บททั้งหมดของ Dear Ex, I'm More Than Your Plan B: บทที่ 81 - บทที่ 90

The next morning, Vera didn’t cry.She didn’t mope, didn’t sit around waiting for another call. The suitcase by the door stayed untouched, and the shadows from the night before were replaced with a quiet, resolute fire.If they thought she was weak… if they thought she was a burden to Asher, just another pretty face riding on his name, they had no idea who they were dealing with.By noon, Vera was at her new studio space.It was nothing like the luxury of the Donovan penthouse, bare concrete walls, boxes everywhere, wires half sprawled across the floor, a faint echo when she walked, but to her, it was everything.Hers.Built from scratch, funded with Asher’s card, yes, but every vision, every drawing, every bit of code and animation that would fill it, would come from her.And someday soon, she’d pay it all back.She slipped on her noise canceling headphones, pulled up her tablet, and opened her storyboard app.Her stylus danced across the screen, sketches taking shape in seconds, fem

Vera stood and walked to the small window of her studio.Outside, the city moved with its usual rhythm, cars buzzing, people walking, horns blaring in the distance. But inside her, everything had slowed to a crawl.She thought about her childhood, the quiet streets of the village, the small house that had never quite felt like hers, the whispered secrets about the rich family that had once lost a baby girl. About the day her entire world shifted, and she was pulled into a glittering, icy place that never felt like home.She had tried to make peace with the Sterlings. Tried to understand them. But there had always been a wall. Especially with Elena.And now she was being asked to walk into that world again. To see the woman who had abandoned her. To sit at her deathbed and pretend to care.But was it pretending?Vera wasn’t sure anymore.She ran a hand through her hair and reached for her phone again. Her thumb hovered over Eliza’s number for a moment before she set it back down.Not y

They drank in silence for a while.The tea was jasmine, fragrant and delicate. Vera couldn’t tell if it had been made for Elena or if this had always been her preference. It didn’t matter.Elena shifted again and coughed once more, longer this time. It sounded worse than before, and for the first time, Vera felt something unfamiliar stir in her chest: pity, maybe. Or something close to sadness.“I’m sorry I didn’t fight harder for you,” Elena said suddenly. “I’m sorry I made fear look like control. I lived for the family name. You remind me not to.”Vera stared at her. “Then maybe you can do one thing before you go.”Elena looked up, surprised. “What’s that?”“Don’t let them use my name again to clean up the family image. Don’t try to fix your sins by pushing me into your dynasty. I don’t need their wealth or their spotlight.”Elena nodded. “I won’t.”“Good.” Vera stood. “Then maybe this wasn’t a wasted visit after all.”Elena looked at her, and there was something wet in her eyes now

There was no accusation in the words. Just observation. Calm, deliberate. But it still hit a nerve.“She’s not some girl,” Asher said. “And trust me, I’ve handled every threat that’s come my way since I took this position. Vera’s not the reason things feel off here.”Everett gave him a knowing smile. “Be careful. The higher you climb, the more people want to take what you have, and the more they’ll use the people closest to you to get it.”Asher narrowed his eyes, fingers tightening around the edge of his chair. “If you know something I don’t, Everett, now’s the time to tell me.”“Just advice from someone who’s been around longer,” Everett replied, raising his glass. “Don’t let your heart blind your mind.”Asher didn’t respond. He just watched as his uncle stood and walked back out into the corridor, leaving him in the echoing silence of the suite.He reached for his phone again. Still no reply from Vera.Maybe she was asleep. Or maybe she was working on that little studio she had hin

The pen dropped from her hand, her breath shaking as she re read the letter twice. It sounded too calm. Too composed. Like she was at peace with the decision. She wasn’t.But she folded it anyway and placed it on his pillow.She took one last look around the room. The soft blue lighting from the bedside lamp cast shadows across the bed where they’d laughed, kissed, fought and tangled their hearts together over weeks that now felt like lifetimes.Her suitcase sat quietly by the door.With trembling fingers, she pulled on her hoodie, his hoodie, and grabbed the suitcase handle.Her heart cracked just a little deeper as she turned off the lights one by one.She paused in the living room, staring at the painting they once joked about, an abstract piece Asher said looked like a snail running late. She forced a broken smile.And then she walked out.The door clicked shut behind her with a finality that echoed in her chest.Downstairs, the night was cool, the city buzz still alive even at th