Chapter 4

I woke up the following morning and found that Cassian was already gone. I packed my bags, had someone send them to the airport ahead of me, and then checked the house to make sure I hadn't left anything behind.

I noticed that there were bright sticky notes covering the whole house, making it almost jarring to look at. I had written each and every one of them myself.

"I'm Maeve Stewart. I'm married to you, Cassian.

"We met on a trip and fell in love at first sight. You were the one who told me you loved me first.

"We've been to 15 countries, and we're working toward our goal of traveling around the world.

"I love you so much, so please don't hurt me or forget about me, Cassian."

I had placed every note somewhere conspicuous. I'd spent years doing everything I could while Cassian pretended to have amnesia, yet he'd never noticed. I took down the notes one by one, tore them into pieces, and threw them away.

…

After taking care of everything, I went to the restaurant for Yvonne Zeller's birthday party. After all, I wanted to say goodbye to my only true friend before leaving.

Yvonne grabbed my arm and said, "Come in! Cassian arrived a long time ago! Why didn't you come together, Maeve?"

I merely shook my head in response.

"I've arranged a seat for you at the table inside, right beside Cassian," Yvonne said before hurrying off to welcome other guests.

I noticed that all the seats were taken by the time I made my way over. Nadine was sitting next to Cassian, while my name tag sat on the floor by the foot of her chair. Almost everyone else at the table was a good friend of Cassian's.

I walked up to Nadine and said, "You're in my seat."

Nadine acted as if she hadn't heard me and tugged Cassian's sleeve, asking him to peel her shrimp for her.

It was then that someone nearby said mockingly, "You've probably made a mistake, miss! Cassian doesn't even seem to know who you are, after all. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to insist on sitting beside him?"

Those around the table watched with interest, waiting to see what would happen. Their commotion soon attracted the attention of those nearby, and murmurs spread through the crowd.

I stood alone in the middle of it all, looking rather awkward.

Nadine turned to Cassian and asked, "Do you know her, Cassian?"

Cassian glanced at me. He pursed his lips and seemed on the verge of speaking, but he ended up shaking his head instead.

Everyone at the table broke into laughter.

"You'd better leave now, miss! You're not welcome here!"

"It's so hilarious! She's throwing herself at him, and he couldn't care less!"

I suspected that Cassian's friends knew he was faking his amnesia. They had all kept it a secret from me and treated my suffering as a joke. They treated me the way Cassian did—the less he cared, the bolder they became.

In the past, they used to make me cry all the time, but now, I felt no emotional reaction at all.

I turned away and looked for a free spot in the restaurant. Cassian kept his eyes on me the whole way. He had seen how awkward things were for me, but he still said nothing. I eventually found a seat in the corner and took a seat.

I could hear the laughter from Cassian's table even half a restaurant away. Nadine had too much to drink and was nestled in his arms, pouting and acting like a spoiled child. Cassian, on the other hand, had completely put me out of his mind.

It seemed I was the only one who had been deeply affected by those seven years, while to him, they meant nothing at all.

Yvonne rushed over after seeing me get up and asked, "Where are you off to, Maeve? Cassian hasn't left yet. He's suffering from intermittent amnesia at the moment. Aren't you going to take him back first?"

I gently pushed Yvonne's hand away and said, "Cassian will know how to find his way back once I'm gone. I'll see you again if we get the chance. I'll be leaving Brightwell now, Yvonne…"

In the end, as the plane took off and left the city behind, all I had left was a signed divorce agreement. I was finally bidding farewell to my past once and for all.