Chapter 2

The sound of footsteps from upstairs pulled me out of my painful memories.

I looked up instinctively and saw Zoey coming down the stairs, beautifully dressed with exquisite makeup.

Even after being rejected so many times, whenever I saw her again, my heart still leapt out of habit.

But when I raised my head and met her indifferent, scrutinizing gaze, my heart trembled and my voice caught on the spot.

Her eyes were as cold as those of a stranger...

She only glanced at me, ignored me, and was about to leave the house.

But it was already close to midnight.

My chest felt unbearably tight, and I couldn’t help calling out to her.

“Zoey, it’s late. Where are you going?”

Without stopping, Zoey replied coldly, “Cameron asked me out for a late-night meal. I won’t be coming back tonight.”

Her casual words struck my heart like thunder.

The Zoey of the past would never have spoken to me like that.

She knew I had lost my entire family overnight and didn’t like being left alone at home, so she never left me at home by myself for even one night.

Even when she had academic work or business trips, she would return the same day—no matter how rushed or late it was—because she wanted to be home to watch over me.

The reason was simple: she was afraid I wouldn’t sleep well or that my nerves would act up when I was alone.

Over the years, she hadn’t spent even a single night away from home.

But everything changed after that impulsive moment at my coming-of-age ceremony.

Zoey became distant, began traveling frequently, staying away for at least a week each time. Even during the rare moments when she was at home, she intentionally kept her distance.

She no longer worried about my sleeplessness or nervousness, no longer cared about me in the slightest, and personally extinguished the faint light in my heart.

And ever since Cameron appeared, Zoey had gone even further, treating me as nothing more than a stranger...

I understood her intentions clearly, and the pain was unbearable.

I had tried to win her back, but she ignored it all and only grew more distant.

Now, I was completely helpless.

I lifted my stiff hand and straightened my clothes, then suddenly called out to her at the door.

“Zoey, I want to stay at a classmate’s place for a couple of days.”

Zoey’s hand paused slightly on the doorknob in faint surprise, but she soon recovered and opened the door.

“Do whatever you want. No one’s stopping you.”

She left without looking back, and the heavy thud of the closing door slammed hard against my heart.

My eyes burned with bitterness. I silently stood up, went back to my room, and began packing my luggage.

This room was the largest master bedroom in the Shaw family’s villa. A huge French window, tasteful and stylish furniture—every detail had been designed with painstaking care by Zoey.

Once, this had been her bedroom, yet she gave it to me without hesitation and gently patted my head.

“Sam, you’re the best younger brother in the world, so of course you deserve the best room. When you stand by the French window, you’ll be able to see me returning the moment I come home. That way, you won’t be afraid anymore...”

The memories were dreamlike in their beauty, but reality was so cruel I could hardly breathe.

Now I stood before that window, watching with my own eyes as she walked away, heading toward another man.

I finally understood that her partiality no longer belonged to me, and naturally, this room should be returned to her.

I was leaving, and this place belonged to the man in her heart.

I finished packing all my belongings, locked the door, and spent the night on the sofa.

The next morning, I booked a hotel and planned to store my luggage there before going to handle the procedures for my visa.

But at that moment, Zoey returned.

I glanced at her, no longer with the enthusiasm of the past—only a polite smile as I prepared to leave.

Zoey seemed unaccustomed to my distant demeanor. Seeing the many bags I carried, she frowned.

“Isn’t this a little too much luggage for just two days?”

I paused and said casually, “I just packed what I thought I need, but I didn’t expect there to be so much.”

Zoey stared at me for a long time, ultimately finding nothing wrong, and relaxed.

“You have a lot of luggage. I’ll give you a lift.”

Maybe it had been too long since I heard her offer to send me anywhere, and for a moment, I actually wanted to accept.

But when I remembered the news from last night, my heart sank, and I shook my head.

“No need. It’s Cameron’s birthday, isn’t it? I saw in the news that you spent millions on a diamond watch. He must be very happy to receive it!”

Zoey showed some surprise and instinctively explained, “That watch was something I gave to—”

Her words were cut off by footsteps outside the door.

Wearing a sharp suit and standing tall, Cameron walked in and gently held Zoey’s hand.

“Zoey, it’s my birthday. We should go.”

So it was true.

I forced a smile and quietly stepped aside.

Maybe because I was about to leave, seeing the two of them being affectionate caused little reaction in me—only a dull bitterness.

“Okay, let’s go.”

Zoey responded softly to Cameron and didn’t explain anything to me. She merely looked back at me calmly.

“Come with us. We’ll drop you off on the way.”

“Thank you, Zoey.”

Looking at the perfectly matched pair, I felt a moment of dazedness and forced myself to smile.

This time, perhaps it would be our last time seeing each other.

‘Thank you for sending me off on my final journey, Zoey.’