Chapter 4

I clenched my fists. My nails dug into my palms.

I didn't explain. I didn't defend myself. I just walked out and closed the door behind me.

Luna shot me a look over Felix's shoulder as I left. Triumphant and pitying all at once.

She had proven her point. Against her, the "first love," I was nothing.

Luna pretended to struggle for breath for a while longer. Then, when the door clicked shut, she gradually calmed down.

She noticed Felix was distracted. His eyes kept drifting toward the door.

"What's wrong, Felix?" she asked, softening her voice.

"I'm sorry. Did I scare Sera earlier? I didn't mean to make you angry at her."

But this time, Felix didn't comfort her like he used to.

His face was cold. His eyes stayed fixed on her, but there was no warmth in them.

"Luna," he said quietly. "I was outside the door the whole time. I heard everything you said."

Luna stiffened. Her smile faltered.

She hadn't expected that. But she recovered quickly. She was good at recovering. Even if Felix knew the truth, he had still taken her side. Didn't that prove he loved her more?

"Felix, I'm sorry," she said quickly, reaching for his hand. "I won't do it again. I'll apologize to your little fiancée if I have to. I just… I heard you were getting engaged, and I couldn't help myself."

"Don't be mad at me."

Felix felt something slip. Something inside him shift.

This was Luna. The woman he had missed for years. The woman he had thought about late at night, wondering what if. Now she was back. He should have been happy.

But his heart felt hollow.

He looked toward the door where I had disappeared.

"Luna," he said slowly, "you've changed. We've both changed. Maybe we—"

Luna leaned closer, not really listening. Her lips were almost touching his.

She closed her eyes.

Felix pulled back. He turned his face away.

"Eat first," he said flatly. "Your soup is getting cold."

Luna wasn't stupid. She saw the shift in him. Her fingers curled into her palm until her nails left crescent-shaped marks in her skin.

The next few days, I didn't contact Felix.

He called. He texted. He tried to get our mutual friends to set up meetings.

I was clear. I wouldn't see him.

I spent my time tying up loose ends. Transferring my shares. Returning company property. Closing joint accounts.

Piece by piece, I erased myself from his life.

The day of the engagement arrived.

Felix waited for me in the hotel lobby, dressed in a perfectly tailored tuxedo. He looked handsome. He always looked handsome.

He knew I was a woman of dignity. Even if I was angry, even if I was hurt, I wouldn't embarrass myself by not showing up.

The hall was full of guests. Family. Allies. Friends. The who's who of the city's underworld.

I had imagined this scene so many times during our years together. The ring exchange. The vows. Becoming his wife in front of everyone.

Now, I just needed to end it cleanly.

I wasn't wearing the engagement dress. Just my regular clothes—a simple blouse and dark pants. I walked toward Felix.

He was just getting off the phone. His face was tight with anxiety.

"Sera," he said, rushing toward me. He didn't even notice what I was wearing.

"Luna's asthma flared up again. The doctor says she needs emergency surgery. She's scared. She wants me there."

He grabbed my arm, his grip desperate.

"We can have the engagement anytime. But I can't just leave her like this. She could die."

I smiled bitterly.

"Felix," I said. "Let me make a bet with you. One last time."

He frowned.

"I bet Luna is fine. She just wants you to come running."

Felix's eyes narrowed.

"What are you talking about? This is a matter of life and death, and you want to make bets?"

His voice rose, drawing glances from nearby guests.

"I've known Luna for years. She's not the kind of person who would joke about something like this. We'll hold the engagement later. I'm going to the hospital."

He turned to leave.

"You explain things to the guests."

For the second time, Felix walked away from me for Luna.

I watched his back as he disappeared through the revolving doors. I thought of the first time we met. The way his eyes had shone with love. The way he had held my hand like he never wanted to let go.

I sighed.

A waiter approached me nervously. "Miss Sera? What should we do?"

I smiled. Like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

"Go ahead with the engagement," I said. "Just change the bride's name to Luna Volkov."

The waiter stared at me, confused.

"He'll come back," I added. "But I won't."

My luggage was already checked in. My passport was in my bag.

I walked out of the hotel alone and went to the airport.

As the plane lifted off, my phone exploded with messages and missed calls from Felix.

I didn't look at any of them.

I took out my SIM card, held it between my fingers for a moment, then snapped it in half.

The pieces fell into my lap like broken promises.

Professor Lumiere had told me the Aegean Sea in Greece was beautiful. She said once I saw the ocean, I would be able to let go of everything.

She told me, "Su, when a seagull no longer yearns for the sea, it can fly farther."

I looked out the window at the clouds below me.

So Felix.

I don't love you anymore.