On the morning of their eighth anniversary, Scott had planned a romantic day on a cruise, down to every last detail.

When Vanessa woke up, he leaned in and kissed her forehead softly. "Happy anniversary, babe."

The bed was scattered with rose petals, and pastel-colored balloons floated around the room.

Vanessa sat up, her face calm as Scott smiled at her, full of tenderness. "Let's get ready for the cruise. You're going to love it. There's a fireworks show tonight, and I'll even catch some fresh fish for you. You always love it when I cook what I catch, right?"

She didn't respond. Tonight, she'd be boarding a plane—leaving him, their life, and their lies behind for good. After this, they'd have nothing tying them together.

Just as they stepped out of the villa, Scott's phone buzzed.

Vanessa watched as he glanced at the screen, his Adam's apple shifting—an unmistakable sign of suppressed desire.

He shoved the phone back into his pocket, guilt flickering across his face. "Something urgent came up at the office. I need to handle it. Could you go to the cruise without me? I'll catch up as soon as I can."

Vanessa's voice was soft, her face unreadable. "Okay."

Relieved, Scott grinned. "Good girl. I won't be long!"

She nodded, even as a strange heaviness settled in her heart. This was likely the last time they'd ever see each other.

As Scott hurried toward his car, Vanessa called out, her voice quiet. "Scott."

He stopped, turning back with a puzzled look. "What is it?"

"Nothing. Goodbye."

She had planned to give him a proper farewell. But, like always, something came up and ruined it.

Her last word to him was "goodbye."

Scott hesitated. He sensed something off in her tone. But after a moment, he slid into the sleek black Maybach and drove off.

Vanessa stood there, watching the car disappear down the road. Lowering her eyes, she whispered, "Scott... this is the last time you'll see me. From now on, take care of yourself."

With that, she turned around and walked back inside the villa.

Locking herself in the study, Vanessa settled at the desk. Right on cue, her phone buzzed again.

It was Cindy.

[Happy eighth anniversary. Surprised? Your boyfriend spent this special day in my bed. Vanessa, what do you even have to fight me with?]

Vanessa stared at the screen and smirked. She typed a quick reply.

[Since you love trash so much, I'll let you have him. Enjoy treating garbage like treasure.]

With that, she snapped a screenshot and blocked Cindy.

The screenshot joined the stack of evidence already packed into the box sitting on the desk—a perfectly curated farewell gift for Scott.

With only hours left in this house, Vanessa decided to visit the hospital to say goodbye to a few close colleagues. Before leaving, she called for a housemaid.

"I've left a gift for Scott in the study. Make sure he gets it."

Then, with no glance back, she walked out of the villa that had been her home for five years.

Standing at the doorway, she paused, taking one last look at the place that held so many memories.

She could still picture the day Scott first brought her here, back when it was just an empty shell. They'd laughed, dreaming about their future, and cried in each other's arms, overwhelmed by the joy of finally having a home to call their own.

All those bittersweet moments, those highs and lows—they lived in these walls, known only to Vanessa.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward. Without looking back, she walked away.

***

That afternoon, Vanessa met with her colleagues. They laughed, swapped stories, and wished her the best for the road ahead.

Throughout it all, Scott never called.

He was probably still in Cindy's bed.

On the way to the airport, Vanessa pulled her SIM card from her phone without a second thought and flicked it out the car window.

For eight years, she'd been the one holding that relationship together. Now, she was the one letting it go.

***

At the same time, Scott was spiraling into panic.

Vanessa's phone was off. Every call went straight to voicemail. He tried again and again, growing more frustrated by the second.

Desperate, he called the cruise organizer, only to be told Vanessa hadn't shown up at all.

Vanessa hadn't gone to the cruise? That didn't add up. He'd told her to wait for him there. Was she mad at him? Or... was it something else?

Unease churned in his heart as he kept dialing her number, instructing his driver to head straight home.

When Scott rushed into the house, Vanessa was gone.

The maid informed him that Vanessa had left around noon and told them to pass on a message: there was an anniversary gift waiting for him in the study.

Scott hurried to the second-floor study, his eyes immediately landing on a neatly wrapped gift box sitting on the desk.

Relief washed over him, and he exhaled, even cracking a small smile. So, Vanessa had been planning a surprise all along.

He approached the box slowly, curiosity sparking in his heart. What had she prepared for their anniversary?

Without a second thought, he untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.