At first, I expected packing to take forever.

However, when I was done, I realized I owned very little.

Every piece of clothing I had was a gift from Wesley, who used to say, "You're so beautiful, my princess. You deserve nothing but the finest."

Now, those clothes were drenched and reeked of a foul, unexplainable odor.

I had gone from being his cherished treasure to a worthless parasite.

Hidden among the clothes were a few photographs. They were taken by Nathan—quiet reminders of our happier times, moments of joy frozen forever.

Nathan used to be obsessed with photographing me, saying he wanted to capture every version of who I was.

Whenever we took group photos, the two brothers always competed to stand closer to me, but now, in those very pictures of the three of us, my face had been ruthlessly crossed out in red ink.

I couldn't bear it any longer—I grabbed everything and tossed it into the trash without a second thought.

Just then, Wesley and Jade came downstairs and caught me.

A flash of shock crossed Wesley's eyes—after all, I used to cherish those photos like priceless treasures. That quickly faded into a sneer as he taunted, "So this is how you waste our family's money, huh?"

There was a time when Wesley spared no expense just to see me smile, but now, in his eyes, everything I did was wrong.

I had lost the right to be stubborn, and with it, the will to stand up for myself.

I said firmly, "I will repay Mr. Hawthorne for every penny I've ever spent."

"Our family doesn't care about the money, but remember this—don't ever cause trouble for Jade again."

Jade pulled Wesley aside. "Wesley, don't waste your energy on those who don't matter. I want to get to the Prism Room. Let's move."

My footsteps wavered as a flood of memories crashed over me all at once.

"The Prism Room," as Jade referred to it, was the private screening room Wesley had lovingly built for me when I first arrived at the Hawthorne residence.

At that time, my mother and Francis were buried in work. Being three years my senior, Wesley was entrusted with the responsibility of looking after me.

He gifted me nearly every beautiful thing life could offer.

He called me his little princess and had the screening room designed just for me.

That night, as the credits rolled, he gazed at me tenderly and promised, "Savannah, this room is yours alone—and so is all my love."

For twenty years, we cherished that secret refuge, shaping our dreamlike home side by side.

Gradually, my heart quietly turned toward Wesley, but every time I tried to confess, Nathan would interrupt, causing a scene that shattered every opportunity.

Now, both of them had moved on with new people, leaving me behind in the past.

But it no longer mattered.

I took a deep breath and turned to leave.

I didn't need either of them anymore.

As I stepped away, Jade suddenly grabbed my wrist with a harsh, painful grip. She hissed, "Ms. Lockwood, why won't you hear me out? Do you really think I'm not worth your attention?"

I struggled to pull free, and in the scuffle, she lost her footing and tumbled to the floor.

"Wesley, help me!" she cried out.

Wesley's face paled as he hurried to her side, pulling her close into his arms.

Before I could respond, his hand suddenly connected with my cheek in a sharp slap.

Nathan stormed over, shouting, "Savannah, why did you push Jade? Remember, if your mother hadn't pleaded with my dad to look after you, you'd be dead just like your unlucky father! And this is how you repay kindness—with nothing but hatred!"

My ears rang loudly.

It was the first time I'd ever been hit, and in that moment, it felt as though my whole world was falling apart.

Wesley looked at me blankly, as if suddenly aware that he had lost control.

"Are you okay? I—"

"It's fine."

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, holding back from blaming Wesley. That slap was the closing chapter of all we had once shared as childhood sweethearts.

From this point on, all debts and feelings between us were settled.

Just then, Nathan stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "You're not leaving until you apologize to Jade!"

His gaze was sharp and unyielding—so different from the boy who used to trail after me with wide eyes.

I looked toward Jade, who stood there wearing a smug, victorious expression. I swallowed the fury rising in my chest, expressing, "I didn't do anything wrong. I won't apologize."

I wasn't afraid. Whether they forced me out or not didn't matter—my decision to leave had already been made.

Nathan was filled with rage, but Wesley seemed weighed down by guilt.

He stepped forward, gently holding Nathan back, his voice softening. "Forget it. I lost my temper. Don't take it personally. How about this—after work tomorrow, I'll treat you to some buffalo wings.

"But you have to promise me one thing—no more picking on Jade."

A slap paired with kind words was Wesley's typical way of keeping me in check. Yet, he seemed to forget I had a weak stomach. I couldn't handle spicy food.

Back then, Wesley and Nathan spared no effort in consulting nutritionists. They took turns, meticulously overseeing my diet to aid my recovery.

Now, it seemed all that care had been completely forgotten.

A cold breeze swept past, sending a shiver down my spine.

That was when I noticed my clothes were still drenched. I was likely running a fever.

Just as I was feeling unwell, Nathan abruptly shoved past me. "Stop acting," he sneered.

The shove threw me off balance, and I fell hard to the ground.

Wesley looked back, hesitation flashing in his eyes, but ultimately, he sided with Nathan and led Jade away.

After a long, agonizing struggle, I managed to stand before calling for an ambulance.

The doctor was my former physician, and upon seeing my condition, his expression darkened with anger.

"Do you realize what your body has been through? How could you walk around in wet clothes in this weather? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

I said nothing in reply and simply followed his instructions, remaining in the hospital for several days under observation.

Only once my fever broke was I allowed to be discharged.

Because of the setback, I had no choice but to hasten the rest of my plans.

When I returned to the office to finalize my resignation paperwork, Wesley and the others were nowhere to be found.

After waiting outside for most of the day, I learned they had taken Jade on a business trip.

They'd gone to Yathenfall, my favorite place. Their itinerary also included Duskwater Lake, a destination I had long dreamed of but never had the chance to visit.

I forced a bitter smile and handed in my resignation.

I had once been conflicted about whether to stay or leave, but now it was clear that my presence no longer mattered to anyone.

All that remained was to bid farewell to my mother and Francis.

After that, I could walk away without anything holding me back.