On the day Saul claimed he was busy and canceled our date yet again, I returned home only to discover his marriage certificate with his assistant, Jane Bradley. The registration date was today. I chuckled, placed the certificate on the desk, and broke up with him without hesitation.

Moments later, he called, sounding irritated, “Maddie, what’s with the theatrics? Can you grow up?”

I was about to respond when I heard Jane's tearful voice in the background, "Saul, did Maddie misunderstand us? You should come home. I can handle this myself."

“Just ignore her,” Saul reassured Jane. “She’s always been like this—such a pain. Right now, you're what's important.”

With those words echoing in my mind, I hung up, my heart finally settling on a quiet determination.

---

As I was packing to leave, Saul arrived with Jane, fussing over her. “Maddie, make some strong coffee; Jane’s fainted from low blood sugar.”

His eyes were fixed on Jane with worry while he barked orders at me without breaking his gaze. I glanced up briefly, but unlike before, I didn’t rush to tend to him and continued packing.

Saul noticed my silence and frowned, finally lifting his head. “Maddie, are you kidding me?” He stopped short, noticing my actions.

His expression darkened as he strode towards me. “Maddie, are you serious? Packing your bags and actually breaking up with me?”

I didn’t stop what I was doing, replying coolly, “Is breaking up not clear enough?”

“You...” Saul was speechless, his eyes fixed coldly on me.

“What is it?” I smirked, glancing at Jane before speaking sarcastically. “You brought your wife home; I should hurry up and make room for her.”

“Maddie, what do you mean? I don’t get it!” Saul visibly tensed, his gaze uncertain.

I laughed dryly, throwing the marriage certificate at him. “Saul, grow up. Own up to your actions.”

Upon seeing the certificate, he panicked, his face flushed with anger as he shouted, “Maddie, what’s this game you’re playing? Where did you get this certificate?”

I stared at him, unwavering. Jane, with a sob, interjected, “Saul, I sent it to the wrong address... I never meant to cause trouble between you and Maddie. It’s all my fault.”

She began to cry harder.

“Jane, it’s not your fault,” Saul softened immediately, moving to console Jane as he gently brought her closer.

"Listen, now that you know, I won’t hide it anymore. Jane was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer recently, and her time is limited. Her last wish was to marry me.

"You know Jane's been by my side since she graduated, always helping me out. She’s more than just my assistant; she’s a friend. I couldn’t stand by and do nothing for her during this time.

“We’ll register again after… Maddie, I hope you understand."

Saul looked at me with hopeful eyes.

I refused to meet his gaze, speaking with disdain, “She’s your assistant and friend, and now your wife. Discuss it with her; talking to me is a waste of time!”

Seeing my firm stance, Saul furrowed his brow once more. “Maddie, is this really necessary? How can you be so cold? I’ve already said I’d marry you. What difference does it make if it’s now or later? Jane is sick, and you’re treating her so harshly.”

Jane hung her head, tears continuously streaming down.

I stopped packing, looked at the pair standing together, and couldn’t help but laugh. They seemed perfectly in sync. Watching someone I once loved show care to another stung a little.

But our relationship was so messed up now, and I didn’t want to be involved any longer.

“Yes, I’m heartless. I’ll leave soon and spare you the sight,” I replied, grabbing my suitcase and heading towards the door.

As I passed Saul, he suddenly reached out to stop me, speaking with a harsh finality, “Maddie, knock it off! Apologize to Jane now, and I’ll forget this ever happened. Otherwise…”

I interrupted him with a sneer, “Otherwise what? You’ll never ask me to come back again, is that it? Apologize—does she really deserve it?”

Saul’s expression darkened completely, his voice warning, “Maddie, that’s enough! This is your last chance to apologize to Jane, or you can’t blame me for walking away!”

In the tense silence, Jane clung to Saul’s wrist, pretending to be understanding.

“Saul, don’t be mad at Maddie. She hasn’t done anything wrong; it’s all my fault. I should leave…”

At that moment, Saul let go of me to comfort her.

Seizing the opportunity, I took my suitcase and left without looking back.

Before stepping out, Saul’s cold voice rang clear: “Maddie, once you leave this house today, don’t even think about coming back. Let’s see what kind of life you can make without me!”

I paused in my tracks, turned around, and took a good look. It wasn't out of yearning; it wasn't regret. I simply wanted to see the face of the boy I once adored, a face that now filled me with disdain. Once I'd seen enough, I walked away without glancing back.

Saul Moore was my unrequited love, my world. He had always been the esteemed heir of the Moore family, while I was just a shadow in the background. We met in college, but never really had the chance to connect. Every day, I would follow his path to classes, meals, and strolls. Just to be near him more often, I even fervently studied to switch my major to his college. To this day, that decision remains one of my proudest moments because it laid the groundwork for my bond with Saul Moore.

Back then, Professor Lynch told us that to avoid failing at the semester's end, we should team up to collect lab data ourselves. I was always at the top of the class, and Saul turned down anyone who tried to get close to him, choosing to team up with me instead. I still remember how thrilled I was at that moment. Seeing his handsome face made my heart race, and my cheeks blushed so hotly you could fry an egg on them. Saul leaned on his hand, looked at me with a teasing spark in his eyes, and said, "Maddie, if you keep staring like that, you're going to miss the bell." The whole class burst into laughter, and I snapped back to reality, feeling completely embarrassed. But Saul didn’t make fun of me; instead, he stepped in, saying, "Come on, folks, teaming up with Maddie is quite an honor."

We grew closer and closer, until Saul confessed his feelings to me. We spent three and a half wonderful years together in college, admired by everyone as the model couple. Despite being in love, I never slacked off in my studies. I consistently earned a full scholarship and even received a job offer from a prestigious international company upon graduation. But Saul, as the sole heir, had to return home to take over the family business. Seeing the sadness in his eyes at the thought of parting, I didn't hesitate to turn down the job opportunity that many would dream of for a lifetime, choosing instead to join Moore Group to help him find his footing.

To avoid accusations of getting ahead through connections, I started from the bottom. Our relationship strengthened, and when I felt the time was right, I suggested we get married. But every time I brought it up, he would sidestep the subject. When I asked him why, his answers were always vague. Later, I discovered that Jane Bradley had already come into his life. Jane was younger, prettier, and knew how to make him happy. Gradually, our conversations shifted from discussing everything under the sun to the small details of his life with Jane.

I saw the change; I tried hard to salvage what we had. But Saul's heart was no longer with me. No matter what reason I gave to keep him, all Jane had to do was call, and he would rush to her side without fail. He gave Jane all the care and attention that had once been mine. Toward me, he showed nothing but coldness and complaints. Despite this, I still held on. I brought up marriage again. This time, he said yes. Yet, on the day we were supposed to get our marriage license, he left me for Jane once again.

When I saw their marriage certificate, I knew it was time for me to truly wake up.

Back at the old, rundown cottage my parents left behind, I leaned against the wall beneath their faded portraits and finally allowed myself to cry. Once the tears had flowed, I tidied up a bit before heading out to buy some essentials. After that, I settled in.

Lying on the bed from my childhood, my anxious heart suddenly found peace. I had the best sleep I’d had in ages, without worrying about Saul Moore’s moods or whether he was eating well or dressing warmly.

In my dreams, I saw my long-gone parents. I barely had a moment to talk with them before the dream twisted. Saul appeared, questioning my harshness towards Jane Bradley, tugging at my sleeve, urging me to apologize to her.

A surge of anger rose within me, and just as I was about to retort, the abrupt ring of the phone jolted me awake. Dazed, I answered, only to hear Saul’s voice, full of frustration: “Maddie, where have you been? Did you forget about the company’s signing event today? Everyone’s showing up with a partner, but mine is nowhere in sight. Are you trying to embarrass me?”

Fully alert now, I held back my irritation and distanced the phone slightly. “If that’s what you think, then sure.”

“Maddie!”

Saul’s voice rose noticeably before I heard the sound of footsteps through the receiver. He must have moved to a quieter spot to continue our conversation.

He sighed, his tone softening. “Maddie, today’s important for the company. Please don’t do this. Come over, the signing ceremony is about to start. Once the event is over, I’ll explain everything, okay?”

His voice carried a hint of pleading, and for a moment, my grip on the phone relaxed. Before I could reply, laughter and teasing remarks reached my ears: “Wow, Jane, you look like a bride today!”

“Absolutely, when you look closely, Jane and our little Saul really complement each other.”

Jane spoke with a shy tone, “Don’t say that, I just threw something together.”

When I hadn’t responded for a while, Saul called out to me again.

I chuckled dryly. “Saul, seems like your partner is already in place. Don’t contact me again.”

Not waiting for his response, I quickly hung up the call. I knew that if I didn’t, the growing sadness might become overwhelming.