Anthony and Julie spent a week in Japan, indulging in their fantasy of a perfect life together.

Julie was radiant, posing for pictures at picturesque tourist spots and hinting at their growing family on social media.

But when they returned, Julie’s excitement reached a fever pitch.

“This is it,” she said, clutching Anthony’s arm as they walked up to the front door. “Our new beginning.”

Anthony pushed the door open, stepping inside, but froze in place almost immediately.

The house felt… empty.

The furniture was still there, but it lacked warmth. The air itself seemed hollow, stripped of the small touches that had once made the Manor a home.

The scent of the candles I had always lit was gone. The photos of us on the walls were gone. Even the garden, where I had lovingly tended to my collection of succulents, was barren.

Anthony took a few steps forward, his gaze darting around in confusion. “What happened here?” he asked, his voice rising.

The butler appeared from the hall, bowing slightly. “Welcome home, Mr. Harris.”

Anthony turned to him sharply, gesturing around the room. “Why does everything look so different? Where’s Daisy? What happened?”

The butler’s face twitched with discomfort. “I’m sorry, Mr. Harris, but Mrs. Harris tidied everything up before she left. She said she needed to move out.”

“Move out?” Anthony repeated, disbelief etched into his voice. “Move out to where? Who told her to leave the house?”

The butler hesitated, his gaze flickering toward Julie briefly before he continued. “She said… she said it was you, sir.”

“Me?” Anthony’s tone grew darker, his brows knitting together. “When did I ever say that? We were talking about rescheduling our anniversary before I left for Japan, nothing more!”

Julie’s grip on his arm tightened as she spoke softly, “Honey, maybe she misunderstood. You know how women can overthink things. Maybe she’s just upset.”

Anthony shook his head, his mind racing. “This doesn’t make sense. Why would she pack everything, leave the house, and…” His voice trailed off, realization creeping into his features.

Julie, sensing the shift in his mood, quickly tried to redirect his focus. “Well, it’s not all bad,” she said sweetly. “This just makes things easier for us, doesn’t it? Now we can truly start fresh.”

But Anthony wasn’t listening anymore. “Where is she now?” he muttered, his voice strained.

The butler hesitated again, finally saying, “She didn’t say, sir. Mrs. Harris only mentioned that she was… moving on.”

Anthony’s heart raced as he grabbed his phone and dialed my number.

The call did not connect. Instead, a cold, automated voice informed him that the number had been disconnected.