My colleagues were whispering amongst themselves, clearly taken with how well Owen and Vanessa seemed to go together, both strikingly attractive.

Their eyes slid over to me, silently comparing me to Vanessa. It didn't take long for them to decide that Vanessa was the prettier one. The comments I overheard stung a little, but mostly, I felt a sense of relief.

When everyone noticed how close Owen and Vanessa were, they pretended to be busy, but their eyes kept darting toward the three of us.

Everyone at the company knew Owen and I were engaged, and I was madly in love with him. But now, he was standing by Vanessa without a second thought for me.

My colleagues gave me pitying looks, their expressions saying they'd already imagined me sobbing, clinging to Owen, begging him not to leave. Those closest to me kept casting worried glances my way.

I quietly packed up my things.

Owen shot me an irritated look, snapping, "What's with the sour face? What are you doing?"

I gave a calm smile and pointed to my stuff. "I've resigned. I'm just packing up. Don't worry. I won't stand in your way or upset Vanessa."

Vanessa sauntered over. She placed a mango cake before me, her smile as sweet as it could be.

"Owen baked this for me, Ms. Millar. I bet you haven't had a chance to try his baking. He's really talented! You should definitely try it. And please, don't hold anything against Owen. A good job is hard to find. I know you come from a wealthy family, but that's no reason to waste such a great opportunity."

I didn't take the cake.

Vanessa's smile faltered, and she turned her gaze toward Owen, looking hurt.

Owen's expression darkened further, and he said coldly, "Vanessa is sharing this with you out of kindness. Just take it! Don't you have any manners?"

Sharing?

A smile slowly spread across my face as I met his gaze. "I'm allergic to mango, Owen."

He seemed taken aback. "I had no idea…"

Seeing him at a loss for words, Vanessa quickly chimed in, "But Owen says you're always bringing mangoes home. If you dislike me that much, Ms. Millar, just say it. There's no need to lie."

I couldn't help smiling again. It was true that I'd been buying mangoes often, but only because Owen loved them. I hadn't eaten a single piece.

Still, seeing how little Owen seemed to care stung more than I expected. After all, we had grown up together, yet he hadn't noticed my allergy to mango.

Before I could say anything, Owen's temper snapped. He grabbed a handful of fresh mango slices from Vanessa and threw them at my face.

When nothing dramatic happened, he shot me a harsh look. "When did you become such a liar, Audrey?"

I dropped my head, feeling the sting on my face as red spots bloomed one by one where the mango had made contact. My colleagues shrieked when they saw the sea of red spots.

My breath grew shallow, and then everything went black.

My allergy to mangoes was severe. The mere scent of it was enough to make me feel uneasy, and having fresh mangoes touch my skin would have been a total nightmare.

By the time I regained consciousness, I found myself in a hospital bed. Owen stood by my side, looking both guilty and anxious.

"I had no idea… I'm sorry," he mumbled.

I stayed silent.

He stared at me as if sensing something wasn't right. I had been shutting him out and staying far from him these days.

A flicker of panic crossed Owen's face before he poured me a glass of water. "Why does it seem like you've changed, Audrey?"

I looked up at him. The face I had once loved across two lifetimes now felt utterly unfamiliar.

"It's you who's changed. I've stayed the same," I said flatly.

Owen let out a frustrated sigh, but his voice softened. "All I said yesterday was to stop bothering Vanessa. I didn't ask you to quit your job. Vanessa just started at the company, and she doesn't know anyone, so I'm just looking out for her.

"By the way, how's that proposal going? Why don't you hand it over to Vanessa? She could use it more than you at this point."

I smiled wryly. "So, Vanessa takes my fiancé, and now she's coming after my proposal, too?"

Owen's face clouded with disappointment. "Vanessa and I are just friends now. Why won't you drop this, Audrey? Do you have any idea how controlling you're being? It feels suffocating to be in the same city and country as you!"

I lifted my head and met his gaze. Then, I opened my phone and showed him my immigration application.

"Don't worry. I'm applying for immigration to Almoria. You'll never have to see me again," I spoke clearly, making sure he understood every word.

Owen stayed silent, his eyes locked on mine, his expression unreadable. I thought he'd be happy I was leaving, but there was no sign of relief on his face.

A bitter grin spread across my face. He couldn't even bring himself to smile at me anymore.

Fatigue weighed heavily on me, and I was just about to ask him to leave when his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his expression instantly hardening.

After a long pause, he said, "Let's put the engagement on hold. Vanessa's health hasn't been great lately, and she needs me. I can't bear the thought of her being unhappy."

I nodded, not caring anymore since I had no intention of getting engaged with him. I couldn't risk repeating my mistakes, especially if it meant dying at Owen's hands again.

A month before I was set to leave for Almoria, I was packing when I came across a diary. Inside were pages filled with the quiet confession of how much I had loved Owen.

I was about to throw it away when my phone rang. It was Owen.

His voice was distant, almost unfamiliar. "Your birthday's coming up. I remember you always wanted to go to Avendale and watch the sunrise. Let me take you there."

My heart softened, despite myself. For years, Owen had been both family and lover to me.

Even at a time when his hatred for me ran deep, he had once stayed by my side, watching over me day and night when I was seriously ill. I owed it to him to at least say goodbye properly.

I reached the renowned observation deck in Avendale early on my birthday, waiting for Owen's familiar face. But he never came. Neither did the sunrise. Instead, an earthquake shook the ground beneath me.

Humans were nothing more than fragile beings in the wake of a natural disaster. All I could do was recall the safety guidelines I'd read and try to find the safest place to hide.

The violent shakes knocked me unconscious, and when I finally regained my senses, I found myself buried beneath the rubble.

Fortunately, two massive wooden beams had fallen and wedged above me, creating a tiny shelter that kept me somewhat safe.

I found myself thinking about many things in the darkness, but my mind kept coming back to Mom and Dad. I was thankful they hadn't made the trip to Avendale with me, but I couldn't escape the guilt that they must be beside themselves with worry.

Time felt endless in that darkness. I thought for sure I was going to die buried beneath the rubble until a pair of scarred hands carefully pulled me free.

My vision was blurry, but I could make out a face I knew all too well.