Chapter 2

The apartment door eased open.

Emmett’s voice drifted in from the entrance, laced with playful affection.

My fingers froze.

The pen tip left a long, black streak across the calendar.

His eyes landed on the calendar in my hand, and his lips curved into a faint smirk.

“How could I possibly forget my baby’s graduation ceremony? I even planned something special for you that day.”

My fingers clenched tightly around the calendar.

I looked up, forcing a faint smile as I met his eyes.

“I’ve prepared a special gift for you, too.”

Emmett paused, then chuckled.

“You’re graduating, and yet you’re the one with a gift for me?”

I met his eyes, my gaze calm.

“Why not? Is that not allowed?”

Emmett paused, then chuckled softly.

“Of course it is. But Babe, will your Uncle Franklin be attending the graduation?”

I smiled, but the warmth didn’t reach my eyes.

“Do you want him there?”

“Well… if he finds out his lifelong rival has been with his precious niece, he might beat me so badly in front of the entire ceremony that even my parents wouldn’t recognize me.”

Hearing the humor in his voice, I glanced up nonchalantly.

“But Uncle Franklin just called. He said he’ll be attending the ceremony.”

Emmett raised his eyebrows slightly at my words. He let out a quiet laugh.

“Then let him come. It’s the perfect chance to let Franklin know what’s really going on between us.

“We’ve never seen eye to eye—but what can I do? He’s my lover’s uncle. I’ll just have to bite the bullet and call him ‘uncle’ too.

“Getting punched by an uncle doesn’t sound all that embarrassing, right?”

An invisible hand seemed to clutch my heart, squeezing until even breathing felt difficult.

Emmett slowly leaned in, his breath warm against my ear.

My body tensed immediately. I turned my head quickly to avoid his kiss.

"I… I'm a little tired tonight."

His lips paused briefly against the curve of my neck. With a sigh, he looped an arm around me and held me close.

"Alright. Then rest well tonight."

He tousled my hair gently before turning toward the bathroom.

The next morning, I woke early and packed a box full of old things.

Watches, tie clips, cufflinks, leather shoes...

Each of these had once been a carefully chosen gift from me to him, selected one by one over the years.

The moment I saw them again, I remembered the half-smiling, half-mocking look he always wore when receiving them.

Back then, I thought we shared something special.

Now I realized—it had only ever been me, hopelessly infatuated.

I picked up the box and headed downstairs.

I tossed it all into the trash bin without a second thought.

By the time Emmett woke, the apartment already felt noticeably emptier.

He glanced around the room, a flicker of surprise on his face.

"Why does it feel like a bunch of things are missing? Where’s my razor? And the matching mugs we used to have—where are they?"

I kept my expression calm and said evenly, "I threw them out."

He rubbed his brow, confusion in his voice, "Why throw everything out all of a sudden?"

I met his eyes, my gaze steady.

"They were outdated. It's time for something new."

Emmett didn’t press further.

"Hmm. Alright then. Send my assistant a list of what you need, and I’ll have him pick everything up. It’s almost ten—I’ll drive you to the office?"

I smiled and gently declined.

"No need. I quit this morning."

He paused mid-step and turned to look at me, frowning slightly.

"Didn’t you like that job? You wouldn’t even agree to intern at my company. Why quit all of a sudden?"

I remained silent for a few seconds before answering quietly, "Graduation’s coming. I want to focus on finishing school first."

There was a flicker in his eyes—a trace of something unreadable. He quickly set down what he was holding and nudged me onto the sofa.

"That’s fine. You’ll be graduating soon anyway. Once you’re done, come work at my company."

He slipped an arm around my shoulders while the other hand gently toyed with my earlobe.

His voice dropped to a lazy murmur, low and hoarse.

"That way, I can see you every minute of every day."

I stood abruptly, stepping away from his touch.

"If you don’t leave now, you’ll be late,” I said icily.

Emmett opened his mouth to speak, but after glancing at his watch, he chuckled and tapped me lightly on the forehead.

He adjusted his tie and walked to the door.

Then he turned back.

"Babe, I’ve got a dinner engagement tonight. Don’t wait up, okay?"

I didn’t say anything.

After he left, I returned to the bedroom.

I spent the entire afternoon sorting through and tossing out everything we once shared—every last item.

By the time I stood again in the middle of the apartment that no longer felt like home, it felt as if an anvil had settled on my chest, pressing down until I could barely breathe.

That was when my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.

[7 PM. Cloudview Restaurant. I’m Emmett’s fiancée. Don’t be late.]