Kieran and David answered in perfect unison, "Not at all!"

David held Tabitha's hand, eyes sparkling like stars as he gazed at her. "I'd never feel tired, as long as it has something to do with you, Mommy."

Kieran gently pinched her cheek. "No matter how busy or tiring work gets, all my fatigue vanishes the moment I see you, Tab. Besides, it's our anniversary—I always come back for you, no matter how much work I have."

Tabitha smiled quietly, saying nothing.

He set the cake down and headed into the kitchen, already making himself busy. He had given all the household staff the day off and planned to cook some of her favorite dishes himself to celebrate their anniversary.

David wasn't about to be outdone. He brought a small stool over, started cutting fruit, and juicing it. After hours of bustling around, the dishes were finally ready and set on the table just past noon.

Kieran lit a candle shaped like the number seven, took her hand in his, and gazed at her with overflowing love. "Tab, if you hadn't been by my side back then…"

"Wow! Daddy and Mommy are so romantic!" David exclaimed, clapping his hands excitedly.

Just then, a ringtone cut through the warm moment. Tabitha pulled her hand back and handed Kieran the phone, the screen flashing Summer's name. He smiled and said he wouldn't answer anyone's calls today.

Still, she insisted. When he saw the name on the screen, he hesitated for a moment before grabbing it.

"Tab, it's my assistant. I'm worried something urgent has come up at the company, so I'm going to take it," he said, then moved to the side and answered the call.

When he returned, his face, without any surprise, carried that familiar apologetic look. "Sorry, Tab. Something came up. I need to handle it right away."

David didn't know what was said on the other end, but seeing that it was Summer's call, he immediately jumped off his stool and ran to Kieran. "Mommy, I want to go, too! I can help watch Daddy, so he finishes work and comes home faster."

Looking at the father and son before her, Tabitha simply nodded. "Go ahead."

Kieran visibly relaxed, lifted David, and each pressed a kiss to her cheeks. "Good girl. Wait for us to come back, okay?"

"Mommy, we'll see you in a little while!"

With that, they hurried off, completely unaware of Tabitha's strange acceptance. They had no idea that this would be the last time they would see each other.

She watched until Kieran's car disappeared from view, then tossed the already-burned-out candles and the cake into the trash. Returning to her bedroom, she picked up the prepared folder and stepped out the door.

Ten years ago, Tabitha first met Kieran at a private sanatorium on the outskirts of the city. Now, the sanatorium lay abandoned, its walls blanketed in creepy ivy.

She walked along the paths she remembered, stopping and lingering, letting the memories of him wash over her like a tide.

From the indifference he showed when they first met, to the way he gradually grew used to her presence, until that stormy night when he held her tightly in the pouring rain, refusing to let go…

Tabitha's steps eventually paused under a massive banyan tree in the back garden. Ten years ago, it had been lush and sprawling. Now, it still thrived with life.

Her fingers traced the faint, almost erased carving of two names on the trunk. She could almost relive seeing the obsessive, anxious, but affectionate look in the eyes of the young man Kieran had once been.

He had said, "I'll only ever love you in this lifetime, Tabitha. I won't let you leave me. We'll be together forever."

And then, carefully, he carved their names into the bark.

In the end, his heart had been split in two—half given to Tabitha, half to Summer. That "forever" he swore would happen only lasted ten years.

The 19-year-old Kieran could never have imagined that, ten years later, he would lose Tabitha forever.

She dug a small pit in the soil with a stone, placed the folder carefully inside, and then covered it meticulously with earth. After that, she made one final call to him.

Almost immediately, Kieran answered, his voice as gentle as ever. "Tab, what's wrong? Is everything okay?"

Tabitha looked up at the banyan tree and asked, "Do you still remember the banyan tree at the sanatorium?"

He chuckled softly. "Of course. That's where I confessed to you. Time really flies, huh? It's been ten years already."

She smiled, too. "Good. I've prepared a little gift for you and David. I buried it under the tree, so don't forget to come get it."

"David's practically bouncing as soon as he heard this. I'm looking forward to it, too. Once we finish work, we'll pick it up. Tonight, the three of us will look at it together at home."

Tabitha didn't answer and just hung up the phone.

There would be no more "three of us". She knew tonight, neither Kieran nor David would return home. From now on, the Lowe residence would no longer have her presence.

A long-missed mechanical voice sounded in her ears. "Tabitha, the exit procedure is ready. Confirm departure?"

"Confirm."

The moment she replied, a blinding white light appeared before her, forming a corridor. A sudden gust of wind whipped through the area, shaking the banyan tree and scattering its leaves into the air. Without hesitation, she stepped forward.

Farewell, Kieran and David.