: Shadows Cast at Moonset**

Seven years into their marriage, Kathleen knew her place in David’s world. To him, she was less a wife and more a convenient outlet—a bedmate for whenever the urge struck.

After yet another passionless encounter, he absently nuzzled the top of her head. “If I haven’t found her by the time I turn thirty, I’ll settle down with you for good.”

Kathleen knew exactly who occupied his heart: the little girl who had pulled him from the sea over twenty years before. He’d once confessed promising her, even then, that he would marry her when he grew up.

For seven years, Kathleen had asked the same question—what if you never find her?

For seven years, David had never answered.

But tonight, she finally had the answer she’d longed for. A fragile hope fluttered in her chest, because after midnight, David would be thirty.

She had thrown a lavish party at his estate on the outskirts of town. Now, in the castle’s top-floor suite, the frantic energy of their encounter had dissipated. In one hour, they would stand before that same castle, hand in hand, ready to face the future.

Wincing at the soreness in her lower back, Kathleen leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his Adam’s apple, her gaze hazy with lingering desire. “Wait for me.”

An hour later, she stood in a shimmering fishtail gown, a pair of matching wedding bands clutched in her palm.

*After tonight*, she thought, *we can finally leave the past behind and truly begin.*

But when she turned, she saw David embracing another woman.

The man who was usually so aloof he rarely smiled now held a look of wild, disbelieving joy, his voice trembling. “I finally found you!”

The woman wore a simple white dress, her face a portrait of innocent alarm.

Kathleen stood frozen, the warmth draining from her fingertips in an instant.

It was Emily, the daughter of the Jiang family’s former housekeeper. She had lived in the household with her mother since childhood. Kathleen’s father had always treated her kindly, even sponsoring her overseas studies seven years ago.

Their personalities had never meshed, resulting in a relationship of consistent, cool politeness.

“Mr. David,” Emily stammered, shrinking back slightly, “you… you must have the wrong person.”

David released her, his fingers gently tracing the jade pendant hanging from her neck. His voice softened, as if handling a priceless treasure. “This is the token I gave you when you saved me. Why did you never come find me?”

Emily looked bewildered. “I… I had a high fever after nearly drowning as a child. I lost some memories. I don’t remember who gave me this pendant.”

“It was me,” David said, his eyes blazing. “I told you back then, you would be my only bride in this lifetime.”

The words were a knife, plunging straight into Kathleen’s heart.

Emily’s gaze, however, drifted over David’s shoulder, locking onto Kathleen. “But Mr. David, you’re already married to Ms. Kathleen.”

David turned. The tenderness in his eyes vanished, replaced by the detached coolness reserved for a stranger. “I told her before we married that my heart belonged to someone else. She made her choice.”

A suffocating pain seized her chest, stealing her breath.

She remembered seven years ago, when the Shen and Jiang families first broached the alliance. The first time she saw David, she’d fallen for those cool, distant eyes.

Even then, he had stated plainly: he was waiting for someone. He would never love her.

But she, stubborn and proud, had assured him, “I can wait. If you truly find her, I’ll step aside willingly.”

She’d been too young, too confident, convinced that time and closeness would work in her favor.

Just last night, he had held her and murmured, “Kathleen, let’s have a proper wedding.”

Cradled in his arms, her heart had raced, believing she had finally grasped the moon.

Now, he was saying his heart belonged only to Emily.

Kathleen bit down hard on her lower lip, the metallic tang of blood spreading in her mouth.

She gave a faint nod, her voice barely a whisper. “It was my choice. Now that you’ve found her, I’ll honor our agreement. I’ll file for divorce.”

David studied her pale face, his gaze lingering for a moment before his tone flattened. “Good. It’s sensible of you.”

Standing there, watching them, Kathleen felt utterly ridiculous.

Seven years of love. Seven years of waiting. And in the end, it had all been nothing but a one-sided performance—a solo act of her own delusion.

She was about to leave when a waiter with a tray suddenly slipped, crashing straight into her.

The impact was too sudden, too strong. She stumbled and fell, her forehead striking a pillar with a sickening thud.

“Ms. Kathleen! Are you all right?”

Emily tugged at David’s sleeve, a flicker of amusement barely concealed in her eyes. “Mr. David, you should help her up.”

David’s gaze shifted to Kathleen. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. “I’ve found you now. Other women’s affairs have nothing to do with me.”

The words cut like a blunt knife, sawing slowly into her heart.

Warm liquid trickled down her temple, blurring her vision.

The commotion quickly drew the attention of the surrounding guests.

“Oh my god, she’s bleeding! Why isn’t Mr. David helping her?”

“What’s going on? Who’s the woman with Mr. David?”

Their stares—sympathetic, mocking, voyeuristic—pressed down on her, suffocating.

Kathleen lifted her head. Through a hazy red film, she saw the two figures standing close together not far away.

David was leaning down, speaking softly to Emily. His fingers gently brushed a stray hair from her shoulder. That tenderness… it was something she had never received, not once in all seven years.

Her heart clenched as if caught in a vise, the pain stealing her breath.

Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself up against the cold pillar. Without another glance at them, without acknowledging the stares around her, she walked out of the banquet hall, one deliberate step at a time.

Outside, she took a deep breath and dialed a number.

A familiar, surprised voice answered almost immediately. “Kathleen?!”

“Julie,” Kathleen’s voice was weak but steady. “Is your studio still willing to take me?”

“Of course we are!” The voice on the other end grew even more excited. “But I thought you were staying for your husband. Why the sudden—”

“I’m getting a divorce,” Kathleen cut in, her tone eerily calm, as if discussing someone else’s life.

A brief silence followed, then a gentle reply. “Okay. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Julie was her college friend who ran a painting studio in New York. She’d urged Kathleen to come over again and again, insisting her talent shouldn’t be buried.

But Kathleen’s mind had been filled with David. She’d long since tossed her beloved oil paints into some forgotten corner.

She touched her chest. It had been packed full of her obsession with David. Now, it was time to live a life of her own.

Kathleen returned to her apartment near the office. After tending to her wound, the tears finally came—falling like a broken string of pearls. She cried until the sky outside lightened to the pale gray of dawn, her eyes swollen and puffy, before she finally forced herself to get up.

The moment she stepped into the lobby of Logan Group that morning, her assistant hurried over. “Vice President Kathleen, the Chairman wants to see you in his office.”

She rubbed her temples. News of last night must have reached her father’s ears. A scolding was probably unavoidable.

Her mother had passed away when she was young. She and her father had never been close.

In his eyes, her marriage to David was never just about feelings. It was the keystone of the alliance between the Logan and Sterling families.

But as she reached his office door, she heard the sound of cheerful laughter from within.

Kathleen peered through the cracked door, watching David and Emily seated together on the sofa.

“David, we can’t thank you enough for handing the S Project over to Logan’s Group. You have my word—we won’t let you down.” Logan’s voice was thick with sycophancy.

David answered with casual indifference. “No need for formalities. Emily mentioned you were her benefactor. It’s just a project—nothing significant.”

“Of course, of course!” Logan rushed to agree, his tone oozing compliance. “You and Emily are clearly meant to be. As for Kathleen, don’t worry. Whatever you decide, I guarantee she won’t say a word against it.”

Their words struck her like hailstones—sharp, cold, relentless.

Her heart seized, then shattered. The weight of it pressed down on her lungs, making every breath heavy and labored.

She’d always believed her father held at least a shred of affection for her. Now she knew the truth: against profit, her feelings meant nothing.

“Ms. Kathleen?” Her assistant’s soft voice came from behind, noticing her prolonged stillness.

The sound alerted the room’s occupants. Drawing a deep breath, Kathleen pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“You’re here. Good timing—there’s something you should know.” Logan’s tone was flat, as if discussing the weather. “You’ll be stepping down as Vice President of the Project Department. Emily will take over.”

Her heart plummeted. She had come to discuss her resignation and plans to go abroad, but never in her worst nightmares had she imagined her father would hand over the position she’d fought seven years for—so casually, like a favor—to Emily.

Fresh out of college, she’d given up her passion for oil painting and forced herself into Logan’s Group, just to keep pace with David. Starting as a junior clerk, she’d worked through endless nights revising proposals, chasing projects, negotiating with clients. Seven years of grinding effort had earned her that VP title and the respect of the entire company.

“By what right?” Her voice trembled, the restraint she’d mustered beginning to crack.

David spoke first. “Emily holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Harvard. Isn’t she more qualified than someone with just an undergraduate degree?”

Kathleen’s face drained of color. Looking at the three of them, she felt nothing but absurd, sickening despair.

“What if I refuse?” Her voice was quiet, but carried a rare, stubborn edge.

“I am the Chairman of Logan’s Group. I have the authority to make personnel decisions.” Logan’s tone turned icy. He picked up the phone and dialed his assistant. “Issue a notice immediately: Kathleen is relieved of her duties as Vice President of the Project Department. Emily will assume the position.”

The moment he hung up, Emily finally spoke, her voice soft and hesitant. “Mr. Logan, I… I don’t have any management experience. Maybe Kathleen should keep the role. I could start from an entry-level position and learn.”

“That won’t be necessary. I have faith in your abilities.” David reached over and gently ruffled her hair, his tone dripping with affection. “Besides, I’ll be here to help you.”

Logan immediately chimed in, his face creasing into an ingratiating smile. “With David’s support, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Emily turned her gaze to Kathleen, unable to contain a triumphant little smile any longer. “Kathleen, I’ll be relying on you to handle the handover, then.”

The sight of their cozy little trio was a knife to her heart.

Suffocating, she turned on her heel and left without a word, refusing to spend another moment there.

Later, Emily followed Logan’s secretary to complete her onboarding paperwork.

Kathleen returned to her own office to organize the handover materials.

Then the door opened again.

It was David.