The next day, I went to buy some gifts for Aunt Jenny. I wanted to thank her for looking out for me over the years.

When the parcel arrived later that evening, I ran into Soren downstairs.

To my surprise, he was with Thea. With grocery bags in their hands, they walked into the apartment, chatting and giggling like an actual couple living together.

I paled. Clutching the parcel in my arms, I struggled to force down the bile in my throat.

Aunt Jenny also saw what happened. Her eyes widened in shock.

Just as she was about to storm toward them, I grabbed her hand and shook my head.

"Forget it, Aunt Jenny," I murmured.

"Lyra, I'd been skeptical when you told me Soren fell in love with someone else yesterday," she barked, her voice rising with rage. "But now—look at how close he is with another woman! You should leave him. I support you!"

Soren also spotted us. He hurried over and quickly explained, "Lyra, don't get the wrong idea. The neighborhood Thea used to live in has reports of a stalker, and it wasn't safe. So I just helped her move into a new place today. That's all."

I was unfazed. I didn't respond to his explanation and simply instructed the delivery workers to carry the parcel upstairs.

Seeing this, Soren seemed to assume I hadn't misunderstood. He let out a breath of relief.

"Lyra, once things settle down, let's go horseback riding in the countryside," he said with a smile. "I remember how much you love it.

"The stables aren't far from here. You can go whenever you want."

He had no idea I was leaving soon—not that I planned to tell him anyway.

I met his gaze calmly. In the past six years, his eyes used to be full of affection whenever he looked at me.

Now, all I saw was feigned concern and diffidence.

I shook my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips.

"No need, Soren. I probably won't have any time soon."

Surprise flickered across his face. He hadn't expected me to turn him down.

"Soren, I'm getting a little tired," Thea suddenly called out. "Can we go back?"

He immediately turned to her, looking concerned. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Shaking her head, she murmured, "I've just had a long day. I'm a little exhausted."

He spun around and said, "I'll take Thea upstairs and come back down later."

Without waiting for my response, he left with her.

As I watched them leave, a wave of mixed emotions washed over me. The man who once cared for me so deeply now gave all his attention to another woman.

Quivering with rage, Aunt Jenny hissed, "That bastard! How could he treat you like this?"

I patted her hand gently. "Aunt Jenny, don't be angry. He's not worth it."

The elevator doors closed. Staring at the tightly shut door, I fell into a daze, as if I were looking at a reflection of my past self.

I used to believe that love could overcome anything, but reality had slapped me hard in the face. Love wasn't everything.

As Soren and Thea disappeared behind those doors, the dull ache in my chest ceased.

I took a deep breath and turned to Aunt Jenny. "Let's go."

She looked at me, clearly sorry for what I had to go through. "Lyra, have you really let him go?"

I smiled, determination flashing in my eyes. "Aunt Jenny, I've made up my mind. I'm ready to start a new life."

Once we got upstairs, I sent Soren a message asking when he'd be coming back.

But instead of him, I got a voice reply from Thea.

"He's helping me sort out the wiring in my new place. He might be a bit late."

The smugness in her sweet voice was unmistakable.

I was just about to leave when another message from her popped up.

"Lyra, don't overthink. Soren and I are just friends. I didn't have anyone else to help me, so I turned to him.

"If you want to blame someone, blame me. Don't take it out on Soren."

She played the victim so well, like she was truly worried I'd misunderstand.

Moments later, she sent another message.

"Soren's afraid you'll get the wrong idea, so he's going back soon. Just wait a little, okay?"

I let out a bitter smile, but deep inside, I felt nothing.

Right then, Soren called.

As soon as I picked up, his slightly accusatory voice came through.

"Lyra, why were you so harsh toward Thea? She's just moved in. She doesn't know anyone here, so I was only trying to help. Do you really have to be so petty?"

I froze. That was unexpected.

"Soren, I'm not being petty," I replied airily. "I already left."

He frowned and brought up the incident at the Christmas party. "You were cold to her back then too. You know how delicate she is, right? The way you acted made her feel like you didn't like her."

I apologized for making her uncomfortable and told him to pass on my apologies. Then, I hung up.

After hanging up, I went back home.

My phone suddenly buzzed with a new notification. I glanced at it, realizing it was a new post from Soren's company's official account.

I clicked on it and saw a photo of Soren fixing the wiring and plumbing at Thea's place.

The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up, and he was focused on his work. Thea stood beside him, gazing at him with pure gratitude as she held a glass of water.

The caption read, "Our boss Soren is truly a man of many talents. Being amazing at work is one thing, but being able to fix wiring and plumbing too? Incredible!"

Soren's employees all flocked to the comment section, leaving messages full of admiration.

"Boss, you're amazing! I wish I had such a thoughtful boyfriend!"

"Thea, I can't believe our boss is fixing your house himself. You should totally marry him!"

My chest tightened. I scrolled through the comments quickly, an indescribable surge of emotions rising in me.

I thought back to when I had just joined the company after graduating. Back then, Soren often used that same company account to share snippets of my work life.

Everyone at the office knew he was into me, and I used to feel so happy because of it.

But ever since Thea came along, everything had changed.

Back at home, I walked into the bedroom and began packing.

I had lived here for six years, and every corner held our memories.

I picked up a thick photo album and flipped it open. Inside were photos of every gift he'd ever given me.

From the first bouquet of roses, to necklaces and bracelets, to dinners he'd cooked himself—each picture captured our happiest moments.

A wave of sorrow washed over me as I ran my fingers over them.

Six years ago, Soren had promised to give me a thousand surprises before we got married. He even had this album specifically made to hold exactly a thousand pictures. He said once it was full, we would get married.

Now, there were 999 photos. Only the last page was left blank—it was meant to hold our proposal photo.

But now, it would remain forever empty.

I gently closed the album, tears blurring my vision. We did make it to 999, but in the end, we were still one surprise short.

Wiping my tears away, I carried the album downstairs. I lit a fire in the yard and threw the album in.

The flames crackled, their glow dancing across my face as I watched the photos turn to ash.

Oddly enough, I felt… peace.

This album held the memories of the past six years. It had witnessed everything Soren and I had been through. We were once hopelessly in love, but now, we'd fallen apart.

As it turned to ash, it marked the end of our relationship too.

When the fire finally died, an unexpected calm washed over me.

Just then, Soren burst through the door. As soon as he spotted the album in the fire, his face turned pale.

He gasped and rushed over to save it, but the flames were too hot. The moment he got close, the searing temperature made him jerk back.

Glaring at me, he roared, "What the hell are you doing, Lyra? Why did you burn our album?"

I looked at him coolly and replied, "Some of the photos had gotten moldy. They couldn't be restored, so I just burned the whole thing."

He froze, clearly caught off guard by my answer.

Trying to control his temper, he took a deep breath and said, "Sorry, I overreacted. But we've worked on that album for years. I was planning to show it on our wedding—"

"We'll see about that." I cut him off.

I turned to go back inside, not wanting to look at Soren anymore. But then, he suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me into his arms.

"Lyra, I'm sorry," he murmured. "Things have just been so hectic lately. Once everything is settled, I'll take you to retake the photos. Is that okay?"

He was begging me, desperate to return to how things used to be.

I broke free from his embrace and looked him in the eye.

"Soren, you once promised to give me a thousand surprises. We're still one short.

"I missed out on the Christmas party last time. Can you make it up to me?"

That was the last thread of hope I held on to. I was hoping he'd remember that he had promised to propose to me this Christmas.

If he proposed, I wouldn't leave.

Soren nodded solemnly. "Okay. I'll make it up to you."

Just as he said that, his phone rang. It was Thea's custom ringtone.

He shot me an awkward look, then picked up the call.

"What is it?"

I didn't know what she said on the other end, but he quickly responded, "I'll be right there."

Hanging up, he turned to me with an apologetic look.

"Something urgent came up at work, and I need to take care of it. Let's talk about the party once I get back, okay?"

With that, he turned and left without hesitation.

I stood there alone, watching him disappear through the door. I was utterly heartbroken.

That night, I sat quietly on the couch, waiting for him to return. Time ticked by, but even as dawn crept in, he still wasn't back yet.

I knew he wouldn't make it up to me for what happened during the Christmas party, nor would there be a proposal. We were completely over.

As morning light stretched across the sky, my phone chimed with a reminder. Three days were up, and it was time for me to leave.

The private jet Mom sent was already waiting at the airport.

Before boarding, I sent Soren one final message.

"Soren, we're over. Don't try to contact me again."

He called me right away, but I ignored it. Instead, I turned off my phone and boarded the plane.

Three hours later, I touched down in Velimor. Stepping out of the plane, I took a deep breath, savoring the familiar air of my homeland.

I pulled out my phone and turned it on.

The moment it powered up, countless missed calls flooded in. They were all from Soren.

Staring at the call log with a blank expression, I was just about to delete his contact when I noticed he'd changed his profile picture.

It used to be a photo of me, but now, it was a picture of him and Thea.

They were locked in a tight embrace, the bright smiles on their faces blinding my eyes.

A dull ache bloomed in my chest, but soon after, I felt at ease.

We were once smitten with each other too, but that was a long time ago.

Inhaling sharply, I deleted his contact, erasing every trace of him from my phone and my life.

As I walked out of the airport, I immediately spotted my parents waiting at the exit. They were holding a bouquet of flowers, their faces full of joy and excitement.

"Sweetheart, you're finally home!" Mom rushed over and threw her arms around me.

My nose stung. Tears welled up in my eyes as I choked, "Mom, I missed you so much."

Dad came over too, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"You're home now. That's all that matters."

The three of us hugged tightly, like we were trying to make up for the six years we'd missed.

Just then, my phone rang again. An unfamiliar number flickered on the screen.

I frowned. After hesitating for a while, I answered the call anyway.

A familiar, yet distant voice came through.

"Lyra, you finally picked up."

It was Soren.

"Why have you been ignoring my calls? Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?" he demanded, his accusatory tone tinged with anxiety.

I sneered. "Soren, what about the surprise you promised me? When are you going to make it up to me?"

He choked, then fell silent.

"Thea has been sick lately," he muttered, trying to dodge the topic. "I've been so busy taking care of her that I didn't have the time to plan the surprise for you."

As soon as his words fell, a weak voice came through from the other end of the line.

"Soren, don't blame Lyra. I just want you guys to be happy. Don't worry about my condition…" she croaked, sounding wronged after deliberately lowering her voice.

Soren instantly panicked. "Thea, you shouldn't speak. All you need is rest right now."

Then he bellowed into the phone again.

"Lyra, did you hear that? Even Thea is speaking up for you. Stop being so unreasonable!"

I was amused by their conversation.

Back then, Soren used to care about me like that too. But now, all his care and affection were reserved for another woman.

I couldn't be bothered to argue with him.

"Soren, things are already over between us. Don't contact me from now on."

With that, I ended the call.

I blocked him and turned off my phone.

Goodbye, Soren.

I swore this would be the last time I spoke to him.

Turning around, I walked toward my parents and beamed.

"Sweetheart, who was it?" Mom asked, looking worried.

I shook my head and linked arms with her. "Don't worry. It's not anyone important."