Forever Loved, Like Day One

In my sixth year with Nathan Bennett. "Nathan, I'm getting married," I said. He jolted, suddenly snapping back to reality, looking somewhat troubled. "Hannah, you know the company is at a crucial point with our financing. I'm not in the mood to..." “It’s okay,” I replied, my smile calm and composed. Nathan misunderstood. I was getting married, but not to him. Chapter 1 "Mom... please tell Grandpa that I agree to the arranged marriage." "Really?!" My mother sounded delighted, then caught herself. "Wait, what about that boyfriend you've been with for years? Yes, we hoped you'd find someone from a suitable background, but if..." "It's over. Please arrange the marriage." My mother didn't rush to ask why. "Think it over for a few more days. Your grandfather carefully chose this match - he's managing some investment company under their family name. But marriage is a big decision, and I don't want you to be hasty." "Mom, I'm not being hasty. I've thought it through." Yesterday, during a call with my brother, he accidentally let slip that our family's finances were on the verge of collapse. An arranged marriage was the best solution. Of course, someone like me—a girl who once broke ties with her entire family for love—would never have considered this before. But things had changed. The only explanation was that my hopelessly romantic lovesick self had died. It was time to wake up. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I glanced in the direction Nathan had been staring earlier, a self-mocking smile touching my lips. Once, he used to look at me that way too. In college, he pursued me for three years. When I asked what he liked about me, he grinned like an idiot and said I was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen. I didn't like fools, but his sincerity eventually won me over. Still, I didn't give in easily. But Nathan didn't mind. Rain or shine, he'd bring breakfast to my dorm every morning. He'd track my monthly cycle, bringing me chamomile tea and pain relievers before it started. If I looked twice at a necklace, he'd find part-time work to save up and buy it for me. When I was upset, he'd rack his brain to tell jokes to cheer me up. Even if I merely frowned, he'd ask if I wasn't feeling well. But in the end… Nothing could compete with a childhood sweetheart. Two months ago, his childhood friend suddenly came to Brookshire to visit him. From our first meeting, I noticed Nathan had no sense of boundaries when he was with Nina Smith. I didn't think much of it, assuming Nina would leave after a few days. Unexpectedly, she became Nathan's personal secretary and stayed in Brookshire. When I asked about it, Nathan just said they needed someone, and it was better to hire someone they knew. But after that, his business trips and overtime became more and more frequent. Not coming home at night became common. The day before yesterday, I checked the attendance records in HR and discovered they'd been inseparable for a while. On business trips, they went together, just the two of them. The expense reports submitted to Finance showed only one executive suite. And overtime - well, that was even more obvious. Seeing me leave Nathan's office, Nina stood up from her desk by the door. She smiled brightly. "Hannah, you don't look well. Did you and Nathan have a fight?" I had no energy to argue with her and tried to walk past. "Hannah Jefferson!" She called after me. "You're turning thirty next year, right? Stop being childish. LD venture capital firm still hasn't approved our funding, and Nathan's really stressed about it. If you can't help him, at least don't distract him at such a crucial time." I frowned slightly, looking at her calmly. "Nina Smith, I co-founded this company with Nathan. If he can keep you here, I can make you leave." "You..." She hadn't expected my firmness. She froze, then spoke tearfully: "I was just trying to help. If you don't want to hear it, fine, but why are you threatening to fire me..." "Who dares to fire her?" Nathan came out, his tone cold. "Hannah, Nina’s young and she's just finding her feet in a new city. Can't you be more understanding if she says something wrong?" Young. I couldn't help but laugh. Nina was only three months younger than me. Fighting back tears, I took a deep breath. "Nathan, I'm giving you a choice. Either she goes, or I go." "Hannah Jefferson, stop being unreasonable." I froze. Dazed. I couldn't remember the last time he'd called me using my full name. "Hannah, you must be misunderstanding my relationship with Nathan. We're just childhood friends who grew up together." Nina's eyes welled up as she looked pitifully at Nathan. "Nathan, I heard Hannah comes from a good family. She must be used to getting her way. Please don't fight with her because of me. "I-I'm used to dealing with people's moods. It's fine if I work at another company. If it makes Hannah happy, I can even leave Brookshire..." "Nina!" Nathan couldn't hide the concern in his eyes. I forced a smile and left. All these years, my family had indulged me. After college graduation, my father wanted me to return to Eastbrook to gain experience before taking over the family business. But I was lovesick then. For Nathan's sake, I had a huge fight with my father, insisting on staying in Brookshire. Just because my father said: "What can a poor boy like him give you?" I stayed up countless nights with Nathan building the business, often working until dawn to secure contracts. Who knew it wouldn't earn Nathan's loyalty and devotion. All it earned me was a stomach that needed medicine to heal. My mother sighed. "So when are you coming back?" "In two weeks." After hanging up, I looked back at the towering building, my smile bitter. Nathan. I gave you a choice. You didn't take it. So now, I'm letting you go. Chapter 2 Back home, I sat motionless on the couch for what felt like hours. The cracks in my relationship with Nathan had first appeared last month. Initially, I couldn't understand how love could change so suddenly. Whenever I questioned his relationship with Nina, he'd say: "You're imagining things. She's like a sister to me, that's why I look out for her." At first, I believed him. His love had always seemed so genuine that I never questioned it. Then came that party where he got drunk, and I went to pick him up. That's when I learned the truth from his equally intoxicated friend. "Nathan and Nina... they grew up together. Before he ever pursued you, he actually confessed his feelings to her, but she turned him down. "One can't just forget first love. "He was drawn to you because your smile reminded him of Nina's. "But don't worry - we've all been telling him to stick with you. Nina probably rejected him because he was broke back then. Now that he's made something of himself, she's suddenly interested." "..." The kettle's timer jolted me back to reality. I forced down the bitter chamomile tea, looking around the apartment I'd so carefully decorated, and marked another day off the calendar. 14 days left. Then I started the methodical process of packing and cleaning. Brookshire and Eastbrook were at opposite ends of the country, and I couldn’t take much with me. Whatever I couldn’t pack, I tossed. I couldn't stand the thought of someone else - especially Nathan's next girlfriend - going through my things. After two trips to the dumpster, exhaustion hit. The rest would have to wait. Fresh from my shower, I saw Nina's social media post. "CEO by day, standing in line for my favorite cake by night. He says he wants to make up for all our lost time. Couldn't be happier!" The photo showed a strawberry cheesecake, but what caught my eye was the men's watch loosely draped around her wrist - the match to mine. We'd bought those matching watches after pulling several all-nighters to land the company's first major client. That deal had put us on the map. Despite running on almost no sleep that week, he was ecstatic. He dragged me to the mall and bought these watches I'd been secretly admiring. I protested at the expense. But he insisted, sliding it onto my wrist before pulling me close. "Hannah," he'd said earnestly, "everything you want, I need to give you myself." That watch never left his wrist except for showers or sleep. He'd even fired his last assistant for accidentally water-damaging it. Everyone thought Nathan was devoted to me. Looking back now, I thought it was laughable. No one realized that all those loving gazes he gave me were really meant for someone else. With a heavy sigh, I unclasped the watch, snapped a couple photos, and listed it for sale online. Nathan didn't come home again that night. The next day, I slept until noon before heading to the office to resign. Since the company had stabilized two years ago, I'd focused solely on heading the design department. Several people stopped to congratulate me when I was walking from Design department to HR. Confused, I was pulled into an office by Linda Clark from HR. "Spill it - are you and Nathan finally getting engaged?" "What?" I was blindsided. As a company veteran, Linda didn't mince words. "Come on! It's obvious - Nathan's making such grand gestures, everyone knows he's planning to propose!" I frowned. "What are you talking about?" She covered her mouth. "You really don't know? Could Nathan be planning a surprise...?" "Explain. Please." "Well..." She hesitated, then leaned in conspiratorially. "Someone saw the florist delivering flowers to Nathan - the whole car was packed with pink roses! It's not your birthday or anniversary, so what else could it be but a proposal?" Pink roses. Two months ago, when Nina arrived in Brookshire, Nathan had bought pink roses to welcome her at the airport. My fingers curled into my palm. I stayed silent. Linda glanced at the papers in my hand. "What's that?" "My resignation." "Of course!" She beamed. "For the engagement, right? Ready to be the perfect wife. Here, let me sign that." "Thanks." I didn't correct her, just handed over the documents. She signed while grumbling, "Nathan should have given me a heads up. Where am I supposed to find another Design Director like you on such short notice?" "Just get Nathan's signature and it's done." She returned the papers, saying warmly: "Hannah, I don't know if choosing family life is the right call, but as your friend of many years, I wish you all the happiness in the world! I hope Nathan gives you everything you deserve." "I will be happy." Just not with Nathan. Chapter 3 I hesitated for a moment before walking into Nathan’s office. Not because I was uncertain, but because I hadn’t figured out how to get him to sign the papers without any fuss. After the company implemented stricter HR policies, even I had to sign an updated contract. Considering the sensitivity of my role as the design director—and the fact that my family’s business was loosely tied to this industry—I needed to ensure my resignation paperwork was complete before returning to Eastbrook. Otherwise, it could cause unnecessary trouble later. I pushed the door open, ready to speak, but stopped short when I saw Nina sitting across from Nathan. No wonder her desk outside was empty. She had clearly moved her workspace in here. Nina noticed me first. She playfully tapped Nathan on the head and said in a sweet, teasing voice, “Nathan!” Nathan’s tone was indulgent. “Alright, stop messing around. I need to finish this agreement.” “I’m not messing around…” Nina glanced at me provocatively before putting on a well-behaved smile. “Hannah’s here.” Nathan immediately leaned back in his chair, putting distance between them, and looked up at me, flustered. Our eyes met. Ignoring the ache in my heart, I spoke calmly. “Nathan, I need you to sign a document.” I handed him the folder. Relieved that I didn’t address the obvious tension between him and Nina, he nodded. “Alright.” “Nathan, I’ll let you two work. I’ll head out,” Nina said, standing up to leave. As Nathan opened the folder, I was just about to explain the document when Nina suddenly cried out, “Ah—my ankle! It hurts!” “Nina!” Nathan jumped to his feet, abandoning the folder as he rushed toward her. I stepped in his way. “Sign this first. It’ll only take a few seconds.” He frowned. “Hannah Jefferson, when did you become so cold-hearted? Is this document really that important?” “Nathan…” Nina whimpered from the floor, clutching her ankle and tearing up. Nathan’s focus was entirely on her. Without even glancing at the papers, he hastily scribbled his signature where I pointed. That suited me just fine. I only wanted to get this resignation done and leave this city—to return to the life I was meant to have. Nathan lifted Nina onto the couch and gently examined her foot. “It’s not swollen, but if it really hurts, I’ll take you to the hospital.” “It’s not that bad…” Nina pulled her foot back shyly, sneaking a glance in my direction. Expressionless, I turned and left. Before I could get into my car, Nathan ran after me, stopping me by the door. “Hannah, don’t misunderstand. There’s nothing between me and Nina. I’m just looking out for her because we grew up together.” “Hmm.” I nodded faintly, gesturing for him to release the door. “I have things to do.” He hesitated, looking unsure. “You’re not upset?” I smiled faintly. “Should I be?” “In the past, you would’ve been furious if I did something like this…” “But you still did it anyway.” I met his eyes, seeing the panic he was trying to hide. “Relax, I’m just joking. Come home for dinner tonight?” “I…” He averted his gaze, squeezing my hand lightly. “I have a business dinner, but I’ll definitely come home after.” I wanted to laugh but couldn’t. How did it come to this, where even getting him to come home felt like begging for a favor? After grabbing dinner outside, I returned home and resumed packing. That's when I realized - when disappointment runs deep enough, you don't want to keep any memories at all. I methodically erased every trace of my existence from our apartment. I went through Nathan's room too. But only removed the things I'd bought for us as a couple. Toothbrush, coffee mugs, slippers, matching pajamas... During a break, before I could finish, I received a text from Nina. [Hannah, isn't it sweet? After all these years, Nathan still remembers pink roses are my favorite. He's even more thoughtful than before.] [Thanks for training such a perfect man for me.] [All those years of training him paid off... for me.] She attached a photo. The white luxury car I'd helped him choose, its trunk filled with roses, decorated with twinkling lights. In that moment, everything became crystal clear. All the genuine love I thought I'd had these past years had belonged to someone else all along. Chapter 4 Nathan broke his promise. He didn’t come home. For several days in a row, he stayed away. I only found out through a casual phone call with Linda that he was on another business trip—this time with Nina again. But his absence gave me more time to finish packing. The calendar showed only seven days left. That day, I was sorting the luggage I planned to take to Eastbrook when Linda suddenly called. “Hannah, did you put the wrong address on your delivery?” “What delivery?” “Your wedding dress! It was delivered to the office. The package says it’s for you. Nathan really went all out—an AD custom gown! That’s at least seven figures. Is he planning to drain his savings and not live after the wedding?” I rushed to the office and opened the box, only to be stunned. The measurements matched mine, but… this didn’t seem like something Nathan would do. The company had been doing well in recent years, but not well enough to splurge on such an extravagant wedding dress. Besides, he likely hadn’t even considered marrying me. As I stood there puzzled, my mom called. “Sweetheart, did you get the wedding dress? The Henderson family is so serious about the wedding between you and Davis! I told them you’d be back in half a month, and they’ve already started preparing for the ceremony.” “They even insisted on sending the dress ahead of time so you could see if you liked it or if it fit well.” Her cheerful tone left no doubt about how pleased she was with the Henderson family’s enthusiasm. I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Mom, did you give them this address?” “Of course! Did you change offices or something?” “No…” I sighed. “I’ll send you a new address. From now on, have them send everything there.” “Alright, alright!” She agreed quickly, still overjoyed. “By the way, Mrs. Henderson asked if you have any specific requests for the wedding. She said she’ll take care of everything.” “I don’t have any requests.” I pressed my lips together. “You and Mrs. Henderson can handle the details.” “Wedding?” Nathan's voice suddenly came from behind. "What wedding?" My heart skipped a beat as I ended the call. “You’re back from your trip?” “Yeah.” He avoided my gaze, but his eyes landed on the wedding dress lying on the sofa. His brow furrowed. “Hannah, I told you—I can’t think about marriage right now. Can you stop pressuring me?” I stared at him steadily. "Did I say you were the groom?" “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Nothing.” I shrugged, walked over, and began packing the dress back into its box. Nathan grabbed my arm, softening his tone. "Are you angry? I'm sorry, I'm just exhausted from the trip. Forgive me?" I nodded without hesitation. “Sure.” He still seemed unsure. “Really?” “Really.” “Then how about leaving the wedding dress here for now?” Nathan hesitated, adding nervously, “Hannah, just give me a little more time. I promise I’ll marry you.” He looked as if he were dreading being forced into something. I couldn’t help but laugh lightly. “What are you thinking? Didn’t you hear me on the phone? This dress belongs to my college roommate. She accidentally put the wrong address.” Relief flooded his face, and he even pinched my cheek playfully. “Trying to scare me, huh?” “Sure, think what you want.” Nathan had met all three of my college roommates. If he still cared about me even a little, he’d have remembered they were all already married. He’d even attended their weddings with me. Back then, he couldn’t stop talking about our future whenever we went to someone else’s wedding. We’d agreed to get married as soon as the company stabilized. But three years had passed, and he still hadn’t brought it up. For a while, I thought he might have a fear of marriage. Now I understood. He wasn’t afraid of marriage—he just didn’t want to marry me. Linda knocked and entered, looking a little sheepish. “Sorry to interrupt, but Nathan, you need to be present for the design director interviews later.” “Design director?” Nathan looked confused and turned to me. “Are you overwhelmed? Do you need someone to help you?” “No,” I replied calmly. “Nathan, I’ve resigned.” His expression darkened. “You resigned? Why didn’t you discuss it with me first? Hannah, the company is at a critical stage of funding. The design department is the heart of our business. Do you have any idea how much impact changing directors will have on investors?” For a moment, it felt like I didn’t know him at all. I raised my eyes. “So, what do you want to do about it?” “Without my signature, your resignation isn’t final.” Nathan sighed, his tone softening like he was reasoning with a child. “You’re not a little girl anymore. Don’t act so impulsively. Come back to work tomorrow.” I smiled faintly. “Nathan, you already signed it.” “If you don’t believe me, Linda has a copy. You can check.” With that, I picked up the wedding dress and walked away. Chapter 5 "Hannah, no matter how desperate you are to get married, you can’t resort to forcing it." "Do you think buying a wedding dress will make Nathan marry you?" "He promised long ago that he’d only ever marry me. Stop dreaming." On the drive, I glanced at the texts from Nina. Her words left me feeling drained. I circled Brookshire for hours, driving aimlessly. By the time I got home, it was past midnight, and the chilly autumn air had seeped into my bones. To my surprise, the house was brightly lit when I opened the door. Nathan was sitting on the couch. He stood and walked toward me. “Why are you back so late?” “I went for a drive.” I was leaving soon. I wanted one last look at the city where I’d spent so many years of my life. He nodded, reaching out to pull me into his arms, but I instinctively stepped back. His brows furrowed slightly. “Still upset?” “I might’ve been too harsh earlier. If you don’t want to work, you don’t have to, okay?” He softened his tone. “As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.” I caught a hint of irony in his words but chose not to escalate things. “Okay. Your birthday is coming up—what’s the plan?” It was only earlier today, when I glanced at the calendar, that I realized my planned departure was the day before his birthday. It also happened to be the anniversary of our relationship. “Of course, I want to spend it at home with you—just the two of us.” He reached out cautiously again. This time, when I didn’t pull away, he seemed to relax. Hugging me tightly, he mumbled, “Hannah, I feel like… something about you has changed lately.” “You’re overthinking.” I gently stepped out of his embrace. “It’s a bit cold. I’m going to take a shower.” In the past, he would’ve noticed immediately that my entire body was ice-cold. I wasn’t sure anymore who had changed—him or me. “By the way, what happened to my toothbrush and mug?” he asked suddenly from behind me. I lowered my gaze. Those weren’t the only things missing from this house. But it was no surprise he hadn’t noticed—his heart hadn’t been here for a long time. I replied casually, “You’re supposed to replace those things regularly. There are new ones in the bathroom cabinet.” I headed to my room and took a shower. My phone buzzed non-stop on the bed while I was in the bathroom. When I came out, I saw more messages from Nina. Her earlier taunts had been enough to ruin my mood, so I hadn’t replied. But she clearly wasn’t willing to let it go. Now she’d sent screenshot after screenshot of her conversations with Nathan. The timestamps on the messages weren’t from the past few months—they stretched back years. Most of the time, it was Nathan pouring his heart out to her. "Nina, I started dating someone like you suggested. She’s great, and her smile reminds me of yours." "Nina, whenever I’m with her, it feels like we’re back to the days when we were inseparable." "Nina, how have you been lately? I dreamed about you last night. I miss you." "Nina, I might get married soon. I can’t let her down." "She’s been through so much with me. Everything I’ve achieved—my career, buying a house and a car in Brookshire—I owe it all to her…" That was when Nina finally started replying. Once she learned he’d bought two properties in the city, including a luxury apartment that was still being renovated, they fell into each other’s arms. The messages became an endless exchange of daily updates. The hangover soup I had made for Nathan after a night of heavy drinking? He sent her a photo. "Look, I’m having soup this morning. What about you?" The lemons from the tree I nurtured finally bore fruit. His first instinct was to share it with Nina. "See this? Amazing, right? Once they’re bigger, I’ll bring the best one to the office for your tea." My hands shook as I held the phone. Knowing I was just a stand-in for her was one thing. Reading these messages was something else entirely. Even after a hot shower, the cold seemed to seep into my bones. I wanted to laugh but couldn’t stop the tears from welling up. I wasn’t crying because I felt betrayed—I was crying because it hit me just how long I’d been living as someone else’s shadow. Every sweet moment I thought I’d shared with Nathan had been passed along to her. I forced back my tears and replied, “Find better things to do at this hour.” She replied instantly, "Hannah, don’t push your luck. Even if you stay, Nathan will only marry me. I know you don’t want to let go now that the company’s about to go public, but for the sake of what you’ve done for him, I’ll make him give you $10,000 as a breakup fee." "Let’s face it—without Nathan, you’ll never find someone this rich again." Ten thousand dollars. I wasn’t sure that would even cover the cost of one wedding table at the Henderson family’s banquet. Just as I finished reading her message, my door burst open. “Hannah, why did you put the watch I gave you up for sale online?” Nathan asked, his voice sharp. Chapter 6 Nathan came in with his phone, demanding answers. I glanced at the screen - it was indeed my listing. I'd priced it low, and it sold the same day. I smiled casually, making up an excuse. "Oh, that's not mine. Remember Linda and her husband bought the same set? She wants a new one and asked me to help sell it." "Really..." He looked unconvinced, his expression softening. "Hannah, I've been too busy lately, maybe I haven't paid enough attention to your feelings. If something's bothering you, please tell me, okay?" I looked down. "Okay." "After my mom passed last year, you're all I have left." Nathan held me like something precious, his voice both promising and guilty. "Trust me, no matter what happens, you're the most important person in my life." I used to believe that. Nathan. I believed it completely. I caught the faint scent of roses on him. "It's late. You should shower and rest..." "Just let me hold you a little longer." He wouldn't let go, resting his chin on my head. "Hannah, is something bothering you? Once things settle down, let's talk properly." I smiled. Busy queuing for Nina's cake, or preparing a car full of roses as a surprise. Must be exhausting, trying to hide things from me while keeping Nina happy. He looked down at me, voice gentle: "Have you been crying? Your eyes are red." "I..." Before I could answer, his phone rang sharply. Seeing the caller ID, he released me immediately, walking out as he answered. Whatever he heard made his face change instantly. Despite the autumn chill, he rushed out in just his dress shirt, not even grabbing a coat. Years of habit made me call out, "Nathan!" He didn't seem to hear. The last time I'd seen him this panicked was when his mother received a critical condition notice at the hospital. I walked to the window, watching his black luxury car disappear into the night. His words still echoed: "Hannah, you're the most important person in my life." But it didn't matter anymore. The next few days kept me busy. Since I was leaving, I needed to say goodbye to friends. That evening, I picked up a marker, hesitated, then marked another day off the calendar. Tomorrow was Nathan's birthday. Also my last day in this city. After ordering his birthday cake, I cut up all our framed photos and threw them in the trash. The house was now completely cleared of anything related to me. Probably because I'd missed taking my medication these past few days, I woke up early the next morning with severe stomach pain. Back when we first started the company, it was just Nathan and me. When busy, we lived and ate at the office. To prove my father wrong about Nathan, I hadn't taken any money from my family after graduation. When cash was tight, we'd often share a pack of instant noodles to save money. At night, we'd attend business dinners. He couldn't drink much, so I took most of the alcohol. Once, I got a stomach ulcer from drinking. The doctor scolded him harshly, and he sat by my hospital bed, this tall man with red-rimmed eyes. He said following him had caused me hardship. He said he would never let Hannah Jefferson down. I finally understood. Promises aren't always true, even in the moment they're made. I got up, rubbing my stomach, ate some toast and swallowed a pill. But the medicine worked slowly, and the pain intensified. I curled up on the sofa, breaking into a cold sweat. I called Nathan. No answer. Seems he was too busy. Too busy even to answer his girlfriend's call. I only learned from Linda's call that he'd been busy for days. Too busy to come to the office. A pile of documents and ongoing projects needed his signature. Linda was frantic. "Hannah, is he love-struck? Are you both? You can't neglect the company just to plan a wedding! Please convince him to come back to work!" "Also, I heard LD Venture's CEO Davis Henderson is getting married next week. Nathan should try to get an invitation - going to Eastbrook to network would be great for us. If Davis approves, our IPO is guaranteed." "Wait." The stomach pain had left me distracted, but that last part caught my attention. "What did you say the LD Venture person's name was?" "Davis Henderson!" Chapter 7 Linda continued, "He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Our IPO depends on LD Venture’s approval, but I heard LD Venture was just a small company his family gave him to practice with." Eastbrook. The Hendersons. Investment company. Everything clicked into place. Linda noticed my silence. "Hannah? Are you listening?" "Yes, yes." I pressed my lips together. "I'll tell Nathan everything you said." Linda relaxed. "Good. By the way, have you set a wedding date? I want a proper paper invitation, not some digital thing!" I smiled softly. "It's next week actually. And don't worry about the invitation." A family like the Hendersons would only use traditional paper invitations. My mother had asked about my guest list a few days ago, and I'd included Linda's name. The Hendersons would handle the rest. After hanging up, I fought through the pain to message Nathan. No response. I tried calling again. Surprisingly, he answered this time. His voice was cold. "Why do you keep calling? What is it?" So he had seen my earlier call. I rubbed my stomach. "What are you so busy with? Linda says you haven't been to the office in days." He sounded mocking. "You know exactly what I'm dealing with." "How would I know?" He let out a bitter laugh, his voice dropping in anger: "Why did you send someone to vandalize Nina's house with paint? Don't you know how easily frightened she is? Hannah, when did you become so cruel?" Cruel. I couldn't tell if the pain was from my stomach or my heart. "Nina told you I did it? And you believed her?" "She's never lied in her life!" He declared righteously. "Handle the company stuff for me. She's too scared to be alone." I sipped some warm water. "My stomach hurts. I can't go." Nathan knew about my health issues from these past years. When he was home, he'd always make sure I ate regular meals and took my medicine on time. I don't know when he stopped coming home altogether. "Hannah," He sounded impatient, at his limit: "Your stomach problems are nothing new, can't you just deal with it? I already told you, if Nina didn't need me, I wouldn't ask you to go." "Fine, I'll figure something out." He was about to hang up. I stopped him. "Are you coming home tonight?" "Hannah, are you really going to be difficult right when Nina needs me most?" I froze. I thought I'd stopped caring. But hearing those words felt like a knife to my lungs. Even breathing hurt. "It's your birthday today, and our sixth anniversary." I gently rubbed my stomach. "Nathan, you promised we'd spend every anniversary together." Breaking up…had to be done in person. Otherwise, it would make all our time together seem worthless. "I..." Nathan hesitated, sounding guilty. "I almost forgot." "Hannah, I'll come right home, I'll bring those pastries you love." Just as I was about to respond, I heard Nina cry out in the background. Nathan didn't even hang up properly, just started comforting her. "Don't be scared, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." I ended the call, looking around our empty home, and suddenly laughed. The clock hands turned round and round. Night fell like a black curtain. Only the food delivery guy had knocked on the door. Nathan wasn't coming back. At 3 AM, my phone lit up. A message from Nathan. “Hannah, Nina keeps having nightmares. Don't worry, I'll be back before dawn. Wait for me.” I stared down, sat motionless for a moment, then threw the takeout and cake into the trash, one by one. Took a shower. Then sent Nathan one last message. Block. Delete. Done. I grabbed my two packed suitcases and headed to the airport without looking back. Nathan, this time I won't wait for you. My belongings—and myself—will leave this city today, once and for all. This place never truly belonged to me anyway.