Chapter 8

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 past few days, she'd become quite skilled at hiding her emotions and lying smoothly.

"I was just getting rid of some old things. I'll replace them after the wedding," she replied.

Mitchell had clearly misunderstood her, but she didn't bother explaining further.

He then smiled gently and sat next to her, handing her the photo.

"I had this photo restored by a professional. It's our first picture together after we got serious. Take a look—it's just like the old one," he said.

Heather took the newly restored photo in her hands. Underneath a blossoming pear tree, she smiled at the camera, while Mitchell looked at her with a soft expression.

This was their first official photo together, taken after Heather had agreed to be his girlfriend.

But not long ago, this very photo, which had been displayed in Mitchell's office, was torn apart by Bethany's dog.

Because the original was lost, printing a new one wasn't an option.

Of course, Mitchell hadn't told Heather about this incident. Instead, it was Bethany who brought it up, proudly boasting about how Mitchell favored her.

Now, Mitchell had had the photo restored, but no matter how well a photo could be fixed, emotions couldn't be repaired.

Heather spoke in a calm tone, "I suddenly crave the spaghetti you used to make. Let's have dinner together tonight."

After she was rescued, Heather had been starving for days and had devoured two full plates of spaghetti. To make sure she always had something she loved to eat, Mitchell had spent a month learning how to make them at a local restaurant until they tasted just right.

It was her way of putting a final end to the relationship between her and Mitchell.

Mitchell gently ruffled her hair, not thinking twice before agreeing.

But just as the spaghetti was ready and placed on the table, Mitchell's phone rang.

His expression shifted from relaxed to serious, and after hanging up, he looked at Heather with a mixture of guilt and hesitation.

He hadn't spoken yet, but she already knew what he had to say.

"Heather, there's an urgent matter at the company..."

Heather lowered her head and played with the spaghetti using her fork while trying to force a smile, but failing nonetheless.

"Company matters are important. You should go. We'll have plenty of time later."

Mitchell gave her a tight hug and said, "Thank you for understanding."

Heather smiled, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Heather, I might be working late tonight. You don't have to wait for me. I'm really looking forward to seeing you in your wedding dress tomorrow."

Heather, still in his arms, mumbled softly, "I can't wait either..."

She was eager to see his reaction when he realized the bride wasn't who he thought.

Once Mitchell left, Heather received a message from Bethany.

[Heather, even on the night before your wedding, he's here with me. Why are you even trying? Do you really think you can compete with me?]

Bethany had stopped expecting a reply. Still, the harsh words kept coming.

Heather turned the phone's screen off and stared at the spaghetti in front of her, but she had no appetite.

It wasn't just love that could change; even habits and tastes could shift so easily.

She tore the photo Mitchell had brought home in the middle, separating Mitchell from herself.

Afterward, she took a warm bath and quickly fell asleep, letting herself rest for the night.

The next morning, just before 7:00 AM, Heather woke up.

She smiled as she saw the notification for her train departure and the package in transit. She had already packed everything she needed days ago, and the remaining items were only the essentials she would need for the coming days.

Once everything was packed, Heather left the place she had once considered home, without looking back.

-

Meanwhile, Mitchell suddenly woke up in Bethany's bed, his chest tight with unease. His heart raced as the feeling of panic grew stronger.

He glanced at the clock, then quickly got dressed.

The night before, he had received a call from Bethany, crying about a fall she had taken and how much pain she was in. When he arrived, he realized it was just a ploy to get his attention.

But in the end, he couldn't resist staying.

After leaving Bethany's place, Mitchell thought about his wedding with Heather today. A smile spread across his face, and he felt an excited rush.

He couldn't wait to see Heather, so he sent her a message.

[Heather, I'm so excited to see you.]

The reply came quickly.

[Me too. I can't wait for you to see the surprise I've prepared for the opening of the wedding.]

Time passed quickly. At the wedding venue, seats filled up with guests, and Mitchell stood on stage, beaming as he talked about his and Heather's love story.

As romantic music played, colorful balloons floated into the sky, and the bride slowly walked down the aisle, the eyes of everyone in the room following her.

"Heather, I want to spend my life proving to you how much I love and cherish you. Will you be my wife?" Mitchell asked, his voice full of emotion.

With everyone watching, the bride, veiled, nodded.

Mitchell smiled widely and reached to lift her veil.

But when he saw who stood before him, his expression froze. The overwhelming wave of panic swept through him as he realized the woman standing in front of him was Bethany.