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.

Verena's colleagues knew she was being transferred, so they threw a farewell party to bid her farewell.

At the restaurant where the party was held, Verena unexpectedly ran into Stefan and Noreen.

Stefan was momentarily stunned to see Verena, but he quickly walked over to her and said, "Verena, don't get the wrong idea. We're not on a date. We're just here for a class reunion."

Verena replied with a faint smile, "So, you and she are classmates. That's news to me."

Stefan looked embarrassed.

He and Noreen had never attended the same school, not even as alumni.

Noreen looked as innocent as ever. She said, "It's Stefan's class reunion, and they asked everyone to bring spouses. Since you and Stefan have been having a tiff, I came along to make up the numbers so he wouldn't be laughed at."

"That's great," Verena said. She ignored Stefan and Noreen and was about to head to the room she was supposed to be in.

However, Stefan wouldn't let it go. He held onto her arm and said, "Verena, you really misunderstood. There's nothing between Noreen and me. It's been half a month since our last argument. You should be over it by now. Let's make up,"

Stefan pleaded, his eyes filled with anxiety.

But he didn't notice the spiteful glare Noreen shot at Verena as he tried to clear up any misunderstanding about him and Noreen.

Noreen was like a poised snake, ready to strike at any moment.

Just as Verena was about to break free, a piercing scream echoed down the hallway. "Fire!"

Thick smoke followed shortly after, filling the air.

Panic ensued as restaurant guests screamed, cried, and rushed toward the exit in a frenzy.

Tables and chairs were knocked over. The sound of shattering glassware was constant.

In the chaos, Stefan instinctively tightened his grip on Verena's hand. He said anxiously, "Don't panic. Follow me."

Meanwhile, Noreen suddenly screamed and collapsed to the floor.

She cried hysterically, and her voice was louder than the chaos of the fire. "Stefan, I can't move. My leg is cramping. I'm so scared..."

Stefan immediately stopped in his tracks.

He rushed to Noreen instantly, crouched down, and lifted her in his arms.

Noreen wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

Then, she suddenly raised her head and flashed a triumphant and malicious smile at Verena.

Stefan carried Noreen toward the exit without a glance back at Verena.

He was oblivious to the fact that as they passed by her, Noreen took advantage of the chaos to shove Verena hard.

Verena stumbled to the floor. Right where flames had just ignited, the fire quickly caught her skirt.

Instinctively, she tried to pat out the flames on her leg, and her fingers burned with pain.

Fortunately, the firemen arrived in time to extinguish the flames on her.

Verena was helped to the open space outside the restaurant. Her hands and legs were swollen and blistered.

Medical personnel crouched in front of her and treated her wounds. The antiseptic's sharp sting caused her to gasp.

Her phone rang repeatedly, but she was in no condition to answer.

"Verena, there you are."

She looked up to see Stefan.

"I've been searching for you everywhere. Why didn't you answer my calls? I was so worried about you. How did you get injured? You were too careless."

Verena replied softly, "I was injured because Noreen pushed me into the fire. Would you believe my words?"

Stefan immediately furrowed his eyebrows. "Verena, I know you're upset because you're hurt, but you can't take it out on Noreen. She wouldn't harm a fly. How could she intentionally hurt you? You can't accuse her just because you have a bias against her."

Verena laughed, though tears began to fall.

She said, "Stefan, haven't you always wanted to know why I wanted to break up with you? Look, that's the reason. In your eyes, no matter what happens, you will always protect Noreen, who always seems the weak one. And you always blame me for making a fuss over nothing and ignore me. We're destined not to work out."

Stefan's eyes were filled with panic and reluctance. "It's not like that. I only sympathize with Noreen. I've never considered marrying her. I love you. After all these years, can you really break up with me? Tell me what I did wrong, and I'll change."

Verena shook her head. "I love the one who loves me, cares for me, and accepts me. But I don't love the guy who leaves me behind and unconditionally believes another woman. Stefan, we can't go back."

"But I promised you a future." Stefan's voice was choked with emotion. His eyes were locked on Verena as he tried to evoke memories. "We promised to get married, have two adorable children, keep many pets, and travel the world together. We planned so much for the future. Have you really forgotten?"

"Your future plans never really included me," Verena said, closing her eyes tightly.

When she opened them again, there was no longing.

"In your future, there's always a place for Noreen. She needs your protection and care. And I... I'm just someone not as important. I don't care for such a future."

The smell of disinfectant hung in the air like an invisible web, pinning Verena to her hospital bed.

Sunlight streamed through the window. It bathed her in its glow, but it couldn't thaw her cold gaze.

The door opened quietly, and Verena assumed it was the nurse coming to change her dressing, so she raised her bandaged hand.

To her surprise, it was Stefan.

His hair was a bit disheveled, and there were faint shadows under his eyes.

Seeing Verena's injury, he asked cautiously, "How is it? Does it still hurt?"

Verena replied irritably, "I've already said everything I needed to say to you. Just leave. I don't want to see you anymore."

Stefan didn't give up. He said softly, "You're hurt right now, so I understand you're not in the best mood. If you need to vent your anger, I'm willing to do as you like."

Verena urged him to leave and stop wasting time.

Yet, Stefan ignored her words and stubbornly stayed in her room. He occasionally poured her water or adjusted her blanket.

Unfortunately, Verena couldn't move away from him, as her leg was injured. She was helpless against Stefan's stubbornly insistent behavior.

So she stopped insisting, as she knew that Noreen wouldn't allow him to stay with Verena for long.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Stefan's phone rang several times.

Although Verena couldn't see the caller ID on the screen, she knew it was Noreen calling, as Stefan had set a special ringtone just for her.

Stefan rejected all the calls and eventually muted his phone.

Verena said sarcastically, "You'd better answer her call. Otherwise, she might start panicking when she can't find you."

Stefan looked at Verena with a complex expression and said, "I understand you've felt betrayed and hurt before. Now you're hurt. I promise I'll stay with you."

Verena was tired of exchanging icy glances with Stefan. So she lay down and got some sleep.

Just as she was drifting off, the door burst open. Noreen appeared at the entrance, breathless.

She immediately spotted Stefan by the bed and rushed over.

She grabbed Stefan's arm and asked in a voice filled with accusation and hurt, "Why didn't you answer my calls? Why are you ignoring me? Did Verena say something bad about me and cause you to misunderstand me?"

Stefan frowned and said, "Noreen, don't make a scene here. Verena is still recovering."

Noreen's emotions intensified at his words. Tears flowed even more freely.

She said in an aggrieved tone, "You used to speak to me so gently, but now you're harsh to me because of her."

With that, she brandished the fruit knife in a moment of desperation.

"Stefan, I'm innocent, and I'll prove it to you now."

In a swift motion, she pressed the knife. A bloodstain was left on her wrist.

Stefan reacted quickly. He grabbed her wrist and took the knife away from her grasp.

"Are you out of your mind? Why did you resort to such extremes? We can talk things out." His voice was filled with fear and concern.

Noreen collapsed in Stefan's arms and cried desperately. "I don't want to lose you, Stefan. I really can't live without you... Please don't ignore me."

Stefan looked at Noreen in his arms, who was distraught, then back at Verena, who lay pale on the hospital bed. He was torn by his emotions.

Finally, he sighed and said to Noreen, "Alright. Stop crying. I'll take you home."

Verena leaned against the headboard and calmly watched the scene unfold before her.

She remained silent, and the two left together.

Noreen managed to keep Stefan away for the following week, during which he didn't visit Verena even once.

She almost fully recovered, and the date for her to go to Qoegita was approaching. Verena arranged for her discharge.

Her luggage was already packed, so it didn't take her long to reach the airport.

While waiting for her flight, she noticed an advertisement in the airport.

It was a watch ad that she had planned before.

The ad read, "You don't need to chase the light, for we are all celestial stars."

Coincidentally, it perfectly reflected Verena's current mood.

She had once seen Stefan as a guiding light and always followed in his footsteps.

But Verena now understood that she was a celestial star herself. She didn't need to chase after him.

Throughout her years in advertising, she had numerous opportunities for better career advancement.

Yet, she had stayed in place for Stefan.

Now, she was free from an unrequited love. Her eyes sparkled.

The long-buried ideas were beginning to break through the surface, and she was filled with anticipation, certain that she would soon shine with her own light in the field she was passionate about.