Chapter 9

On the day she left, Eliza called the lawyer. "Today is the last day of the cooling-off period. Is there anything else I need to do?"

"No. As of today, your marriage has been legally dissolved," the lawyer answered with measured care. "Ms. Lockett, congratulations. You have your freedom back."

This time, Eliza's smile was genuine. She lowered her hand to her abdomen and let it rest there.

'Yes. From today on, it will be just me and the child. We can start over,' she thought.

She would find a place with beautiful scenery and spend her days remembering Kyran while raising their baby.

After she hung up, she packed a small suitcase. Most important, she gathered every item she had collected over the years from Alban, everything that had once belonged to Kyran, and placed them carefully inside.

As she reached the door, she nearly collided with Alban, who had just returned home.

He paused when he saw the luggage in her hand. "Where are you going?"

"On vacation," she replied, as she had before.

He thought of the plane ticket he had seen a few days ago. "Where to? I happen to be free lately. I can go with you."

The offer caught her off guard. He rarely suggested traveling with her.

Alban seemed to realize he had sounded too eager. His expression cooled at once. "Think of it as compensation for last time. After this, don't dwell on it."

She was still considering how to refuse when his phone rang.

Davina's soft voice carried clearly through the speaker. "Al, I need to talk to you. Can we meet?"

On any other day, he would have agreed at once and gone to her. Today, he hesitated.

"Another time," he said.

Silence followed.

Davina was stunned. He had never refused her before.

After a brief pause, she added, "What I need to tell you is very important."

Alban frowned. A moment later, he relented. "All right. I'll come over now."

Relief slipped from Eliza in a quiet breath. She lowered her eyes, afraid her expression might betray her.

He misread her reaction and cleared his throat. "I know you've liked me for a long time. But I can't abandon Vina for you. She'll always come first. Let's forget this trip. I'll go with you next time."

She knew he had misunderstood again, but she was too tired to correct him. It was the last day. She would let him believe whatever he wished.

Her silence convinced him she was upset, so he offered to drive her to the airport.

…

The car sped along the elevated highway.

Eliza watched the city slide past the window and said her final goodbye in silence. She would never return.

At the airport entrance, she stepped out, cradling the box in her arms as if it were something fragile.

Alban gave a faint smile. "You really like me that much? You're even taking my things on a trip. That's not very convenient."

Before she could answer, his phone rang again. Davina urged him to hurry.

He ended the call and said, "Call me when you're back. I'll pick you up."

Then he got into the car and drove away without looking back.

Eliza watched the car disappear into traffic and allowed herself a free, unguarded smile. She would not return. They would never see each other again.

She took out her phone, inserted the new SIM card she had prepared, snapped the old one in half, and dropped it into a trash can.

Holding the box close, she walked straight into the airport and did not look back.