Night had already settled by the time Declan and his daughter stepped through the villa's gate. Kylie moved at a slow pace and held tightly to her father's shirt. If it had been up to her, she would've stayed outside. The thought of facing her mother again pressed heavily on her mind.

Even so, Merrick's words kept replaying in her head. Samira had traveled all this way just to spend time with them. If they refused to come home, it would break her heart. Declan had also quietly told her that if they didn't return, Samira would insist on joining their boat trip the next day.

After some hesitation, Kylie finally agreed to come back. Still, worry crept into her thoughts. She leaned closer to her father and spoke in a quiet voice.

"And what if Mom wants to come with us tomorrow?"

"That won't happen," Declan said with certainty.

During their marriage, Samira had always tried to spend time with him. However, she had never forced anything. Whenever he showed even the slightest distance, she would step back.

In Kylie's eyes, her mother had always respected her father's wishes. If Declan said it wouldn't happen, then she believed him.

With her worries eased, the girl quickly brightened. She ran inside and told Maribel that she was going straight to take a shower.

"All right," the housekeeper said. Then she remembered the message Samira had left behind. She took out an envelope and passed it to Declan. "Mr. Whitmore, your wife asked me to give this to you."

Declan accepted it without much thought and spoke in a distracted tone.

"Where is she?"

"She left not long after noon. She took her luggage with her. Didn't you know?"

Declan stopped halfway up the stairs. His steps froze as he turned back to face her.

"She left?"

Maribel nodded.

"Yes."

Declan hadn't bothered to ask why Samira had come to Goldland. Now that she had gone, he cared even less.

Kylie reacted differently. Surprise crossed her face, and a faint sense of emptiness stirred inside her. It wasn't that she truly missed her mother, but a small part of her had hoped to see her that evening. She had wanted Samira's help finishing the shell necklace, since it had ended up hurting her hands.

Samira had made the entire trip without even seeing Declan. The memory of her distant expression before she left lingered in Maribel's mind, and she couldn't help but speak up.

"Mr. Whitmore, Mrs. Whitmore seemed upset when she left. She almost looked angry," Maribel said.

Declan gave a careless shrug, and a mocking smile curved across his lips.

"Angry? Samira? She's always been so obedient. That's new."

A quiet chuckle slipped from him. He barely spared Maribel another glance before continuing up the stairs. Once inside his room, he pulled the envelope from his pocket and prepared to open it. At that moment, his phone rang sharply. Merrick was calling.

Without hesitation, Declan answered the call. He casually tossed the envelope onto the bed and walked out of the room. The envelope slid off the mattress and dropped to the floor, completely forgotten.

Declan didn't return home that night.

The following morning, Maribel was cleaning the room when she noticed the envelope still lying at the foot of the bed. She immediately recognized it as the one Samira had asked her to deliver the previous day. Assuming Declan had already read it, she placed it inside a nearby cupboard.

Meanwhile, the moment Samira arrived home after landing, she hurried straight to her room and began packing.

Six years in that house had left her with countless belongings, but she only packed the things she truly needed. She chose a few clothes, some personal items, and her workbooks.

From the beginning of their marriage, Declan had always covered their expenses. Every month, he transferred money into two separate accounts. One was under Samira's name, and the other belonged to Kylie. However, Samira rarely touched the account meant for her daughter. In her mind, that money was reserved for Kylie.

Most of the time, she relied on her own card. She mainly spent money on Kylie and Declan, and she rarely bought anything for herself.

Whenever she went shopping, her first instinct was to pick things for Declan. She chose shirts, ties, cufflinks, and shoes for him without even thinking about it. Samira lived a simple life. Most of her energy went into her work and caring for the household. Her own needs always came after those of Declan and Kylie. Much of her allowance ended up funding outings for the father and daughter. She hoped those moments would help strengthen their bond.

After Kylie moved to Goldland to live with Declan, she had few opportunities to spend money. When Samira checked her bank account one day, the balance stunned her. It had grown to more than thirty million dollars. To her, it was an unimaginable sum, though it meant little to Declan. Since the money legally belonged to her, she transferred it into a private account. She left two cards behind, as if they were traces of a chapter she had closed.

With her suitcase in hand, Samira walked out of the house and didn't look back.

Years earlier, she had purchased a modest apartment near her office. The place measured about one hundred square meters. She bought it four years ago to help a friend who needed financial support. The apartment had stayed empty ever since, though someone cleaned and maintained it regularly. After spending several hours putting things in order, Samira finally settled in. She felt exhausted, yet relieved to have a place she could call her own.

A little after ten o'clock, she collapsed onto the bed. Fatigue quickly pulled her into sleep. The shrill sound of her alarm suddenly tore her awake. She blinked in confusion, and it took a moment for her mind to clear. It was one in the morning where she was. In Goldland, however, the sun was already beginning to rise.

The alarm she had scheduled served a single purpose. It reminded her to call Kylie during breakfast. She had formed that habit after her daughter moved away. In the beginning, Kylie missed Samira so deeply that she insisted on speaking with her every day. As time passed, that eagerness slowly faded. It turned into impatience, and eventually into quiet indifference.

Samira stared at the screen when it lit up and hesitated. She understood that the calls she once looked forward to had become a tiresome obligation for Kylie. A faint, bitter smile crossed her lips. She dismissed the alarm, switched off her phone, and decided to rest a little longer.

At that exact moment in Goldland, Declan and Kylie were finishing breakfast. Declan knew Samira usually called at this time, yet he paid no attention to it. Whether she called or stayed silent made no difference to his day. That morning, he simply went upstairs to change, completely unconcerned.

Kylie, however, noticed that the phone hadn't rung. Instead of worrying, she took it as a chance to slip away. Mischief flashed in her eyes. She grabbed her backpack and dashed toward the door.

"Miss Kylie," Maribel called out while hurrying after her, "it's still early. You can leave later!"

"Are you kidding?" Kylie said with a laugh. "This is my chance to slip out before Mom calls. No way I'm talking to her!"

She had already dashed toward the car, excitement filling her at the thought of that rare bit of freedom.

As for Samira, she had already made up her mind to move on. She understood that she no longer had a place in that house, nor in the Whitmore Group, a company she had joined only because of her love for Declan. The following morning, she handed her resignation letter to Caleb.

Caleb, one of Declan's most trusted associates, was stunned when he saw Samira's resignation letter.

As one of the few employees who knew about the marriage between Samira and his boss, Caleb also understood an uncomfortable truth. Declan had never truly given his heart to her.

After their marriage, Declan remained distant, almost like a stranger. He rarely came back to the house they were supposed to share. Hoping to close that emotional gap and catch her husband's attention, Samira chose to work at the Whitmore Group. At first, she planned to become Declan's personal assistant so she could stay near him every day. Declan rejected the idea without hesitation.

Even Ronan Whitmore stepped in to help, but his influence changed nothing. In the end, Samira accepted an ordinary role in the secretariat, blending in with the other employees.

Caleb had once worried that keeping Samira in the company might create awkward tension and disturb the office balance. None of that happened.

Samira handled the situation with patience and quiet determination. She stayed close to Declan through her work but never crossed the boundary between personal feelings and professionalism. Her conduct remained respectful, and she always knew where the line stood.

Maybe it was her wish to earn Declan's approval that pushed her forward. Over time, she built a solid reputation in the company. People saw her as hardworking, careful, and reliable. Even when she was pregnant and after she gave birth, she continued working under the same rules as everyone else. She never asked for special treatment. Years passed, and her ability eventually earned her the position of head of the secretariat.

Caleb had always noticed how deeply Samira cared about Declan.

That was why her sudden resignation shocked him. It felt impossible that she would leave on her own. If she had decided to quit, something serious must have happened between her and Declan. In Caleb's mind, it meant Declan had finally pushed her away.

Despite his regret over losing such a capable colleague, Caleb didn't let it affect his professional judgment.

"I've approved your resignation," Caleb said calmly. "I'll arrange for someone to take over your files as soon as possible."

"Very well. Thank you," Samira replied. She lowered her head slightly before returning to her office.

After finishing his remaining tasks, Caleb prepared his daily report and connected with Declan through a video conference. As the meeting drew to an end, he briefly considered mentioning Samira.

"Mr. Whitmore, regarding..."

He wanted to confirm the exact date of her departure. If Declan wished for her to leave the company the next day, Caleb was ready to arrange everything immediately.

But an earlier instruction suddenly came back to him. When Samira first joined the company, Declan had made it clear that anything related to her should be handled strictly according to company policy, without involving him personally. Over the years, Declan had remained firm about that rule. He never interfered with her work matters, as if Samira were simply another employee. Even when management once asked about promoting her, Declan had responded coldly and reminded them that he wouldn't get involved.

Declan noticed Caleb's hesitation and frowned.

"What's the problem?"

Caleb quickly shook his head.

"Nothing, sir."

Since Declan said nothing about Samira's resignation, Caleb understood that the matter held no importance for him. In the end, Caleb chose to follow the standing rule. Samira would be treated like any other employee.

The call ended with the same silent indifference.

Noon arrived. Samira had been lost in thought when a colleague suddenly tapped her shoulder, making her jump.

"What were you thinking about?"

Samira offered a faint smile.

"Nothing in particular."

"Aren't you calling your daughter today?"

"Not today."

She usually called Kylie twice every day, once at dawn and again around noon. Everyone at the office had grown familiar with this routine. None of them knew that the child's father was actually their powerful boss.

When work ended, Samira stopped by the market. She bought groceries and picked out a few potted plants to bring some life into her home. After dinner, she spent a long while reading updates about the Future Tech Expo, one of the biggest events in the tech industry. Eventually, she picked up her phone.

"Book me a ticket for next month's event."

A cold voice answered on the other end of the line, "You said the same thing the past two years, and you never showed up. Those seats are valuable, and you've already wasted two."

"This time I'll go," Samira replied firmly. "If I can't make it, I won't ask again."

A heavy silence followed before the call ended. Neither of them said anything more, yet the understanding between them was clear.

A faint smile brushed Samira's lips. Even so, she had kept her true thoughts hidden. Deep down, she longed to return to the world she had once left behind.

As one of the founding partners of a company, Samira had stepped away right after its launch so she could focus on her family. That decision slowed the company's growth and left her former partners frustrated. Over time, distance grew between them. Even so, she still wanted to rejoin them. At the same time, she doubted she could keep up with their current pace. Before she even considered returning, she needed to study the field again and catch up on the latest developments.

Her life soon settled into a steady rhythm. The daytime belonged to her job, while her nights were spent working on personal projects. She didn't contact Kylie or Declan. Neither of them reached out to her either. After more than six months, the distance between them no longer surprised her.

Meanwhile in Goldland, Kylie relied on a comforting routine. Every morning, the moment she woke up, she called Merrick. That day, however, her voice trembled as tears filled it.

"Mrs. Sloane is moving back!"

The moment she heard the news from Merrick, the little girl quickly called her father.

"Dad, did you know?"

Declan was buried in paperwork. Without even lifting his head, he answered, "Yes."

"When did you find out?"

"I've known for a while."

"You're terrible!" Kylie cried, hugging her stuffed pig tightly against her chest. "Why didn't you tell me? I don't want her to leave. I can't stay here without her! I want to go back too!"

Declan's tone didn't change. "It's already been decided."

"What do you mean?" Kylie asked in confusion.

"We're going back next week."

Kylie sprang out of bed. A bright smile lit up her face, and excitement filled her voice.

"Really?"

"Yes," her father replied with certainty.

"Then why didn't Mrs. Sloane tell me?" she asked in surprise.

"I only received the confirmation recently," Declan explained. "I haven't had the chance to tell her yet."

Kylie's heart pounded with excitement, her joy completely unrestrained. "What if we keep it a secret for now?" she suggested eagerly. "We could surprise her when we get back. Wouldn't that be fun?"

Declan let out a soft laugh. "I like that idea."

Kylie blurted out happily, "Dad, you're amazing! I love you!"

After the call ended, her excitement didn't fade at all. She kept spinning across the bed and humming to herself, unable to sit still with all the energy bubbling inside her.

Then a thought suddenly crossed her mind. Samira. Over the past few days, life had felt strangely calm since she stopped answering her mother's calls. To avoid those conversations, Kylie started leaving the house earlier. Sometimes she switched off her phone. Other times, she purposely left it somewhere she couldn't reach after school.

After a few days, she grew worried that Samira might get angry with her, so she stopped avoiding the calls that way. Yet something strange happened. The phone never rang.

At first, Kylie assumed Samira had realized she was being ignored and decided to stop calling. But knowing her mother, that didn't make sense. Samira had never been the type to stay silent. If Kylie had done something wrong, she would have scolded her immediately and without hesitation.

It felt impossible that Samira would simply walk away without saying anything.

That thought stirred a feeling Kylie didn't expect. She began to miss her. For the first time in days, Samira's absence pressed on her heart, heavy and difficult to ignore. The urge to hear her voice suddenly became too strong to resist. Kylie grabbed her phone and dialed her mother's number.

But just as her fingers hovered over the screen, another thought stopped her.

Once Merrick returned home, Samira would certainly try to separate them again, just like before. In Goldland, Kylie could still see Merrick whenever she wanted. Soon, that freedom would disappear. The realization tightened her chest and drained the excitement from her.

By the time she finally called, it was already late into the night.

The ringing phone pulled Samira out of her sleep. Just as she was about to answer, Kylie felt a sudden surge of anger and cut the call.

Even though Samira had given up custody in the divorce agreement, she still felt tied to her daughter. When the call ended so abruptly, panic immediately gripped her. Afraid that something had happened, she called back right away.

Kylie saw her mother's name appear on the screen. She turned away and refused to answer.

Even more worried, Samira quickly dialed the manor's landline. Maribel answered almost immediately. After listening to Samira's hurried explanation, the housekeeper spoke in a calm and reassuring tone.

"Miss Kylie should be perfectly fine. She went to bed late last night and only woke up not long ago, so she's still a little sleepy. I saw her earlier. Let me check on her again and call you back."

Those words eased Samira's anxiety somewhat. "Thank you. I'd really appreciate that."

Maribel went upstairs right away. She found Kylie getting ready and told her about Samira's concern. Without the slightest hesitation, Kylie smiled and gave an easy excuse. She claimed she had accidentally dialed her mother's number while brushing her teeth. Maribel didn't suspect anything and returned downstairs to relay the message.

Feeling relieved that her lie had worked, Kylie let out a long breath. A strange sense of triumph lingered in her chest, as if she had just won a small challenge against her mother.

Meanwhile, Samira finally relaxed after hearing Maribel's update. However, sleep refused to return. She spent the rest of the night tossing and turning. When morning came, she arrived at work exhausted, her mind clouded with fatigue.

At the same time, Declan calmly packed a few of his things before leaving the house. Ever since Merrick had called him, he hadn't given another thought to the envelope Samira had sent. The divorce agreement remained forgotten. Without a second thought, he stepped into the car and left.

"Let's go," Declan said calmly.

The car started and drove away from the manor, heading toward the airport.

Samira had no idea that Declan had already left for his homeland. No one had told her.

Two weeks passed after he left the manor. In that quiet space he left behind, Samira slowly adjusted to a calmer life. The days felt peaceful, almost gentle, and she was beginning to appreciate it.

That Saturday morning, she woke up later than usual and enjoyed the rare chance to rest. After washing up quickly, she pulled the curtains open and let the warm sunlight pour into the room. She stretched lazily, watered the plants arranged along the windowsill, and then started making a simple breakfast.

The peaceful morning was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.

Standing outside was Corinne, her neighbor from across the street. She held a small basket in her hands. "Good morning, Samira. I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

Samira greeted her with a polite smile. "Not at all. I was already awake."

"That's good," Corinne said warmly. "I baked muffins and apple pies this morning. I thought you might like to try some."

Samira felt touched by the gesture. "Thank you. That's really thoughtful of you."

"It's the least we could do after what you did for Sally," Corinne said sincerely. "Without you, that wild dog might've hurt her. My husband and I wanted to thank you earlier, but work kept us busy."

Samira gently shook her head. "It really wasn't anything serious. You're too kind."

After a few more friendly exchanges, Corinne said goodbye and returned home.

Samira then sat down to enjoy her breakfast while reviewing the latest developments in artificial intelligence related to her work.

Later that afternoon, a notification appeared on her phone. Starlight University was celebrating its centenary. Curious, Samira checked the date and realized the event was already underway. The hashtag #StarlightUniversityCentenary was trending everywhere online, shared across countless posts.

The university's reputation alone explained the scale of the celebration. As one of the country's most prestigious institutions, it always drew widespread attention. This time, however, the occasion was even more significant. It marked the school's very first hundredth anniversary, and many distinguished alumni had gathered for the event.

As Samira scrolled through photos and messages, her hands began to tremble slightly. Familiar faces from the past appeared on the screen one after another, stirring memories of her student days. A quiet question rose in her mind. If she hadn't married right after graduation, would she have been among those honored alumni today?

Her chest felt heavy. She slowly closed her laptop.

After hesitating for a moment, Samira finally decided to go to the campus.

When Samira reached the campus, the celebration still buzzed with activity, though many of the distinguished guests had already left. She walked slowly along the familiar paths and eventually stopped in front of the towering science building. At that moment, a voice she recognized called out to her, "Samira?"

Twenty minutes later, she sat in a small café nearby. Beckett Pendleton sat across from her and placed a cup of coffee in front of her. His smile carried warmth and sincerity. "So, how have you been?"

Samira wrapped both hands around her cup of tea. Her voice came out soft but steady. "I'm doing alright... I'm just going through a divorce."

Beckett froze in surprise. Shock crossed his face. "I'm really sorry to hear that."

Samira gave a small shrug. "That's how things turned out."

After a brief pause, Beckett leaned forward slightly. "What about your future? Are you thinking of coming back to work at the company?"

Samira let out a quiet sigh. "I've thought about it, but..."

Seeing her hesitation, Beckett spoke with earnest determination. "Samira, the company needs you. You're essential to it. I truly hope you'll come back and lead it again."

Her gaze wandered for a moment, lost somewhere far away. "I... I don't know..."

Under the intensity of Beckett's stare, a swirl of emotions rose inside Samira. It wasn't that she lacked the desire to return. But six years had passed since she stepped away. In that time, artificial intelligence had progressed at an incredible speed. She couldn't help worrying that she might no longer keep up, much less take back the leadership role she once held so confidently.