When Verena returned to her rented apartment, it was already eleven at night.

Verena had used her phone to switch on the warm air from the air conditioner in advance, so she was enveloped by the cozy air when she entered the room. She sighed comfortably.

She couldn't help but marvel at how reliable modern technology was compared to her boyfriend.

The air conditioner could precisely let her feel warmth, but Stefan left her waiting in the cold when she needed him most, although she had loved him for five years.

Verena sat on the sofa and stared at the glass jar on the coffee table blankly for a long time.

Stefan gave it to her in their second year together.

Stefan said back then, "Every time you make me happy, I'll put a red bean in here. When it's filled with red beans, I'll marry you."

Back then, Verena held the jar and laughed joyfully.

To fill the jar quickly, she would sneak red beans inside whenever Stefan didn't notice.

When Stefan found it out, he just smiled and ruffled her hair, never exposing her secret.

Verena thought it was tacit approval, indulgence, and deep love.

But now, she realized it was merely self-deception.

If Stefan truly loved her, why would he repeatedly leave her, forcing her to endure countless lonely moments to cope with her heartache alone?

Suddenly, Verena stood up and picked up the jar.

She opened the lid and poured out all the red beans at once.

The clattering sound echoed clearly in the silent living room.

The red beans were scattered on the coffee table, like broken hearts.

One, two, three... Verena counted the beans while reminiscing about her past with Stefan.

Each bean represented a cherished moment of sweetness or grievances, anticipation or disappointment, surging like tides in her mind.

She recalled the early days of their relationship, when Stefan remembered her menstrual cycle and prepared some remedy for menstrual discomfort.

He quietly delivered warm milk and late-night snacks when she worked overtime.

He clumsily bandaged her wounds when she accidentally got hurt, and his eyes became red with concern.

But when did everything change?

Was it when Noreen appeared?

When he counted the beans for the third time, Verena made a decision.

She went into the kitchen and boiled some water.

As the water gradually heated, she placed the red beans, once symbols of love and hope, into the pot one by one.

Red beans were tough to cook, requiring slow simmering over low heat.

She sat on a small stool in the kitchen and watched the beans tumble in the water. They transformed from hard to soft, from bright red to dark red, just like her love, which had drained her energy, moving from fervor to decay.

By the time the beans were fully cooked, dawn had broken.

Verena ladled some red bean soup into a bowl. The steaming broth slid down her throat and warmed her stomach to the point of discomfort.

She had it slowly. She seemed to be swallowing the five years of love, grievances, and unwillingness along with the soup.

After finishing the red bean soup, Verena felt exhausted. She went to the bedroom and went to sleep.

Yet she hadn't slept long before a sharp stomach pain woke her.

Her stomach felt intense pain. Then she vomited and had diarrhea, leaving her too weak to stand up.

She struggled and dragged herself to the hospital. The doctor saw her pale face and frowned, saying, "This is acute gastroenteritis. Did you eat something unclean?"

Verena replied, "I made red bean soup with beans that have been stored for years. Is it unclean?"

The doctor said in a bad tone, "That's not advisable. While beans can be stored, old beans are not recommended for consumption."

Verena felt terrible, but her mind was unusually clear.

Through this incident, she understood a truth.

Spoiled food should not be eaten, and unhealthy relationships should be ended.

She realized it was time to end her relationship with Stefan.

On the following day of Verena's hospitalization, Stefan called her. "Where did you go? I bought your favorite cake, but I didn't see you when I got to your place."

Verena replied flatly, "I'm sick and in the hospital."

After asking for the address, Stefan hurried over.

He arrived with a thermal container, and he looked as gentle as ever. "I especially bought some soup for you. It's good for your stomach."

Verena looked at the soup Stefan handed over and felt it was laughable.

It was like giving a small consolation after a big disappointment. It was no different from taming an animal.

For so many years, she had been fed with such "sweet treats," so she lost herself and forgave his neglect and betrayal again and again.

Stefan always hurt her and then used a bit of insignificant kindness to make amends. So she always had illusions until she was hurt again.

She didn't want to continue like that.

Verena lifted her head and met Stefan's gaze.

Her voice was soft but unusually firm. "Stefan, let's break up."

Stefan's hand froze mid-air. He frowned in disbelief. "Why? Just because I didn't pick you up at the airport yesterday?"

In fact, Verena had many things she wanted to share with him. She wanted to tell him about how desperate she felt when she was shivering at the airport, how lonely she had been when she was left alone on her birthday, and how helpless she was when she was abandoned at a service area on New Year's Day.

But she had voiced her grievances countless times, only to be met with endless arguments.

For the last time, she wanted to keep some dignity and avoid another quarrel.

So she nodded and said calmly, "You are right. It's because you didn't pick me up at the airport."

Stefan's expression darkened. "Verena, how can you be so inconsiderate? I had important things to do. I didn't deliberately refuse to pick you up. "Forget it. You're upset right now, and I don't want to argue with you. Come to see me when you've thought things through."

After a pause, Stefan added, "I hope it won't take too long."

With that, he turned and left.

Verena shouted, "I'm serious."

But Stefan didn't look back and walked straight out of the hospital room.

Shortly after Stefan left, Verena's boss, James Norris, called her. "Verena, I've heard you're in the hospital. Is it serious? Don't worry about work. Focus on getting better now."

Verena responded, "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Norris. The doctor says it's a stomach bug, and I'll just need a few days on a drip."

Then she tentatively asked, "Mr. Norris, about the overseas assignment you mentioned before, is it still possible for me to apply?"

James was clearly stunned at the other end of the line. He sounded surprised. "Why did you change your decision? I remember you said last time that you had someone you cared about here, so you didn't want to leave."

Verena replied softly, "I did have someone I couldn't bear to leave, but now the situation has changed."

James sensed her sadness and also the resolve in her voice.

He said, "It's great that you've come to this decision. The position is a level higher than your current one, and the salary is twice what you're earning now. It is an opportunity that many employees would fight to get. I'll start the process for you right away. You prepare yourself and go there in a month."

Verena said sincerely, "Thank you, Mr. Norris."

After hanging up, Verena felt a sense of clarity.

It was not as difficult as she had imagined to start a new life.

Verena stayed in the hospital for three days. After she was discharged, she began sorting through her belongings.

She packed what she needed into a suitcase to take with her. The rest she planned to give away or simply discard.

There were still some of Stefan's things at her place. She put all of them into a large cardboard box.

Her movements were swift and decisive without hesitation.

Once she finished, she sent Stefan a message on WhatsApp. "I've packed up your things. Are you coming to pick them up, or should I send them over?"

Stefan quickly replied, "I'll come over this evening."

That evening, as Verena was about to have dinner, the electronic lock on the door beeped in alarm.

Soon after, the doorbell rang urgently.

Verena opened the door to find Stefan standing outside. He was unsightly.

"Why couldn't I open the door with the code? Did you change it?" Stefan asked.

"We're no longer in a relationship, so it's not right for you to still have access to my place," Verena replied.

She then pointed to the large box by the door and continued, "You don't need to come in. All your things are here. You can just take them."

Before Stefan could respond, Noreen peeked her head out from behind him. "I heard you and Stefan had a quarrel. I guess you must have misunderstood him and me, so I came to clarify. We really have nothing going on. Stefan just feels sorry for me. I'm a divorced woman. How could I possibly be worthy of him?"

Noreen's words were pitiful, and she seemed to have suffered a great injustice.

Verena looked at her coldly and felt sick.

Over the years, Noreen had repeatedly used her fragile appearance to gain Stefan's sympathy. She had consistently undermined Verena's relationship with Stefan.

Verena said icily, "Noreen, stop acting like the innocent woman in front of me. I'm not falling for it. This is my place, and you're not welcome here."

"What kind of attitude is that, Verena?" Stefan frowned. "Noreen came out of kindness to clear up the misunderstanding. Do you have to be so harsh? You know that she married a loser and that she's already suffering. Why do you have to bring up her painful past and rub salt in her wounds?"

Verena sneered, "Stefan, I knew you were blind. Are you deaf now? When did I mention her marriage? She brought it up herself, didn't she? It happens every time. As long as there's a conflict between Noreen and me, I always make mistakes. I don't want to see either of you anymore. Take your things and leave."

Stefan's face darkened. "Verena, I'm very disappointed in you. I'm going to punish you this time. Give me back the jar of red beans. Until I've calmed down, I won't be adding any more beans to it. I won't let you sneak any in either."

Stefan seemed to think that the jar was his last bargaining chip with Verena.

He believed she would comply with whatever demands he made to keep it.

But he was wrong this time.

Verena pointed at the carton box on the floor and said, "It's already packed. As I said, everything of yours is in the box."

Stefan found the jar, only to discover it was empty.

He looked up sharply at Verena, disbelief in his eyes. "Where are the red beans that were in here?"

Verena said emotionlessly, "They've been turned into some red bean soup, which I ate." She seemed to discuss something trivial.

Stefan was stunned. "How could you? Do you know what those red beans mean?"

Verena said word by word, "I don't want to marry you anymore, so they hold no meaning."

Stefan's chest heaved with anger. He was clearly provoked by Verena's words.

He glared at Verena and said through clenched teeth, "You'll regret this. Verena, you have to know that no one will ever treat you as well as I do."

"Really?" Verena raised her eyebrows, and her gaze was full of relief. "Then let me see if I can live better without you."

Stefan was left speechless. He glared at her before picking up the box and leaving.

Noreen followed him out. As she passed Verena, her previously innocent and fragile facade dropped. Instead, she gave a smug and malicious smile.

She was like a peacock strutting after a win and reveling in her triumph.

Verena couldn't be bothered to look at Noreen's petty satisfaction and slammed the door shut.