...

Kimberly wondered why Daniel, who rarely messaged, had called so much.

With the question in mind, she headed home.

A maid greeted her warmly. "Madam, you're back! Mr. Carter has been a mess these past few days. None of our cooking suited him."

It looked like Daniel only missed her meals, not her. But he would need to adjust, as no one would cater to his tastes anymore.

Kimberly changed her shoes and entered the living room, where Daniel sat on the couch with a sullen face.

He heard her footsteps and looked up. His eyes were bloodshot, but they shone the moment he saw her.

He stood up and sulked, "Where have you been? I called so many times. Why didn't you answer?"

Kimberly walked to the sofa and sat down. "I was in the hospital. I just got out today."

Daniel froze, guilt hitting him like a tidal wave. He'd been consumed with Siena, forgetting the accident, and believed Henry's claim that Kimberly had faked it for jealousy.

He had assumed minor injuries, but the truth was she had been severely injured and hospitalized.

"You're not mad about that day, are you?" he fumbled. "I didn't think it was so serious. Siena's condition could be life-threatening. I had no choice."

Kimberly snorted at his double standards.

He had overlooked her scrapes and bleeding but had taken Siena's dizzy spell seriously. Nothing could be more ridiculous than that.

But she didn't dwell on it.

Love explained the difference, and theirs was just a contract.

She hummed and started to rise. Just then, Daniel noticed her manuscript. "When did you get into writing?"

Kimberly's gaze cooled.

Each anniversary, she had written him a poem, only for him to stash them away in storage, unnoticed. He never cared to learn about her passion.

"Just something I scribbled," she said flatly.

Daniel didn't press. "I haven't eaten well lately. I'd love some spicy beef."

Kimberly pointed to the fridge. "There are no ingredients."

Daniel blinked. "I'll go with you to buy some."

Siena came downstairs with her luggage, with Henry following, full of reluctance.

He grabbed her hand and pleaded, "Siena, can you stay? My dad and I don't want you to leave."

"Don't worry, Henry," she said, patting his head. "We'll see each other at the gala tonight, right?"

Then she turned to chat with Daniel.

Henry tugged his hand. "Dad, don't just stand there. Drive Siena home."

Daniel hesitated, gesturing to Kimberly. "But I..."

Kimberly cut in. "Go take Ms. Gallegos home. She needs you."

Panic gripped Daniel's heart, and he pulled her aside, whispering, "This winter, let's take Henry to the Northen land for a family trip. You've always wanted to go, right? Just us."

His tone was rarely so gentle, but Kimberly glanced at Siena and Henry, who were laughing like a pair of mother and son.

"We'll see," she said.

By then, she would be long gone.

Henry shouted for him to get in the car. Daniel fought back an uneasy feeling and drove off.

Kimberly watched without feeling anything.

She checked the calendar and smiled. After that night, she would leave the Carter family for good.

...

A company gala was in full swing.

As Daniel's companion, Siena dressed up and clung to his arm.

Kimberly, on the other hand, hadn't even received an invitation. But she came anyway with a single purpose: to deliver the custody waiver.

Her flight was scheduled to depart in just two hours, and time was of the essence. She navigated through the crowded ballroom for any sign of Margaret.

Then the stage lights flared dramatically, revealing Daniel standing at the center, flanked by Siena and Henry.

The employees whispered below, "Guess the rumors are true. Our boss is a romantic, always tied to the same woman."

"Isn't he already married?"

"Yeah, to some small-town nobody. No feelings there. Siena is his true love."

Kimberly ignored the whispers and continued her search. She even checked the stairwell, but Margaret was nowhere to be seen.

As she turned back, Siena's voice came. "Did you even get an invite? Only one companion is allowed per guest. Guess who won? Me."

Her gentle façade was dropped, replaced by a twisted expression of triumph and malice. She hissed, "Daniel will always pick me over you."

Kimberly was unfazed. "I don't have time for your silly games."

Siena smirked, then shoved her hard.

Kimberly lost her balance, tumbling down the stairs and crashing to the floor. The custody waiver was still grasped tightly in her hand, the paper crumpling under the force of the fall.

Pain surged through her body, old wounds flaring with the new. She grunted in agony, unable to move.

The noise startled everyone in the hall.

Daniel rushed up, pausing at the scene. Then he rushed to her side and carefully helped her up.

"What happened? How did you end up like this?" he asked with a frown.

Kimberly looked back at Siena, who seemed unrepentant at the top of the stairs. Far from it, she whined, her voice trembling with feigned pain, "Ow, my ankle hurts!"

"Dad, Siena's foot is hurt!" Henry shouted. "Check on her!"

Daniel hesitated, looking at Kimberly with concern, but she forced herself to stand still.

"Don't worry about me," she said evenly.

Daniel faltered. "I'll check on her and come back fast."

Kimberly shook her head, finally finding Margaret in a quiet corner of the ballroom.

Margaret gasped at her state. "What happened? You're a mess, with blood on your clothes."

Kimberly brushed it off and handed over the custody waiver. "Here, take it."

Margaret skimmed through the document and sighed, "Maybe I shouldn't have signed you to this deal in the first place. We dragged you in and left you like this. We failed you. You can go."

Kimberly's voice trembled with emotion. "Thank you."

...

She boarded the plane, battered but joyful.

She was free, no longer bound by the contract. Finally, she belonged to herself again.

The morning light streamed through the window. Her life shed its darkness, and a bright future waited for her ahead.