Chapter 2

On the other end of the line, my upperclassman, Andrew Jones, could barely contain his excitement.

"That's fantastic, Melissa! Professor Carr and the rest of the team have missed you so much over the years. They'll be thrilled to know you're joining."

Years ago, Melissa had given up the chance to study abroad just to marry Hayden.

For three years, she turned down her mentor Benjamin Carr's invitations time and again, and devoted herself full‑time to looking after Hayden.

"But Melissa, this research project requires strict confidentiality. Joining means you'll be off the grid for years, maybe even decades. Is your family…"

Melissa let out a soft laugh. "I don't have a family anymore."

Ever since her mother passed away, she had considered Hayden her only remaining kin. She never imagined that he had viewed her as nothing more than a stand-in and a tool all along.

In that case, rather than waiting around to get divorced, she would take the lead and walk away.

Andrew sighed before offering a gentle word of comfort. "Once you get here, we'll all be your family."

After hanging up, Melissa leaned quietly against the wall. Suddenly, a surprised voice came from ahead. "Melissa?"

Melissa looked up and saw Hayden carefully helping Lydia outside. Lydia was leaning completely against him.

Seeing how pale Melissa looked from afar, a flicker of concern flashed across Hayden's eyes. "Melissa? What are you doing here?"

Melissa took a deep breath to shove down the bitterness in her chest. Her voice trembled as she replied, "I-I was just having some severe cramps, so I came in for a checkup. What about you? Didn't you say you had to work late tonight?"

She stared straight into Hayden's eyes. For reasons he couldn't place, a sudden wave of guilt washed over him.

"Lydia wasn't feeling well, so I brought her over for a quick check. She's my employee after all. I should look out for her."

Melissa couldn't help but let out a cold laugh inwardly. Did looking out for her include sleeping with her?

Lydia chimed in with a sweet smile, "You must be Mrs. Davies! Wow, your eyes look so much like mine!"

She hit the words "Mrs. Davies" with heavy emphasis, dripping with deliberate provocation.

A sharp pang pierced Melissa's heart, but she stayed silent.

Noticing Hayden's gaze lingering on Melissa, Lydia reached out and wrapped her arms around his before cooing softly, "Hayden, I suddenly feel dizzy again. Could you please take me home?"

Hayden looked at Lydia's pained expression, then hesitated as he turned to Melissa. "Melissa, Lydia isn't feeling well, so I should probably—"

"Go ahead," Melissa said, cutting him off. After all, she knew Lydia mattered more to him. "I'll be fine. I'll just catch a cab back."

Hayden breathed a sigh of relief, though seeing Melissa so calm made him strangely uneasy.

He reassured himself that he'd make it up to her once he got home.

With that, he wrapped an arm around Lydia and left.

As Melissa watched their retreating figures, she silently mocked herself.

…

When she got back to the house, the couple's items scattered everywhere hit her like a punch to the gut.

The photos hanging on the walls, the matching mugs on the dining table, the hand-knit blanket draped over the couch…

Every warm memory had turned into a sharp blade aimed right at her heart.

After taking a deep breath, Melissa began packing every single item tied to their past into a large cardboard box.

She took down the framed photos. As she looked at the beaming faces of their younger selves, her eyes welled up. She gently traced the man's face in the picture.

This was taken on their third day of marriage. Back then, Hayden used to stare endlessly into her eyes.

"Melissa, I could look into these eyes forever."

Only now did she realize he had been looking at Lydia through her all along.

The thought sent a sharp ache through her heart, and she tossed the photo into the box.

She slowly sat down on the couch, forcing herself to forget the beautiful memories of the past.

When they first got married, she had been shy and reserved, feeling as though she were living in a dream.

Hayden had cleared his schedule and canceled every meeting just to take her shopping and buy up all the cute little trinkets she liked.

He had redecorated the entire house to make it warm and comfortable to help her settle in as the lady of the house.

To make up for the dating phase they missed, he took her to the movies, rode roller coasters with her, and snapped couple selfies.

They had been so happy. How did everything end up like this?

Melissa couldn't make sense of it. As she rubbed her empty stomach, tears streamed down her face.

Packing up the room took three hours.

Then, she dragged out another heavy trunk from the bottom of the closet.

Inside were all the gifts Hayden had showered her with over the past three years.

For her birthday, he had given her a pink diamond tiara, promising to always spoil her like a princess.

For Valentine's Day, he had given her a handwritten love letter accompanied by 999 roses, promising to make up for the 23 years he hadn't known her.

For their anniversary, he had given her a custom-designed diamond ring, promising to love and protect her forever.

Melissa had never cared for material things, but Hayden used to hold her close and whisper, "You deserve the absolute best of everything."

Wiping away her tears, she dragged everything out to the center of the courtyard.

She set the pile ablaze and quietly watched those precious memories turn to ash.

As the fire roared higher, Melissa stared into the flames, completely lost in thought.

That was when Hayden walked into the yard.

Puzzled by the smoldering pile, he suddenly noticed a half-burned blanket among the ashes. Embroidered on the edge were two sets of initials—HD and MS.

Ignoring the scorching heat, he rushed forward and grabbed the burning scrap of fabric with his bare hands.

"Melissa! W-What are you doing?"

A panic she had never seen before flashed across Hayden's face as he grabbed her hand.

He really was a great actor.

Without a word, Melissa calmly pulled her hand out of his grip and offered a faint smile. "Nothing. The blanket was getting old, so I figured I'd get a new one."

A storm of emotions flickered across Hayden's expression.

After a long pause, he let out a heavy sigh. "If you don't want it anymore, fine. I'll buy you a new one later."

"Okay," Melissa replied coldly before turning on her heel to head inside.

Watching her walk away, Hayden felt a sharp pang in his chest, as if something vital was slipping through his fingers. However, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Melissa! Look what I got you!"