"Michelle, we are standing in a hospital. The blood bank keeps every blood type ready, so there is no reason for you to ask for mine." Brynn spoke with a steady and even tone.

Uncertainty shadowed Michelle's features as she said, "But..."

Even so, Brynn no longer focused on her. She shifted her gaze to the man beside her. "Richard. I've placed my resignation letter on your desk. My things are already packed. Please sign it when you can."

Richard's frown grew sharper. "Resignation letter?"

"Brynn!" Michelle cried out in alarm. "Are you lashing out at me? That was never what I meant."

A faint and distant smile appeared on Brynn's face. "Michelle. I hope you recover soon. I still have to finish gathering the rest of my things, so I'll be heading out."

After saying that, she walked away without paying attention to anyone's reaction.

Right before the elevator doors could seal shut, a broad hand pushed between them.

As the doors glided open again, Brynn lifted her gaze and met a pair of deep eyes.

At times, she found no trace of feeling in Richard at all.

Back then, the only emotion she had ever seen in him appeared on the day the villagers pinned him to the dirt. It was a look she could never erase from her memory.

"Why are you quitting?" Richard stepped into the elevator, his stare sharp and unyielding. "Is it because of the ruined wedding earlier? Or is it because we asked you to give blood?"

He reached for Brynn's hand as he spoke. "I apologized for what happened at the wedding. I've told you we would look for another donor. I won't push you again. So please stop being so dramatic, alright?"

Brynn nearly let out a humorless laugh. Being dramatic? That was what he thought of her.

She had never thrown a single tantrum in front of him. Whenever she felt wronged, she swallowed it quietly.

During the difficult days of building the company, Richard's stubborn ways had driven clients away. She had always stepped in to repair the damage. She forced herself to drink more than she could handle just to smooth over tensions, and her stomach paid the price for it.

Years passed, and she kept tending to the damage. Even then, the dull ache still returned at the worst moments.

Those memories made her exhale slowly. "Richard, I'm tired."

For five long years, she carried the dead weight of that relationship. He couldn't even make the slightest effort.

She kept telling herself she mattered. That if she gave him everything, someday, it would be enough to make him stay.

At this point, she felt worn down to the bone. She no longer had the strength or desire to chase after a place in his heart.

"If you're feeling overwhelmed, I can approve some leave so you can rest," Richard said with a troubled look.

Weariness settled over Brynn like a heavy cloak. "Richard. Let's..."

Right before she could speak the words "break up", his phone buzzed sharply.

The moment he answered, Michelle's trembling voice echoed through the speaker. "Rena collapsed! Come back quickly!"

A subtle shift crossed Richard's face. "I'm on my way."

Once the call ended, he glanced toward Brynn. "Wait for me at my place. I need to talk to you about something. I'll go there as soon as I finish here."

He didn't give her a chance to reply. Within seconds, he strode away without a backward glance.

It was the same pattern every time. Whenever Rena called for him, he never hesitated.

Brynn remained standing in place while she drew in a long breath.

Then the elevator doors slid shut again, sealing her inside. Her reflection stared back. Her face looked drained. Her eyes carried a chill she had grown too familiar with.

She had planned to pass by Richard's home and gather the last of her belongings.

Given the way things unfolded, she believed it was finally time to talk things through and end everything cleanly.

......

Richard's home sat close to the law firm. It was a penthouse tucked inside an upscale complex.

Not long after they made their relationship official, Brynn had gathered the courage to ask for her own key. She often visited, moving through the rooms with ease as she cleaned and cooked for him.

Even if his name was on the deed, the place felt far more like her home.

Since he never paid much attention to his surroundings, every detail bore the quiet mark of her care—from the curtains and the sofa she chose piece by piece, to the kitchen tools she saved up for and the balcony plants she tenderly kept alive.

Once she stepped inside that evening, she pulled out the boxes she had brought and quietly began setting her things aside.

Very quickly, she realized packing was more painful than she expected.

Every object was tied to a memory, and choosing whether to take it or abandon it felt like peeling away part of herself.

When she reached the bedside table and lifted the photo album, a faint crease formed between her brows.

She sank onto the floor and turned through the pages one at a time.

Her face in those photos was full of laughter. She was gazing at Richard with unguarded affection.

Without a hint of emotion, she snapped the album shut and let it fall beside her.

The sheer amount of work took hours. When she finally finished, the sun was already dipping low, brushing the room with a soft orange glow.

The boxes waited by the entrance. Five years of her life reduced to a small stack of cardboard.

After setting everything in order, she booked a moving service to bring her belongings back home. Even then, Richard had still not returned.

Fatigue crept up on Brynn without warning, and a sharp cramp twisted through her stomach. That was when she remembered she had not eaten anything since midday.

She went to the kitchen in a rush and heated a frozen pizza.

However, once she finished the pizza, the pain surged even harder. A piercing ache spread from her stomach and crawled toward her lower right side.

In a panic, she searched for the medical kit.

She had never mentioned her recurring stomach trouble to Richard because she didn't want to burden him. As a result, the little bit of medicine he kept for her was never enough.

On her knees, she dug through the kit but failed to find the bottle she relied on.

The cramping worsened, nausea rose in her throat, and shadows flickered at the edges of her sight.

She tried to push herself upright to get some warm water, though her legs nearly gave out beneath her.

Using the wall for support, she edged her way back to the kitchen and downed a cup of warm water, but the pain refused to ease.

Heat drenched her back with sweat as she curled on the floor, her awareness slipping in and out like a flickering light.

At last, she managed to press her emergency contact. "Richard. I..."

Instead of his voice, Rena snapped through the line, saying, "Brynn, why are you calling again? You said you were quitting. I knew you were only pretending to get attention."

There was no room left in Brynn for pointless arguments. Her stomach throbbed like it was on fire. With a chilled calmness, she asked, "Where is Richard?"

Rena answered with unmistakable smugness, "I told him I had cramps, so he went out to buy me hot chocolate..."

Brynn ended the call before the woman could finish.

Even though September heat hovered outside, the air conditioning in the penthouse hit Brynn like winter. The cold pricked at her skin and made the pain in her abdomen twist even deeper.

When she held her chest, she could not tell if it was her heart aching or her stomach tearing her apart.

A sheen of cold sweat quickly soaked her clothes.

Narrowing her eyes to see the screen, she forced herself to dial 911.

After ending the call, she struggled for air. The pain pressed so hard against her ribs that her mind drifted in and out, and faint footsteps burst through the doorway as urgent voices filled the room.

When her eyes fluttered open, a doctor in a white coat moved across her blurred field of vision.

"Lower right rebound tenderness. This is acute appendicitis. We need to operate at once," he said.

Those words made everything click into place. It wasn't her stomach this time. It was her appendix.

"The patient requires immediate surgery. Someone has to sign the consent form. Contact her family quickly," the doctor said.

The agony made it difficult for Brynn to speak, and when a nurse hurried to her side asking for a relative, she managed only one question. "Can I sign for myself?"

"No family members at all?" The nurse blinked in surprise.

"No one," Brynn whispered as she gave a faint shake of her head.

Years earlier, she had followed Richard to the city of Nuephis with nothing but determination, leaving her family behind to build a life beside him.

Here in this city, Richard was the only person she had left.

The nurse offered her a gentle, understanding glance before placing the consent form in her hand. "You may sign here."

With the pain clawing through her abdomen, Brynn lifted the pen as carefully as she could.

As her signature formed on the page, a memory surfaced. Five years ago, Richard had suffered the same condition. She had been the one to sign his consent form. It was this very document.

During that time, she had read every line again and again, terrified that something might go wrong.

After the surgery, she had kept watch at Richard's bedside for three days and three nights without leaving.

But tonight, there was no one beside her at all.

"Miss Morgan?" The nurse's voice broke through the fog in Brynn's mind and pulled her back to the present.

Blinking hard, Brynn steadied her hand enough to sign her name.

A few moments later, the staff moved her toward the operating room.

Once the anesthesia began spreading through her veins, a heavy darkness washed over her like a tide.

Somewhere inside that blur, she thought she heard someone calling out to her.

The voice pushed through the haze, wrapped in the sharp smell of antiseptic and the faint metallic scent of blood.

In that drifting state, she caught a glimpse of a seventeen-year-old Richard held down by villagers, his fierce gaze cutting through the crowd to find hers.

Another image surfaced. The early days of B&R Law Firm. She had once run straight into Richard's arms, wearing a smile that felt warm and full of hope.

Then the scene changed again. Rena appeared in a white wedding gown, leaning into Richard's embrace, while she herself stood quietly nearby, her smile long gone.

When awareness finally settled back into her, the only sound Brynn recognized was the steady beeping of the monitor beside her.

Pale moonlight slipped through the blinds and spread a cold glow across the hospital room.

She kept her eyes on the wavering line that reflected her vital signs.

As the last traces of anesthesia faded, the incision began to pulse with sharp and steady pain.

Her hand groped beneath the pillow until she found her phone. The screen showed 3:17 a.m.

The agony intensified, and she pressed the pain-relief pump again and again, though nothing seemed to work. Her body instinctively folded in on itself.

Warm tears traced down her cheeks while her thoughts scattered in every direction.

She finally learned that when the pain was at its peak, tears were purely physiological.

By the time dawn pushed through the dimness and climbed over the windowsill, Brynn's ringing phone dragged her out of a shallow sleep.

The incision had throbbed through the whole night, and she had barely drifted off just before sunrise.

Richard's name glowed on the screen.

A strange distance settled in her chest as Brynn stared at it.

Once she answered, Richard's cold tone split through the quiet. "Brynn. I tore up your resignation letter. You're expected at the firm by nine. We have a case that needs you."

"I..." Brynn opened her mouth, hoping to tell him she was in the hospital.

Before she could say another word, Rena's teasing voice drifted through the line. "Richard. Where did you put my hot chocolate?"

That single sentence struck Brynn like a bucket of ice thrown over her head. A sour sting climbed up her throat. She bit down on her lip and ended the call at once.

A faint, humorless laugh escaped her as she bowed her head. With a single motion, she swiped across the screen and blocked the familiar number without a hint of reluctance.

Every move she made carried a clear finality. Not even a shadow of longing remained.

......

Five days after Brynn's surgery, the attending physician arrived to remove her stitches. He studied the CT scan with a deep frown. "You had severe appendicitis and complications. You really pushed yourself too far. If this had been delayed even half a day more, the outcome would've been dangerous."

Propped up against the headboard, Brynn still looked drained of color. She offered him a faint smile. "I understand. It won't happen again."

When her discharge day finally arrived, the rain that had soaked the city through the night had just stopped. Clouds still blanketed the sky, yet the air felt clean and cool, filled with the earthy scent of newly damp soil. Along the road, the trees and shrubs shimmered with fresh droplets, their leaves bright and glistening.

After finishing the discharge paperwork, Brynn lingered beneath the hospital awning and drew in a long breath of crisp morning air. It felt like she was clearing out every trace of disinfectant that clung to her lungs. Only then did she lift her hand to call for a taxi.

When the cab drifted past the B&R Law Firm, her eyes moved toward the building for a brief moment before she shifted her gaze back to the steady flow of traffic. Her expression remained unreadable.

......

Inside the law firm, Richard stood before the tall picture window that overlooked the restless streets, watching cars weave through the morning rush.

Jerold Griffiths, his long-time friend, tried Brynn's number again. But he couldn't get through.

"She's still not picking up," Jerold muttered with a sigh as he lowered the phone.

A deep furrow formed between Richard's brows, and his expression turned cold.

Jerold pressed his lips together, concern edging into his voice. As the firm's third partner, Brynn's silence unsettled him as well.

"Richard. What happened this time?" he asked with a puzzled frown. "Brynn's really upset, isn't she? It's already been a week. You two have argued plenty before. She's always bounced back eventually. Why is it different now?"

Richard remained silent, his reflection a cold silhouette against the glass.

"Do you think she might be ill?" Jerold asked quietly.

Ill? The word made Richard's brows tighten slightly. From what he remembered, Brynn had always been lively and full of energy. He had never once seen her bedridden. Moreover, since she had no one else in town besides him, she would have told him immediately if something were wrong.

"I talked to her on the phone. She didn't sound sick," Richard replied in a low, steady tone.

At least, she hadn't said anything about it.

For years, even the tiniest nick on her finger sent her running to him so he could blow on it, as if that alone could cure her. If she were truly unwell, she wouldn't keep it from him.

Yet she blocked his number. That alone told him how deeply she resented him now.

Jerold let out a breath once he heard that. "If she's fine, then why hasn't she even asked for a day off? It's been hectic at the office…"

Then he shifted the topic with a pointed look. "Richard, you really crossed the line this time. Anyone would be upset if their partner left them alone at their own wedding celebration."

When Richard still refused to speak, Jerold rolled his eyes dramatically. "Never mind. Brynn will come around in a few days anyway…"

Richard's mouth pressed into a hard line before he finally spoke. "The firm doesn't keep people who refuse to work. Tell HR that if Brynn doesn't show up tomorrow, she's dismissed."

In his mind, this was the one consequence Brynn would never risk. The firm had always been the place where she clung closest to him. He felt certain she wouldn't choose to walk away from it.

Jerold gave a small grin and nodded. "Alright. I'll let everyone know. Once Brynn hears it, she'll probably show up first thing tomorrow."

From the moment Jerold met them, he had seen Brynn trailing after Richard at every turn.

For Brynn, Richard was everything she cared about.

For Richard, though, the dynamic was far different. He saw her as a shadow he couldn't quite shake off, something unnecessary lingering behind him.

Brynn had always been the one unable to step away. If Richard had held even a fraction of true affection for her, he never would have abandoned her during the wedding to rush to another woman.

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Richard signaled that Jerold could go.

Jerold offered no further comment and walked out of the office.

Richard's eyes drifted to his silent phone. On any ordinary day, Brynn would have sent him a text even if she didn't call.

Now the screen still showed their last conversation from the wedding.

She had sent him a bright little emoji and a message that read, "I'm the happiest person in the world. I will always love you."

He never responded to it.

As usual, Brynn had filled his inbox with dozens of messages, while his replies rarely went beyond short phrases. A brief "Hmm." A flat "Got it."

Yet this time, days slipped by with no new messages from her at all. That had never happened before.

The realization irritated him enough that he tossed the phone aside.

For once, he decided he wouldn't let her soften him so easily.

......

Back at the hotel, Brynn quietly began sorting through her belongings.

During her days in the hospital, she had already reached out to a real estate agent and listed her apartment for sale. She set the price far lower than its value because she needed it gone quickly.

Earlier that morning, she signed the transfer papers. The apartment no longer belonged to her.

Just then, her phone buzzed against her leg.

When she checked the screen, she saw the HR head's name flashing.

She pressed her lips together and spent a long moment deciding whether to answer. Eventually, she picked up.

"Hello, Brynn. When are you planning to return to work? Mr. Yates said if you don't come back soon…" The person on the other end hesitated before finishing. "You'll be fired..."

"I turned in my resignation earlier," Brynn answered.

"What?" The HR head froze for a moment. He seemed to stumble over whatever he meant to say. "Then... you..."

Brynn already knew the company expected a two-week transition once a resignation letter was filed.

She had never been the type to walk away from unfinished work. Since she had made up her mind to leave, she intended to finish every task required of her so no one else would be burdened.

That was why she added, "I'll return to the firm soon so I can take care of the handover."

"Alright. Alright. I'll wait for you at the office," the HR head replied with a relieved exhale.

When the call ended, Brynn drew in a steady breath.

Her apartment had been sold, and once she completed the transition, she would be free to go.

Even so, a faint ache still pulsed along the incision on her abdomen.

After taking a moment to steady herself, she flagged down a taxi and headed straight for the law firm.

Her presence seemed to lift the mood the instant she stepped inside.

"Brynn..."

"Brynn, you made it back..."

Several young assistants hurried toward Brynn, their voices bubbling with relief and excitement. Their bright expressions carried such sincere affection that it warmed her chest.

"I'm only here to finish the handover," Brynn said, cutting through their enthusiasm with a gentle smile as she addressed one of them. "I'll be assigning my ongoing cases to you."

"You're really leaving?" The assistants traded startled looks.

Brynn offered a calm smile and answered, "Yes."

......

While Richard was reviewing documents, Jerold burst into his office the moment he heard Brynn had returned.

"Brynn's back!" He wore a triumphant grin. "I knew she couldn't stay away from you. The second she heard you planned to fire her, she hurried right back!"

Richard fixed him with a flat stare. "You sound unusually idle. Should I let you handle a few of my cases?"

Jerold's grin vanished as he shook his head over and over.

Richard's cases were the ones everyone avoided. They were difficult, dangerous, and carried heavy responsibilities. Despite the high payout, Jerold knew he did not have the skill to take them on.

Just as Jerold turned toward the door, Richard said, "Have Brynn come in."

Jerold's smirk returned. "On it."

Across the office, Brynn was finishing her handover when she heard someone greet Jerold. She glanced up and found Jerold looking straight at her with that familiar mischievous smile.

"Brynn, Richard wants to see you in his office," he said.

Brynn rose from her seat.

Jerold matched her pace as they walked, leaning closer to whisper, "Let me tell you something. If you're dealing with someone as cold as Richard, you've got to stand your ground. Stop giving in to him so easily. Think about it. He even had the nerve to skip the wedding. You've let him get away with too much!"

Brynn placed her hand on the doorknob before glancing back at him. "Would you like to come in with me?"

"No, no." Jerold flailed his hands in refusal. "I wouldn't dare step inside. I know better than to poke that bear. You handle it."

Without waiting for her reply, he hurried off to his own office.

Brynn steadied herself with one breath, then pushed the door open.

Richard's office remained a place of severe order. The heavy wooden furniture and shelves filled with legal volumes created an atmosphere that pressed down on anyone who entered.

He sat behind the wide desk, focused on the papers in front of him.

"What can I do for you?" Brynn stood in front of him.

The coldness in her tone made Richard's pen stop mid-stroke. He lifted his gaze to her, a faint crease forming between his brows.

After a week had passed, her appearance had changed. The softness that once framed her face had faded away. She wore a plain white shirt with black trousers, which made her look even more slight than before.

"Have you been sick?" Richard's brows drew together. "Why have you lost so much weight?"

Even though her appendectomy had been a small procedure, it was still surgery. A week of slow recovery had taken six pounds from her frame.

"Was there something you needed?" Brynn steered clear of his questions and kept her tone strictly businesslike.

Richard's frown deepened, a strange discomfort rising in him. He had tried to show concern, yet she refused to soften even a little.

Yes, the ruined wedding had been his fault, but it had happened because a life had been at stake. Why had she grown so distant?

With that thought tightening his chest, he said coldly, "You've been gone for a week. Do you actually think I wouldn't fire you?"

Brynn kept her expression composed, her tone steady. "My resignation letter has already been submitted."

"I haven't approved of it."

"Based on labor regulations, you have no right to deny—"

"Brynn!" Richard cut her off, his tone sharp and rising without restraint.

Brynn's lashes quivered at the sound, and she pressed her lips together without offering another word. She turned her eyes away, refusing to engage further.

The room settled into a heavy stillness.

After a long moment, Richard spoke again coldly. "There's a meeting this afternoon. You'll attend with me..."

"Listen, I already told you..." Brynn repeated every word with quiet resolve. "I've resigned."

Richard's expression darkened instantly. "Are you finished with this nonsense?"

How could she truly walk away? How could she actually leave him? The thought seemed impossible to him.

From the day their paths crossed, she had clung to his side, enduring every cold look and harsh word he threw her way.

No matter how often he turned from her, she was always there when he looked back.

Because of that history, he believed more than anyone that she would never walk away from him. Resignation? The idea seemed absurd.

"Enough with this behavior! Are you actually convinced I won't sign off on your resignation?" Richard's voice dropped to a harsh, low rumble.

"I don't require your approval." Brynn lifted her gaze to meet his. "After I finish my handover, I'll be gone. And I'll have everything completed before the day ends."

Richard's face darkened like a gathering storm. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, a knock sounded at the door, and Jerold peeked inside. "Richard, we still need to—"

Before Jerold got another word out, Richard snatched the nearest folder and flung it toward the doorway. "Leave!"

The folder slammed onto the floor, papers flying across the entrance. Jerold vanished in an instant.

Brynn's brows tightened in a small frown.

Because Richard rarely showed much feeling, she had almost never witnessed him lose control. Even on the days when he was annoyed, the most he ever did was tighten his brows. Seeing him throw something was entirely new.

She shifted her gaze away, keeping her face composed. "As for the shares I hold in the company. You can cash them out for me based on the current market value..."

Before the rest of her words could leave her mouth, Richard rose sharply from his chair and closed the distance between them.

His height cast a heavy shadow over her. A cold edge flickered in his eyes, carrying a contempt that stung.

He delivered each word with deliberate force. "Brynn, if you walk out and resign, then you should never think about returning."