Melanie's eyelashes fluttered. "This is..."

Before she could finish, Ken grabbed the pregnancy report and shoved it back into her purse. "I put it in your purse. I'm going to find Jen. Make sure you leave without being seen!"

Without giving her a chance to respond, he hurriedly handed her the purse and walked away.

Melanie couldn't hold back any longer and called after him, "Ken, what if I'm pregnant?"

"I was careful. Don't worry, you won't get pregnant! And if you do, get rid of it—it would ruin me otherwise!" Ken interrupted her again before leaving in a rush.

Melanie stood there, feeling as if she had plunged into an icy abyss.

He was just as cruel to her as he would be to their child.

But in a way, that made things easier. At least she wouldn't feel guilty about hiding the existence of their child.

Melanie returned to her hotel, eyes red as she deleted every post about Ken from her social media and left all his fan groups. She even deactivated the fan account she had built up for him, despite how much it hurt. Then, she drew a big cross on the 23rd on her mini calendar.

She gave herself only seven days to end this sad excuse of a relationship with Ken. Seven days later, she would leave for good.

By the time Melanie was done, it was nearly dawn.

At that moment, Ken called her. "I feel like having seafood porridge and some fresh ravioli today!"

"Ask someone else. I don't have time."

Melanie had stayed up all night, and her head was pounding.

In the past, no matter how exhausted or unwell she felt, if Ken said he wanted her cooking, she would push through and go to the market to buy fresh ingredients.

Ken was picky about food. It had to taste good and be freshly made, or he wouldn't eat it. For years, he had almost exclusively eaten meals she prepared.

Once, she scolded him. "You have a bad stomach. You need to eat regularly and stop being so picky. If you only eat my cooking, what will you do if I'm not around someday?"

Ken had dismissed her concerns. "You love me too much to ever leave me."

Thinking back on his words, Melanie felt a complicated mix of emotions. He still didn't know she would be gone in six days.

If his stomach acted up in the future or he skipped meals, it would no longer be her problem.

After hanging up, Melanie tried to catch some sleep. When she woke, she ordered takeout. Just as she set the ravioli on the table, Ken suddenly barged in with Jennifer.

"Melanie!" Ken called angrily, but his expression softened when he saw the steaming ravioli.

He shot her an exasperated look. "No wonder you didn't reply to my messages or answer my calls—you were making ravioli! Next time, even if you're busy cooking, let me know or I'll really get mad!"

Melanie frowned, wanting to tell him not to flatter himself. The ravioli weren't for him. Before she could speak, Ken brushed past her, picked up a ravioli, and fed it to Jennifer.

"Try it," he said dotingly. "Melanie's cooking is amazing. You'll love it!"

Jennifer took a bite directly from his hand, then teasingly licked his finger with her tongue. Ken gazed at her, the desire in his eyes obvious.

The meal was now ruined for Melanie. She no longer had any appetite. Her stomach churned in disgust, and she turned to leave.

However, Jennifer stopped her. "Melanie, your cooking is excellent! From now on, I want to eat it every day. You should feel honored. Many of my fans would kill for this chance, but I wouldn't give it to them!"

This was just takeout. How good could it be? Jennifer was clearly trying to humiliate her.

Melanie refused. "I'm not a chef."

Right after she said that, Ken rebuked her. "Enough! Why are you giving Jen an attitude?"

Jennifer pretended to pull Ken back. "Ken, don't be upset. Melanie's famous and talented. Lots of people would love to poach her. Aren't you afraid she'll leave if you treat her this way?"

Ken gently ruffled Jennifer's hair. "You don't need to worry. Anyone could leave me, but Melanie never would."

He turned to Melanie, his gaze now cold. "Jen wants to eat your cooking from now on. Any problems with that? If you don't want to cook for her, then don't bother cooking for me either. I'm sick of your food anyway!"

"Fine."

Melanie looked at Ken, feeling no desire to argue further.

He was tired of her cooking, just as he had long grown tired of her as a person.

It didn't matter. Six more days, and she would set him free.

Melanie didn't have to cook, anyway. She only needed to buy meals for six more days.

Not wanting to watch Ken and Jennifer fawn over each other any longer, she stepped outside and sent a large cash gift to her colleagues at work. Then, she made a call.

"Can you help me pack up my stuff at the office and throw it all away? I'm planning to replace everything with new stuff."

"Sure, I'll take care of it later."

"Thank you."

Those were things Ken had bought for her. She once cherished them, but now, she didn't want to keep a single thing.

After hanging up, Melanie drew a cross over the 24th on her calendar and immediately got to work. She had a script to revise and had to deal with Ken and Jennifer's demands, leaving her utterly swamped.

When she received a call from Jamie Grant early on the 25th, she was momentarily confused.

"Hello, who's this?"

"It's me!" Jamie said. "Do you remember that you promised to fly to Hillridge in five days?"

She picked up the tension in his voice.

Thinking about Jamie's global reputation, his godlike features, and the intimidating aura he exuded, Melanie found it hard to believe someone of his caliber would be nervous over one of her decisions.

Her mind cleared instantly. "I do!"

"Great! I'll book you a first-class ticket for the evening of the 30th. Does that work for you?"

"Perfect. But no need for first-class—an economy ticket is fine."

Just as Melanie finished speaking, Ken leaned over and stared at her. "A plane ticket? Where are you going?"

"It's been a while since I visited my parents. I thought I'd go see them," she replied, her voice unnatural.

She had never lied to him before.

However, Ken didn't notice at all. Instead, he scowled. "If you leave, what will Jen and I eat? I'll hire the best caretakers and nurses for your parents. There's no need for you to go back."

Upon hearing that, Melanie was rendered speechless. At that moment, an overwhelming sadness for her past self washed over her. Did Ken truly think she was meant to ignore her family and friends just to cater to his every whim?

Ken, oblivious to her silence, continued, "A few companies know your contract is about to expire and are trying to poach you. Have they reached out to you?"

"Yeah," Melanie answered perfunctorily, not even wanting to engage with him.

"I don't know where they got the confidence to think they can steal you from me. Just remember to be polite when you turn them down. Don't embarrass me or make unnecessary enemies."

Melanie lowered her head, hiding the emotions in her eyes. "What if, one day, I decide to leave?"

"Don't joke about that! It's not funny," Ken said with a laugh, as if he'd heard the most ridiculous thing. He kissed the back of her hand. "Why are your hands so cold again? I'll have Leo bring you your favorite mango milk!"

And yet, he snatched the takeout bag from her and hurried off to deliver breakfast to Jennifer.

Watching him leave, Melanie smirked and continued to revise Jennifer's script according to her absurd requirements.

She had been working for hours when Jeremy came looking for her.

"Melanie, everyone's gone to Ms. Knowles' award celebration. Why are you still here? Hurry up! Ken booked the entire hotel. I heard he's going to confess to Ms. Knowles in front of everyone!"

Upon hearing this, Melanie's head, muddled from revising the script, went blank.

She thought that no matter how ridiculous Ken was, he wouldn't go so far as to confess his love to someone else while still being with her. It had to be a misunderstanding.

Despite that, when she arrived at the hotel…

"So many fireworks!"

"He probably bought every last rose in the city!"

"Oh my god! Look at the massive drone display! It's a portrait of Jennifer and Ken, and it even changes!"

"This is even more romantic than a TV drama! He pulled out all the stops!"

Everywhere, people were marveling at Ken's extravagant display of affection for Jennifer.

Only Melanie stood frozen while she gawked at the scene.

The fireworks, roses, and drone portraits…

Everything Ken had planned for this confession mirrored the dream scenario Melanie once described to him. But now, he was using it for someone else.

Her gaze locked on Ken and Jennifer, who both stood together on the stage.

She had already been heartbroken to realize she was just a stand-in, but this scene was a new level of devastation. It felt as though someone had ripped her heart out and trampled all over it.

"Is Melanie here?"

Jennifer's voice could be heard over the speaker, drawing everyone's attention to her.

The crowd parted, and Melanie was ushered forward and onto the stage.

As she passed Ken, he didn't bother to explain the situation. Instead, he leaned close and whispered a warning, "This is an important night for me. Don't screw it up!"

Melanie hadn't even spoken when Jennifer approached them with her tongue stuck out.

"What's the secret? You two seem awfully close—anything going on?" she teased deliberately.

Ken waved his hands dismissively and denied it right away. "No way! Don't misunderstand. She's just a screenwriter for my company. Plain, annoying, and absolutely not my type. I'd have to be blind to be interested in her!"

Melanie's eyes widened in disbelief.

Ken couldn't wait to dissociate himself from her, speaking as though she were some repulsive object.

At that moment, whatever goodness she perceived in him had vanished completely. She could feel her heart breaking, piece by agonizing piece. It hurt, but she would endure it. She would carve him out of her heart, no matter how much it cost her.

Off stage, Ken's friends added to the humiliation by laughing and jeering at her.

"Ken's status is way above someone like Melanie. How could he possibly be into her?"

"Jen, everyone knows Ken only cares about you. When you got a boyfriend and moved abroad eight years ago, you had no idea how devastated he was!"

"Good thing you're single again now. Just say yes to him already. He's been waiting for you all these years!"

Melanie turned to them.

Ken's relationship with her was a secret, but these people knew about it. She used to think they simply didn't like her. Now, she realized it wasn't that. They had never seen her as anything but irrelevant because they knew Ken's heart was never truly hers.

Melanie couldn't find the words to speak. Ken's cold warning glance followed her, as if daring her to react.

The absurdity of it all struck Melanie. For the first time, she felt she was truly seeing him for what he was.

"It's fine. I'm leaving," she said, her voice void of emotion.

Ignoring the laughter, she stepped down from the stage and left the banquet hall. The night air was chilly, stinging her eyes and making her tears harder to hold back.

It wasn't losing Ken that made her mourn. Instead, it was the version of herself who had loved him in the past.

Biting her lip and clenching her fists, she tried to keep herself composed.

For the past eight years, not only had Ken used her as a stand-in, but now he had moved on to confess to someone else without even breaking up with her.

He had played his part well, and she had been foolish enough to believe it.

Her phone buzzed twice, pulling her back to reality. With tears streaming down her face, she checked it.

Jamie had sent her a photo along with a message. [Here's your flight ticket. I'll be waiting for you.]

[Alright. I'll be there in five days.]

Five more days, and she would leave for good—free of Ken and Jennifer forever.

Melanie headed to the stairwell to compose herself before returning to the hotel.

To her surprise, Jennifer followed her.

"There you are, Melanie! You little stand-in," Jennifer spat, her tone full of contempt. "How dare you get pregnant with Ken's child? I'm ordering you to get an abortion right now and leave him. If you don't, don't blame me for what happens next!"

Melanie frowned. How did Jennifer know about her pregnancy?

She was a little taken aback. The hostility in Jennifer's tone unnerved her, but she forced herself to stay calm.

"I'll break up with Ken, but this child is mine. I've always had difficulty conceiving, and I want to keep the baby. Don't worry, I'm leaving the country at the end of the month. Neither I nor my child will ever interfere with you and Ken's lives."

However, Jennifer wasn't interested in a compromise. She sneered, stepping closer before pushing Melanie down the stairs.

"You scheming little tramp! I've seen your kind before. Trying to use a child to secure your place? Dream on!" Jennifer snarled viciously.