was Wynne Hart, a trusted member of the syndicate who had always been on good terms with me.

When she found out I was leaving, she looked genuinely disappointed.

"Elara, are you seriously leaving?" she asked. "That means I'll have to watch those two shameless people flirting right in front of us every single day."

Her eyes flicked toward the meeting room.

Emily was bent down beside Daniel's chair, practically leaning against his leg. She looked slightly upset, like she had just been scolded.

Daniel suddenly pulled a Cartier bracelet from his pocket and gently placed it on her wrist. Her expression lit up with joy as she admired the gift.

Only then did Daniel notice me watching. He froze slightly, then stood up.

"Elara, don't take it the wrong way. Nothing is going on between me and Emily. It's just a bracelet."

The moment those words left his mouth, all eyes in the room turned to us.

In six years of dating, Daniel had never given me a single decent gift. He always assumed I came from some rural background and knew nothing about brands like Cartier.

Everyone around him thought the same. They all believed I was easy to please.

Even Wynne, standing next to me, couldn't hold back her anger.

"You two are still together? He really thinks you're dumb enough to buy this?"

I gently patted her hand to calm her down and then looked at Emily.

"That bracelet is lovely. It suits you."

Emily seemed startled that I wasn't angry. She looked uneasy.

"It's just a regular bracelet. Please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean anything by it..."

I smiled faintly.

A misunderstanding? There was no misunderstanding.

I had more Cartiers than I could count—custom pieces, even—locked away in the family vault back in Wexley.

What I felt wasn't jealousy. It was pain.

I had given up a better life and helped him build his foundation in Valemont, but in the end, all I received in return was betrayal.

My calmness caught him off guard. But instead of making things right, he quietly sat back down next to Emily.

Wynne leaned over and whispered, "You're really letting this go?"

I shrugged, packing away another folder. "Yeah. I've already decided to end things with him."

We had 99 weddings, but not one was completed. I was tired.

After we got home, Daniel surprisingly came over and helped carry a box of files to the car.

"I booked Per Se for eight o'clock tonight. We'll make it."

He glanced at my wrist and frowned. "Where's the bracelet I gave you?"

"I was worried it might break, so I left it at home."

He let out a breath of relief and chuckled. "You used to wear it every day. What, learning to take care of things now?"

I was still thinking of a lie to cover the truth when Emily skipped over with a grin.

"Boss, I'm all packed!"

Daniel's attention snapped to her immediately. He nodded and told her to wait in the car.

I watched as she casually climbed into the back seat and sat beside Daniel. He once told me the seat was reserved for his future wife, and I could only sit in it after we married.

Emily shot me a smug smile.

I lowered my head and stayed silent. My heart had already turned cold.

At the restaurant, they sat on one side and ordered together. No one asked what I wanted.

I didn't mind. I just watched the night outside the window, thinking that starting tomorrow, this city would have nothing to do with me anymore.

When the food arrived, Daniel peeled a bowl of shrimp for me.

"These are pretty good," he said.

I froze for a second, then looked up at him. He was giving me the kind of warm smile I hadn't seen in years.

Before I could react, Emily chimed in with a laugh. "I'm the one who recommended it! Last time we came, he ate three whole plates!"

Daniel looked awkward and muttered, "Don't say that in front of her..."

Emily grinned and turned to me. "Just a joke. Don't go home and fight with Boss, okay?"

The two of them giggled right in front of me.

I looked down at the bowl of shrimp, and my stomach twisted.

I forced myself to take a bite, but I couldn't swallow it. I pushed the bowl away.

"I don't like shrimp. You two can have it."

The laughter stopped.

Daniel looked concerned. "Are you upset?"

I shook my head.

"No. It's just too fishy. Not my taste."

Just like the two of you—reeking.

After dinner, Daniel brought a tipsy Emily home.

I stood by the door and watched them enter before gently closing it behind them.

As soon as the car arrived, I headed straight for the airport.

On the way, Daniel was still messaging me on WhatsApp, talking about rescheduling the wedding and saying he wanted to take care of everything himself.

"Don't worry," he wrote. "This time, nothing will go wrong. No one will interrupt us!"

I replied expressionlessly, "Okay."

But I knew that wedding would never happen.

Just before I boarded my flight, he sent another message.

"Emily drank too much. She's not feeling well. I'm staying over to look after her. Lock the doors and windows, alright?"

I let out a quiet laugh and typed my last reply. "No worries. You can come back whenever you like. I've already moved out. From now on, we're done. Goodbye, Daniel."

I hit send, then blocked and deleted him.

As the plane took off, I watched the lights of Valemont fade in the distance.

Meanwhile, Daniel finally started to panic.