Chapter 4

I sorted through the things Lucas Hayes had given me in the past, one by one.

This necklace was the seventh-anniversary gift he gave me, but not long after, I saw Chloe Lane wearing an identical one around her neck.

She said shyly, “Lucas said that whatever others have, I’ll have too…”

Only the box was left from the limited-edition teddy bear plush, because Lucas Hayes had taken the plush away and said he liked the scent of my perfume on it.

But the next day, I saw Chloe Lane holding the plush.

……

It turned out that the one-of-a-kind things I thought I had received had long since been given equally by Lucas Hayes to someone else.

Or rather, not even equally.

I thought of how Lucas Hayes cared for Chloe Lane in every possible way and favored her endlessly.

A mocking smile curved my lips.

Since that was the case, there was no need for these things to exist anymore.

I checked the plane ticket for the next day again and prepared to spend my last night in peace.

But at dawn, I was woken by a phone call.

Still groggy, I pressed answer, but the other end stayed quiet, and just as I was about to hang up, Lucas Hayes’s voice sounded:

“Hailey, I’m sorry.”

My mind cleared instantly, and if he had decided to tell the truth…

Lucas Hayes said in a deep voice, “Chloe hurt herself, and I can’t leave her alone, so I’ll go abroad after some time…”

The heart I had lifted high slammed heavily to the ground, pathetic and ridiculous.

I suddenly really wanted to ask Lucas Hayes what all the suffering I had endured because he pretended to be hunted by mobsters was supposed to count as.

Lucas Hayes’s voice continued: “Apologize.”

I suspected I had misheard him: “What did you say?”

Lucas Hayes’s voice was firm: “Hailey Bennett, you really should apologize to Chloe.”

“If you hadn’t always acted so arrogant and domineering toward Chloe, would Chloe have tried to kill herself?”

I was suddenly speechless.

Because I suddenly understood that with Chloe Lane around, every word I said was wrong.

Lucas Hayes spoke again, his voice as if it had been dipped in ice: “Hailey Bennett, you really disappoint me.”

“As long as you apologize, I can act like nothing happened and go join you in two months.”

“Are you really going to be this willful and throw away all the years of our relationship?”

I heard the threat in his words.

But I no longer felt even a trace of unwillingness or sadness, only annoyance.

I cleanly hung up the phone, blocked him, and deleted his number.

I sincerely looked forward to tomorrow’s flight.

It was still better to go home, and my suitcase was taken by a familiar pair of hands.

I looked up and met Ethan Morgan’s eyes: “Hailey Bennett, long time no see.”

I reached out my hand with a bright smile: “Long time no see, Ethan Morgan.”

My phone ringtone interrupted our greeting.

I swiped open the screen, only to discover it was the number of one of Lucas Hayes’s friends.

I answered in confusion, and Lucas Hayes’s voice sounded from the other end, faintly anxious:

“Hailey, did you get on the wrong plane?”

“Why can’t the people I sent to pick you up find you?”