However, I still held onto some naive pride. “If you ever stop loving me, I’ll take all the money I can and disappear somewhere so far away that you’ll never find me.”

The memory brought me back to the present, and I realized tears were streaming down my face. Not for myself, but for the child I’d lost.

Lucky jumped onto the couch, nudging at my face and licking my tears away with his warm, wet tongue. His big, soulful eyes were full of confusion and concern. He burrowed into my lap as if trying to comfort me.

I needed to go far, far away from here.

I’d take Lucky to Athens, Milan, and the places closest to heaven, where we could watch the northern lights together.

As the night deepened, I eventually drifted off, curled up on the couch.

Sometime later, I was awakened by a sudden warmth beside me.

Randall wrapped his arms around me and whispered, “Nara, why didn’t you save me dinner tonight?”

Dinner? Why would I?

How many times had I waited for him late into the night, setting out meals made with love, only for them to end up in the trash?

I turned slightly, creating a small gap between us, and said nothing.

…

The next morning, I headed to the office early.

The company had been something Randall and I started together. However, as the years passed, I’d taken a back seat, choosing to focus on supporting him and our home.

Today, however, was different. There was an important meeting with a client I’d personally nurtured a relationship with over the years.

If there’s one thing I won’t fight with, it’s money.

Randall was surprised to see me walking into the office. “What brings you here?”

In public, he always maintained the appearance of a perfect husband, all charm and courtesy.

I ignored his attempt to place a hand on my back and walked past him with a polite smile. “The company belongs to both of us. Why wouldn’t I be here?”

A flash of awkwardness crossed his face as he stepped in front of me. “Of course you can. It’s just… you haven’t been around for a while, and I gave your old office to Macy.”

My steps faltered.

Looking up, I saw it.

My name had been replaced on the office door. In its place was Macy’s name.

“This office was mine. When did that change?” I asked.

Before Randall could answer, Macy stepped out of the office. Dressed in a white dress, she looked pitiful.

“Ms. Nara, please don’t blame Mr. Harris. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have taken your space. I don’t want you two to fight because of me.”

Randall instinctively moved to shield her, his expression shifting to annoyance as he turned to me.

“Nara, don’t be unreasonable.”

Unreasonable? It was as if they hadn’t taken over what was rightfully mine in my absence.

However, I let it go for now. Glancing at my watch, I reminded Randall, “Michael will be here any minute. This deal can’t fall apart.”

Randall’s expression shifted as he realized the importance of the situation. He shot Macy a reassuring look before taking my hand to lead me toward the entrance.

Michael Day pulled me into a friendly hug as soon as he saw me.

“Hey, Nara. You don’t look too happy. Everything okay?”

His simple words brought a lump to my throat.

A business partner I hadn’t seen in years could sense something was wrong, while the man I’d spent years with remained oblivious.

Michael and I had met years ago while working on a project together. He respected my abilities and even offered me a position at his company.

I’d turned him down, choosing instead to focus on Randall.

Now, as I looked at Michael, a thought crossed my mind. Once I threw Randall out of my life, maybe there’d be room for better opportunities.

I quickly composed myself and adopted the polished demeanor of a business professional. Michael and I began discussing the project as we toured the massive factory floor.

Inside, rows of ceramic cat statues, intricately crafted and unique in design, lined the shelves.

Harrison was a well-established company in the area, known for its significant influence. They often supported smaller businesses and cooperated with government initiatives to boost the local economy.

This time, the project involved partnering with a local artisan workshop specializing in heritage crafts. The goal was to use our resources and Michael’s international channels to introduce these traditional products to foreign markets.

Right in the center of the workshop stood a massive structure—a colossal ceramic cat statue, towering over 130 feet tall.

The factory manager beamed with pride as he explained, “This piece is for the exhibition in a few days. We want to showcase our skill and share our culture with the world.”

Michael nodded, clearly impressed as he stared at the cat statue. “It’s remarkable. Would it be possible to see how it’s made?”

…

As I conversed with Michael in fluent German, I felt completely different from the meek, docile version of myself.

Randall’s gaze lingered on me longer than usual, his expression curious. It had been a long time since he’d seen me like this.

However, Macy, ever vigilant, noticed his attention on me and grew visibly anxious.

Seizing a moment when the factory manager was leading us to another area, Macy called out softly, “Ms. Nara.”

Although I didn’t want to engage, since a client was present, I replied politely, “Yes?”

She was just stepping closer when a loud shout pierced the air.

“Look out!”

In a split second, the massive structure we had just been admiring began to wobble. The enormous ceramic cat tilted dangerously before collapsing with a deafening crash.

Instinctively, I tried to push Randall out of harm’s way. However, he was already moving toward Macy, pulling her to safety as the sculpture came crashing down.

I couldn’t dodge in time and was hit in the calf.

The sharp pain radiated through my body. It wasn’t just the physical agony, but heartbreak, too.

My eyes found Randall’s across the chaotic room. There was a flicker of guilt on his face, but all I could think about was if he loved Macy that much.

What of me? What am I to him after ten years of marriage?

Factory workers scrambled to clear the debris, some lifting the broken pieces while others stabilized what was left of the frame. The injured were quickly rushed to the hospital.

In the hospital room, Randall sat by Macy’s bedside, his shoulder wrapped from where he’d been hit while protecting her.

Despite his injury, he still patiently told Macy, whose arm had suffered a minor scrape, “Be careful not to get the wound wet for the next few days, okay?”

The scene was enough to make someone in the room clear their throat in awkward disapproval.

Only then did Randall seem to remember my presence, his wife. He glanced apologetically at me. “Nara, are you okay?”

I looked down at my now bandaged leg.

Thank goodness the ceramic hadn’t been heavy enough to cause permanent damage. If the frame had fallen at full force, my leg could have been irreparably injured.

Still, the worst injury was to Michael. Standing directly beneath the collapsing structure, he’d been hit on the head.

There had to be an explanation for what happened.

The factory manager tried to explain, saying the wooden frame supporting the sculpture had been unstable. Likely, someone had jostled by, causing the collapse.

Unfortunately, the surveillance cameras had been malfunctioning, so we’d have to rely on our own recollections.

Randall’s expression darkened. “Who was near the unstable frame right before it fell?”

Macy hesitated, pretending to think before saying, “I think it was Ms. Nara.”