In the fourth year of my complicated relationship with Jayden Lewis, my family went bankrupt. His muse, Selah Martin, seized the chance to quip, “Now she’ll finally learn what it means to face some tough times and tame that spoiled nature of hers.”

Taking her advice to heart, Jayden left me stranded in a foreign city. Four months later, beaten down but not broken, I returned to Paris.

People assumed I’d continue to hang onto Jayden. Instead, I actively avoided him, returned his gifts, and made a clean break. Jayden laughed with his friends, saying, “I finally got rid of that clingy nuisance.” However, on the day I left Paris, he showed up at the airport looking disheveled, pleading with a trembling voice, “Lilah, stay. Let’s get back to where we were, please?”

I smiled with a hint of mischief and pointed to my slightly rounded belly. “Jayden, look, how can things ever be the same?”

---

When I returned to Paris, scarred inside and out, Jayden’s assistant picked me up at the airport. As I arrived, the private room was buzzing with chatter. Just as I got closer, I heard Jayden’s voice, “Lilah Rivera has changed; she seems much more subdued now.”

“That spoiled streak of hers needed some tough love,” someone chimed in.

“Selah was right. Since her family went broke, she’s no longer the heiress she once was. Who’s going to put up with her old ways now?”

“My condolences, Jayden, for having to deal with her,” another added with a laugh.

Jayden sneered, “Tell me about it. She’s like a bad penny that keeps turning up.”

As he finished speaking, he looked up and saw me standing at the door. The room, once filled with laughter, fell silent. I could see the shock, surprise, and disbelief in their eyes.

Just four months ago, I was the picture of a radiant and spoiled heiress. Now, I looked worn and gaunt, like someone who’d narrowly escaped from a nightmare. Selah, always cool and collected, spoke first, “Lilah, what happened to you? Come in…”

But I didn’t move. Nor did I react the way I used to when I saw Selah sitting next to Jayden. In the past, I would immediately show my displeasure, easily provoked to tears by Selah’s words, and end up having a big scene with Jayden. Those gatherings would always end on a sour note, and many people grew to dislike me because of it.

Looking back on it now, I felt amused.

“What are you doing just standing there? Get over here,” Jayden frowned at me. His expression was one I knew all too well—disdain and impatience.

I lowered my eyes and gave a slight smile.

"Jayden, thank you for arranging for Joel to pick me up at the airport."

"Lilah?"

"I came today because I want to return this to you."

I pulled a small box from my coat pocket and held it out to him. It was a necklace from a high-end brand, the only birthday gift Jayden had ever given me. I had treasured it, wearing it only on my birthdays. But now, I no longer wanted it.

Jayden didn’t reach for it, staying seated with a stony expression, his lips pressed into a thin line. After a moment of hesitation, I placed the box on the table next to him.

"Lilah, your hand..."

The girl closest to me gasped softly, her concern clear in her voice. Jayden’s attention was immediately drawn to my hand. It was covered with cracked skin. Once delicate fingers were now marked by blisters that had hardened into rough scabs, twisted and unpleasant to look at.

I quickly tucked my hand back into the sleeve of my sweater and looked up at Jayden again.

"Jayden, there’s one last thing I wanted to talk about today."

"What is it?" His voice was icy, slicing through the air.

"I must have been a burden to you all these years."

I gave him a regretful smile.

"In the past, I was immature and stubborn. I'm sorry for that."

"It won’t happen again."

With that, I didn't stay any longer and turned to leave. Just as I was crossing the threshold, Jayden called out to me.

"Lilah."

"You better mean it this time. No more false promises."

I paused for a moment but didn't look back.

"Alright."

The night my family fell apart, I was still overseas. My father, who had always been my greatest supporter, was beyond saving. Shortly after, my mother sold everything we owned and flew straight to America to stay with my uncle. All she left me was this small apartment. I don't hold a grudge against her for leaving; in fact, I'm grateful she didn't leave me without a roof over my head.

This bed may be small, but it's a huge upgrade from sharing a cramped basement with seven or eight other people abroad. It's been the best, most restful sleep I've had in the past four months.

Until the doorbell rang, breaking my peace.

When I looked through the peephole and saw Jayden Lewis standing there, I was a bit taken aback. But then I remembered he also owns an apartment in this building. I opened the door and, not giving him a chance to speak, said, "Sorry, I'll move out right away. I'm going to list this apartment with a realtor to sell it."

"Lilah, what are you talking about?"

It might have been my imagination, but Jayden's expression seemed to sour significantly after I said that.

"I'll move today. I promise you won't have to see me again."

With that, I picked up my phone to call a realtor. Just as I started dialing, Jayden suddenly snatched the phone from my hand and smashed it on the floor.

"You've been keeping me at arm's length for four years now. Isn't that enough?"

"You're planning to sell the apartment and move out? Then find yourself in a bind and call me for help late at night, in tears?"

"And eventually move in with me, right?"

"Lilah, can't you act more maturely? Stop playing these games."

I looked at the shattered pieces of my phone on the floor, feeling a sharp pang of loss. For months, even having enough to eat was a luxury. This phone was a hand-me-down from a kind shop owner who took pity on me when I returned home.

I crouched down to gather the broken pieces. Jayden pulled out his wallet and tossed it at me. "Get yourself a new one. I'll cover the cost."

"So you won't have an excuse to cling to me again."

He said that, slammed the door, and left.

I looked at the wallet on the floor, and though I managed a smile, tears started streaming down my face.

In the end, I bought the cheapest phone I could find. He was right; it's best if we owe each other nothing.

I called Joel Vasquez to come and collect Jayden's wallet.

"Miss Rivera, I'm really sorry, but I can't leave the office right now," he apologized. "Could you possibly bring it to the office?"

I considered it for a moment and replied, "Alright, I'll bring it over in a bit."