Graham and I had known each other for ten years; he had always known my boundaries.

After so many years in this industry, he knew exactly how to maintain a professional distance from other women.

But now, he had repeatedly crossed that line.

In that case, our marriage was over. And so was the collaboration between Sterling Designs and the Aethelgard Tower project.

The Aethelgard Tower, which I designed for Sterling Designs, was a five-hundred-million-dollar contract that could have reshaped the company's future, but at this moment, that didn't matter anymore.

When I woke up the next morning, Graham hadn't sent a single message or made a single call.

I wasn't even angry anymore.

After my check-up confirmed nothing was seriously wrong, I went straight home—to the modern, ocean-view villa Graham and I had bought last year.

Seven years ago, when we had just graduated, we huddled in a tiny design studio, sharing a single sandwich.

Five years ago, when we got married, we were married in a small chapel and celebrated with a single cake.

Now, I was left to lick my wounds in this vast, empty house.

I figured I'd get used to it.

I was reviewing the divorce agreement sent by my lawyer when Graham finally came home.

He carried the cloying scent of an unfamiliar perfume. The smell was overpowering.

Graham had extremely sensitive skin and was allergic to most chemical fragrances. He despised perfume more than anything.

For his sake, I’d spent years avoiding scented lotions and picking my shampoo as carefully as I picked my design materials.

Apparently, that rule only applied to me.

When he saw me lying on the sofa with a tablet, he froze.

"Chloe drank a little too much celebrating her new tattoo last night and fell, so I took her home first. It got late, and her place is far, so I just found a hotel nearby. I didn't have time to pick you up from the hospital."

I nodded, scrolling through the documents on my tablet, and replied casually, "Okay, got it."

Graham opened his mouth but was momentarily speechless. My flat response clearly wasn't what he expected.

After a moment's hesitation, he stepped closer, his gaze lowered.

"It's Saturday, you shouldn't be working. I was planning to take Chloe to the cliffside resort in Big Sur. Do you want to come with us?"

Seven years ago, on my birthday, Graham and I had taken a photo together in front of a poster of the Big Sur coastline.

He had promised that once we secured the Aethelgard Tower project, he would take me to the real Big Sur and we would take the exact same picture in front of the cliffside hotel.

Later, the house got bigger and the company grew, but he just got busier. He would always soothe me with gentle words.

"Juliana, this is a critical time for the company. I can't just leave. You're the most understanding person I know. You get it, don't you?"

I did get it.

So I stopped mentioning Big Sur and threw myself into helping the company grow.

But when Chloe wanted to go, he somehow found the time.

I opened the next work email and replied in the same flat tone, "Three's a crowd. I'm not interested."

To my disgust, he quietly let out a sigh of relief.

"Alright. I just came back to grab a few things. You'll have to eat lunch by yourself. We'll have dinner together tonight."

"Also, Aethelgard Tower is our key to breaking into the international market. I've already invited the media for a press conference on Monday. Haven't you always wanted to stand by my side in public as the Chief Designer? Monday is your chance. Are you ready..."

Graham paused, looking at me earnestly.

"Don't worry, I'll introduce you properly this time. I won't let Chloe cause any more trouble."

I looked up and met his gaze calmly. I knew very well this was his pathetic attempt to make up for last night.

It suited me just fine. Terminating the collaboration with Vanguard Holdings would take a few days to process anyway.

Announcing it at the press conference would be perfect.

That evening, as usual, I arrived at the restaurant early to wait for him.

After ten years together, it had become a habit.

While waiting, I received a long-distance call.

It was Liam Donovan, a senior from my university who was now a partner at Apex Designs.

Liam's voice was light as he asked with a laugh, "Juliana, have you given any more thought to my offer to have you join Apex Designs? Sterling Designs is too small for a talent like yours."

This was the third time he had tried to poach me.

The first time was seven years ago, when I turned down a high-paying job at a top-tier firm to join Graham's small, one-office company.

Out of my meager salary, I had to use half of it to pay the rent for the apartment Graham and I shared.

Liam had pleaded with me back then, but nothing could change my mind.

The second time was a few days ago at the bidding presentation for the Aethelgard Tower project. My proposal had outmaneuvered his team so thoroughly they were left scrambling.

When it was over, he told me, half admiringly, half nervously, "Juliana, I heard you only make ten thousand dollars a month at Sterling Designs. Come work for me. Don't waste your talent on people who don't deserve it."

I had smiled and refused. How could my talent be wasted?

It was Graham's company. It was the empire we had spent seven years building together.

Now, he was trying for a third time.

I hesitated for all of three seconds before signaling the waiter for a bottle of red wine and accepting his offer without a second thought.

"Send me the address. I'll start next Tuesday."

Liam was stunned for two seconds, then burst into an excited laugh.

Afraid I would change my mind, he quickly said, "That's great!" and hung up.

I was smiling, about to put down my phone, when a notification popped up.

It was from Graham.

[Hey, change of plans. Chloe was dying to go, so we grabbed the earliest flight. You're on your own for dinner. I'll bring you back something nice.]

A moment later, Chloe posted an update on social media visible only to me.

[Thanks to my Prince Charming for making my dream come true. I'm going to reward him well tomorrow!]

The photo showed Chloe holding Graham's arm as they stood in front of an infinity pool in Big Sur.

Their pose was the exact same as the one in the photo Graham and I had taken seven years ago.

I stared at the picture for two seconds, then calmly opened my chat with Liam.

[I'll bring a gift when I start. How would you like the five-hundred-million-dollar Aethelgard Tower?]

My phone was silent for a moment. A second later, it began to vibrate incessantly.

[YES! YES! YES! You're a lifesaver! And hey, yesterday was your birthday, right? The gift I sent should have arrived. Don't forget to grab it!]

I paused, then a soft chuckle escaped me, growing louder and louder.

Right. Yesterday was my birthday.

When Graham watched me, surrounded by gardenias and on the verge of suffocating, did he remember what day it was?

While I was lying alone in a hospital bed, did he think of me? While he was getting a new tattoo with Chloe, did it even cross his mind to buy a birthday gift for his wife of five years?

Probably not.

But it didn't matter anymore. We were getting a divorce.

Who would want a birthday gift from Graham?

After dinner, I didn't rest. I poured all my energy into finalizing the transfer of the design plans for Aethelgard Tower.