After that, I knew I had to leave. There was nothing for me here anymore. No relatives, no family. Only this city that had turned so cold. I had to sell everything before I went.

My parents’ apartment, and the wedding house Wilmer had given me. Both our names were on it, and that meant I couldn’t just walk away. I had to face him one last time.

I sent him a message. No reply. I waited, but time wasn’t something I had. I didn’t want to come back to New York again just to handle this. So I opened his profile, looking for where he’d been. But the moment I clicked, I saw it. I had been blocked.

The air punched out of me. I thought of calling his mother, but she only told me Wilmer hadn’t gone home since that night.

So I swallowed my pride and messaged Madonna. “I need to talk to Wilmer. Please tell him and let me know.”

Her reply came instantly, like she had been waiting. An address.

It was a villa. The holiday home that was ours. Our secret place, where no one else was allowed. Where I had kissed him for the first time. Where he promised me this place would always belong only to us.

But Madonna had gone there too.

I told myself not to think, not to feel, and I drove. The road curved through the quiet trees, but when I arrived, the quiet was gone. Laughter spilled everywhere, strangers filling the house that used to be ours.

I walked along the path, my chest aching. Then I saw them.

Madonna, half-kneeling, her lips brushing Wilmer’s cheek. “Thank you for inviting my friends here,” she said sweetly.

He started to pull away, but his eyes lifted and found me.

The kiss still burned on his face. And all I could think of was that night, when I kissed him first. My clumsy little thank-you kiss, right here in this villa. He’d smiled so warmly, and after that, he always asked for kisses whenever he made me happy.

Every tree, every wall here had seen our love.

And now they were about to witness the end.

I waited until Madonna finally pulled back from him before I stepped closer. My hands trembled a little as I held out the papers.

“You bought our wedding house,” I said quietly. “Since we’re done, I should return it to you. Take a look. If you don’t want it, I can buy it back at market price.”

Wilmer’s eyes turned sharp and cold. His knuckles cracked as he gripped the document like it was something filthy. He stared at me for a long time before speaking.

“Anything else?”

I swallowed, forcing myself to keep my voice steady. “I still have some things there. I’d like to take them this time.”

His face darkened, like I had said something unforgivable.

Madonna covered her mouth and let out a fake little gasp. “Oh no. I thought everything in that room was just useless junk. I already moved it all to the storage room. Want me to take you there?”

I nodded politely. “Thank you.”

She smiled sweetly and touched Wilmer’s shoulder as if he belonged to her. She tried to stand, but the moment she moved, Wilmer caught her wrist.

“I’ll go with you,” he said.

Her cheeks flushed. She pouted. “Why are you so clingy?”

I lowered my eyes and walked ahead, pretending I hadn’t seen a thing. The storage room was the smallest one in the house. Cramped, airless, barely enough space for two people.

Wilmer leaned against the doorframe, watching me with cold eyes as I picked through my things. His silence pressed down like a weight.

Madonna bent down beside me, pretending to help. Her perfume suffocated me in the narrow space. Her voice came out soft, but sharp enough to cut.

“You’ve found so many excuses just to see him again. You really haven’t given up, have you? Fine. I’ll help you.”

Before I could even react, she brushed against the shelf, and a box tumbled from the top.

I barely had time to move.

Wilmer’s pupils shrank, and he rushed in. But not for me. He grabbed Madonna, pulling her tightly into his arms.

The box missed her by an inch. Instead, it slammed into my shoulder, hard enough to knock me off my feet. Pain shot through me, white and blinding.

I collapsed on the floor.

Wilmer frowned, just frowned, then turned back to Madonna. He lifted her as if she were made of glass, her arm only scratched, and hurried her outside. I heard him call for a car, his voice sharp with worry but none of it for me.

The pain spread until I couldn’t move. My breathing grew shallow, my vision fading. Before the darkness took me, one thought brought me a strange kind of peace.

It’s good I don’t love him anymore.

If I don’t love him, I won’t cry because he chose her when I needed him most.

If I don’t love him, I can finally stop waiting for him to save me.

When Madonna’s friends saw her tiny scratch, they all rushed with Wilmer to the hospital. No one looked back.

I don’t know how long I lay there. It wasn’t until the next morning that the maid found me. Her eyes went wide with shock as she called for an ambulance. She must have panicked, because she also called Wilmer.

“Mr. Wilmer,” I heard her say faintly on the phone. “Miss Lucille was badly hurt and collapsed in the storage room. The ambulance is on the way. Do you want to come see her?”

There was a pause. Then his cold voice, flat and final. “Why should I go? The ambulance is coming. It has nothing to do with me anymore.”

The maid tried again, but he only snapped, “Make sure she and her things are cleared out properly. I don’t want her dirtying my place.”

The line went dead.

I lay there, lips pale, heart strangely calm. So this was what it meant. I really would disappear completely from his world.

The doctors later said my injuries weren’t life-threatening. Still, the maid didn’t know who else to call. In the end, she reached out to Wilmer’s mother.

When his mother heard, she rushed over in a panic. She stayed by my side the whole night, caring for me in a way her son never would.

I woke up to the sound of raised voices outside my room. The corridor was quiet, so every word carried straight into me.

“You bastard!” it was his mother’s voice, sharp with anger. “I don’t care where you are. If you still want any chance of making things right with Lucy, come here and take care of her immediately. If you let this slip, she’ll never forgive you!”

For a second, I almost held my breath, waiting. Hoping.

Then his voice came through, low and cruel. “What does it matter if she forgives me? The engagement is over. Her things are gone. Even if she dies, I won’t bother showing up to her funeral.”

The phone clicked. Silence followed.

The door opened and his mother stepped in, her face flushed, her hands shaking a little. She looked embarrassed when her eyes found mine. “Lucy… Wilmer… you know how he is when he’s angry. He says things he doesn’t mean. Don’t let it get to you.”

I shook my head. No words left. She didn’t need to cover for him. He was right. We had no ties anymore. He’d already cut me off. I needed to do the same.

She sighed softly, like she knew there was no turning things back. Then she came closer, sat by my bed, and pulled out a folded list.

“Lucy,” she said gently, putting the paper in my hands. “These are dowries I’ve prepared for you. You’re going far, starting over on your own. You’ll need property, money, security. These things will give you confidence.”

My chest tightened. I shook my head quickly. “Mrs. Preston… I can’t accept this.”

Her hand covered mine, “If your mother hadn’t brought me out of that little village years ago, I wouldn’t be here today. I owe her… and I owe you. Besides, it was Wilmer who wronged you. As his mother, I need to make this right.”

Her eyes softened, “Once you’re in Europe, I’ll send someone to help you with the transfer.”

The door suddenly pushed open.

A familiar voice cut through the air. “Who’s going to the Europe?”

I froze, and lowered my lashes and kept my mouth shut. I didn’t look at him. I just pretended he wasn’t even standing there.

His mom glanced between us. She sighed. “It’s Lucy, she…”

He cut her off, his gaze sliding straight to me. “You’re going to Europe? Right. You mentioned before that you wanted to see your aunt. But your injuries are bad this time. It’s not good for you to travel yet. How about later? I’ll stay with you for a while, arrange things here, then go with you.”

A laugh almost slipped out of me, bitter and small. Yes, I had told him once that I wanted to go. He’d promised to come with me too. But he never showed.

Why? Because Madonna told him she envied me. She said I always had someone beside me while she, poor little Madonna, had never left her small village. She said she’d never seen the world. And because of that, Wilmer canceled his ticket behind my back and took her abroad instead. They travelled together and I was left all alone

I still remember that day... I waited until the last flight was gone, calling him over and over, thinking maybe something happened. My chest ached with worry. Then dawn came, and so did the photos. Him and Madonna at another airport. Smiling. Together.

Now, after all that, he stood here acting like he still wanted to go with me. I had nothing left to hope for.

I opened my mouth, ready to tell him the truth. That I wasn’t going to see family. That I was going to marry. That I wasn’t just leaving for a while. I was leaving New York for good. I’d never come back unless I had no choice.

But before the words could leave me, he sneered. “You don’t need me to go? Then who do you want? That pretty boy who gave you a gift the other day? Don’t tell me you’re going alone. You’re so clueless you can’t even read a boarding pass right. You’ll end up crying and begging me to pick you up.”

I let out a breath, heavy and tired. I wanted to tell him he was wrong. I didn’t need him. I didn’t want him. I didn’t want him anywhere near my wedding.

But I never got the chance. His phone lit up and he glanced at it, his face softening in an instant. He turned away. “Alright, looks like you’ve got plenty of strength. That eases my mind. Maddie hates being alone, so I’ll go keep her company. As for Europe, I’ll go with you once you’re healed.”

He even smiled at his mother. “Thanks for taking care of your daughter-in-law, Mom.”

She shot him a cold look. “Get out.”

“Goodbye, Wilmer.” I said.

For some reason, that made him pause. His shoulders stiffened, then he turned back, like he thought I was forgiving him. Like he thought this was hope. His hand brushed over my hair.

“Goodbye, Lucy. I’ll bring you flower and cake tomorrow.”

I looked at him, long and steady, but he didn’t bother to see what was in my eyes. He just walked away, lighter on his feet, heading back to Madonna.

His mom watched him go, then turned back to me. The sigh she let out said more than words ever could.

****

Wilmer never showed up in my ward like he promised. He just sent some errand boy with a cake and a sunflower I hated because of my allergy.

I didn’t even bother looking at it. I handed it straight to the servant his mother hired to take care of me and went back to packing my things.

Half an hour earlier, I had seen Madonna’s post online. She was showing off again. She wrote that Felix found out she was in the hospital and came to bother her, but luckily Wilmer showed up like some knight and “saved” her.

She pretended to complain, saying she only got a little scratch and that Wilmer exaggerated everything, forcing her to stay in the hospital for a week. Then she giggled about how it gave Felix more chances to harass her. But in the end, she forgave Wilmer because he played hero, bought her favorite cake, and even apologized.

Underneath her post was a picture of Wilmer on one knee, smiling as he opened a cake box for her.

I pressed “like.” Then I blocked them both.

The servant came in just as I zipped my bag. “Miss Lucy, everything’s ready. The car is waiting downstairs. We can leave now.”

I nodded and followed quietly.

When the elevator stopped on the eighth floor, the doors slid open. Right in front of me, I saw Madonna lean in and kiss Wilmer’s cheek. He was standing by the door of her ward, smiling faintly.

I just watched. I felt nothing. No anger. No sadness. Just nothing.

***

A week later, I was supposed to fly out to Europe for marriage. I had said no so many times, but Wilmer’s mother wouldn’t listen. She insisted on a farewell party, even prepared a dress and jewelry for me. I had no choice but to stay a little longer and planned to leave for the airport right after the banquet.

That night, everyone from my childhood showed up. Everyone except Wilmer.

In the middle of the party, someone leaned close and whispered with a sly smile, “I thought you two really ended things. You said you broke off the engagement, and he’s been showing that servant woman all over the city. But now… after everything, you’re still tied together. Must be fate, huh?”

I frowned, not understanding. “What do you mean?”

They only blinked, then looked away without another word.

I could not make sense of it, so I stopped trying. I smiled, turned to the elders who had always looked after me, and gave them my thanks. Then I hugged my friends, one by one, and told them they were welcome to come to Europe for my wedding if they ever had the time.

“You and Wilmer are getting married here? Would Wilmer even allow that?”

I shook my head and smiled faintly. “Not with him.”

They all stared at each other, too shocked to ask more. I could feel their confusion hanging heavy in the air. To them, my life had always been tied to Wilmer. Since childhood, everyone knew he would be my husband. He made sure no one else ever came near me. If I wasn’t marrying him, then who could I possibly marry? I laughed bitterly.

The air turned awkward, but I didn’t mind. I glanced at the clock and excused myself, walking over to say goodbye to his mother.

As soon as I stepped out, I caught sight of one of my friends on the phone. “Where are you? Why didn’t you come tonight? Do you know Lucille—”

Wilmer’s voice cut through on the other end, calm but hurried. “She’s upset I didn’t show, right? Don’t tell her, but I’m on my way. I planned a surprise. Help me out… bring her to the rooftop garden. I’ve got the ring with me. Don’t let her leave.” Then the line went dead.

My friend just stared at his phone like it betrayed him. I could almost hear his thoughts. Who was telling the truth? Me, leaving to marry someone else? Or Wilmer, rushing to propose?

I didn’t wait for his answer. I had already changed clothes and was directing the servants to load my luggage into the car. He spotted me and ran over.

“Where are you going? Europe? Why so fast? Can’t you wait?”

I paused for a second. He was someone who had grown up with me, and maybe this was hard for him to accept. I forced a smile. “If I wait, I’ll miss my flight. Don’t worry, we’ll see each other again. Come to my wedding, okay?”

He grew even more frantic. “Are you really marrying someone else? Does Wilmer know? Shouldn’t you at least say goodbye to him?”

The smile slipped from my lips. At the mention of his name, my chest tightened. I shook my head softly. “No.”

He wanted to push further, but I checked the time and cut him off gently. “I really have to go now.”

I slid into the car and shut the door. Slowly, the vehicle rolled out of the Preston estate.

At that very moment, another car passed ours. Through the glass, I caught the briefest glimpse of Wilmer. He was holding a small ring box in his palm, his eyes lit up with anticipation.

I didn’t look twice.

He was probably imagining my surprise, dreaming of the perfect moment where all the people who mattered were there. His parents, our elders, our childhood friends, and me, the girl he thought he still owned.

But I was already gone.