Leaving on a Summer's Day

After hanging up the phone, Heather didn't head straight to the manor. Instead, she returned home.The 1,000-square-foot apartment, meticulously decorated over the years by her and Mitchell, exuded warmth and comfort rather than feeling cavernous.She had once believed this place would always be their home—a sanctuary for them both. But after discovering Mitchell's betrayal last night, it was clear it no longer held that meaning.The diamond rings meant to be exchanged on their wedding day in two weeks had already been delivered into her hands. These matching rings were something Heather had watched Mitchell design, stroke by careful stroke. She remembered how Mitchell had held her close as he eagerly explained the design."These rings have hidden grooves," he had said, his eyes full of hope. "When placed together, they form a heart—symbolizing that we'll never be apart."Heather shook off the memory and, without hesitation, retrieved the rings before dialing a number."Hello, I'

Mitchell stared at the notification on the screen, unease creeping into his chest again. Just as he reached for Heather's phone to see what it was about, the dressing room curtain suddenly swished open, and Heather stepped out. The gown she wore complemented the gemstone jewelry Mitchell had chosen for her perfectly, adding an ethereal glow to her already stunning beauty. Mitchell forgot all about the countdown on her phone. His eyes lit up, transfixed by her. "Heather, I'm so lucky to have you." In the past, Heather would have blushed under the intensity of his gaze, her heart racing. But now, her expression remained calm. She avoided his gaze and felt no flicker of emotion in her chest. Mitchell leaned in to kiss her, but she subtly turned her head, sidestepping him. "Let's go. We're running late," she said. As she picked up her phone, Mitchell's mind returned to the countdown he'd glimpsed earlier. His brow furrowed as he spoke, "I saw a countdown on your

After returning to the bedroom, Heather found herself slipping into a daze, her mind foggy as she drifted into a heavy sleep. At one point, she sensed Mitchell had returned. She could feel his gaze lingering on her for what seemed like an eternity while she lay still. A short time later, his phone rang sharply, and after a few more rings, he hesitated for a moment before getting up and leaving.The next morning, Mitchell didn't even bother to come back. Vanessa pushed a plate of breakfast in front of Heather, her expression filled with motherly affection. "Mitchell said something came up at the company, so he had to leave in a rush this morning. If you don't mind, stay with me here at the manor. It might be less boring."Heather froze for a moment, looking at Vanessa's calm face. If it weren't for hearing her conversation with Mitchell last night—regarding her knowing about his affair—Heather might have actually believed Vanessa was just being caring. But now, both of them felt

During the days Mitchell was away, Heather found a bit of peace.She took the opportunity to remove everything that belonged to her from their home. Heather had secretly bought a small apartment in Kennethville, a place where she could temporarily store her belongings. As she cleared out the house, the memories she shared with Mitchell slowly vanished.The night before the wedding, Mitchell unexpectedly returned home, holding a photo that looked familiar to Heather. At that moment, she was finishing up packing the last of her things. When Mitchell walked in and saw the now-empty house, he almost thought he had walked into the wrong door. But when he saw Heather sitting in the living room, covered in dust and looking like a little kitten, a sense of relief washed over him."How did you get yourself so messy? And what happened to all the stuff?" he asked.Heather hadn't expected Mitchell to return so suddenly. She froze for a second when she heard his question. But after these

Mitchell rushed through every room of the house, searching frantically in every corner, but there was no sign of Heather anywhere."Heather… Please, Heather, don't joke with me. We still have a wedding to finish…"Mitchell repeated her name over and over, but each empty call only drained the hope from his heart. It all seemed to disappear with each unanswered cry. He had already noticed something strange earlier—Heather's belongings were gone. All the things that belonged to her—their couple's items, the framed photos on the wall, the gifts they had exchanged over anniversaries, and all the little reminders that Heather had ever been there—were all missing.Last night, he had sensed something was off when he came home, but he hadn't paid attention to it.On the dining table, two plates of spaghetti he had made the night before sat untouched. The photo of him and Heather, their first official picture together after they had become a couple, was carelessly thrown on the table. The