He no longer cared about the doubts gnawing at him and rushed after Yesha, his footsteps urgent.

Asteria was left behind, knocked to the ground by Primo, the small stones digging into her already bleeding wounds.

She sat there, dazed, her gaze drawn to something that gleamed in the dim light.

It was a cheap crescent moon necklace. The chain was tarnished, and the design faded with age as if it had been lost to time.

Asteria reached for the necklace, and the more she studied it, the more an unsettling sense of familiarity washed over her.

Something clicked in Asteria's mind as the moon disappeared behind a veil of clouds: Primo had the same moon tattoo on his chest.

"So that’s how it is..."

The scattered pieces, once overlooked, now connected like a thread weaving through her thoughts.

Cold and heavy, the truth settled in her chest: those ten years of love had been nothing more than a one-sided devotion.

Childhood sweethearts were no match for fate’s cruel hand.

In the years they had shared, Primo had only ever loved Yesha.

Asteria stood, her fingers tightening around the crescent moon necklace, the weight of realization pressing down on her.

With that realization, Asteria knew there was nothing left to hold on to.

She chose to walk away to make room for the lovers who could never truly be together.

After booking a flight ticket abroad, she returned to her room and discarded all the wedding preparations she had so carefully selected.

When her eyes fell on the wedding countdown in the living room, she paused, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind.

But then, with a quiet resolution, she tore off the word "wedding" and silently replaced it with "departure countdown."

Asteria decided that the next two weeks would be her farewell to everything from her past, ensuring she had no regrets left to carry with her.

Asteria had spent the night sorting through endless scattered belongings, only managing to finish around four in the morning.

After barely three hours of rest, the sharp, insistent ring of her phone shattered the fragile silence, pulling her abruptly from sleep.

“Asteria, are you awake? I had your favorite soup delivered. I won’t make it back today; we’ll need to reschedule the wedding photos. Something urgent came up at the company, and I really can’t step away.”

Asteria pressed her fingers against her throbbing temples, her voice low but steady. “Alright.”

Perhaps her agreement had come too quickly, or maybe the faint sorrow in her tone was impossible to ignore.

Primo’s heart stirred with unease, prompting his voice to soften.

“Don’t let yesterday’s incident trouble you. I’ve already apologized to Yesha on your behalf.”

“Okay.”

“Yesha thinks the wedding is just a formality. She said we don’t need to put too much effort into it. Our bond doesn’t rely on grand gestures or ceremonies to prove itself. Something simple will do.”

“I’ll go along with whatever you decide.”

But within her, Asteria’s resolve had already taken shape.

This wedding would be the simplest in history—and perhaps, for her, the most bittersweet.

No wedding photos, no marriage certificate, no officiant.

And certainly, no bride.

After hanging up the phone, Asteria stood up and, with a heavy heart, crossed off the “wedding photo” appointment on the calendar with a thick black marker.

Primo had always been buried in his work, and Asteria had never found it in herself to disturb him.

So, when preparing for the wedding, she had bought a wish calendar—a token of all the dreams she’d hoped to fulfill through this marriage.

Now, those once-cherished wishes were smudged out, swallowed by marker ink, leaving only the weight of unspoken regrets.

Asteria sighed softly, her gaze drifting around the room. Once bright with anticipation, the walls now seemed suffocating in their blinding red.

It had taken her the entire day to strip away the carefully crafted wedding room, piece by piece, until all that was left was the emptiness she felt in her heart.

By evening, Asteria saw Primo trending on the hot search.

“Devoted husband Primo spends 8 million dollars on a vintage moon brooch to make his beloved smile.”

The photo was grainy, but everyone assumed the woman beside Primo was Asteria.

Asteria let out a bitter laugh, the sound dry and hollow.

So, the wedding savings had found their way here, and they were spent on this absurdity instead.

In the days that followed, Primo never once returned home.

Asteria didn’t ask about his whereabouts like she once had, always trying to handle everything for him.

She submitted her resignation, quietly saying goodbye to the few colleagues who had become close friends over the years.

In the following days, she began reaching out to others, gently letting them know about her plans to leave for abroad.

Her friends exchanged knowing glances as she shared her decision, sighing in unison.

“We all suspected it, actually.”

One of them pulled up Primo’s Instagram and handed the phone to Asteria.

“Anyone unfamiliar would think that’s you in the photo, but we know better. It’s Yesha.”

Only then did Asteria realize that, for quite some time, Primo had been with Yesha.

Primo, who had always been sparing with his social media posts, was now sharing updates several times a day.

They spent carefree days at the amusement park, tried on wedding dresses at a bridal shop, and went to the mountaintop to watch the moon and stars.

Primo’s love for Yesha was no longer a secret; it was clear and open for all to see.

The only thing he kept hidden was Asteria.

Seeing Asteria fall silent, her friends grew worried.

“Asteria, are you alright?”

“You don’t need to waste your tears on someone like him. Primo isn’t worth your love. If he knew the truth about Yesha, he’d regret it deeply.”

Asteria smiled faintly, her gaze drifting to the busy street outside the window.

“I’m fine. I don’t care anymore. But there’s one thing I need to ask of you…”

In just a few days, she would be gone for good.

Asteria had no more room in her heart for anger or sorrow over Primo.

So when he finally showed up after days of absence, Asteria didn’t flinch.

Primo looked genuinely overwhelmed.

Upon his return, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from his phone, his hands restless and always moving.

Asteria sat beside him, quietly working on her laptop, transferring files from the surveillance videos to a USB drive.

Midway, Primo’s gaze lifted, sweeping the room.

“Why does the house feel so bare? Didn’t you decorate?”

“You said it yourself; keep it simple.” Asteria wasn’t concerned about Primo noticing anything.

Ever since Yesha had come into the picture, Primo seemed to see nothing else.

But this time, he caught sight of the countdown in the living room.

He smiled. “Time flies. In seven days, we’ll be married.”

Asteria stood, tearing off two more pages from the calendar.

“Our wedding is in five days.”

The two pages were filled with wishes: “Ride the Ferris wheel together” and “Watch the stars together.”

These were moments Primo had already shared with Yesha.

A sudden jolt ran through him as if something important had slipped through his fingers.

He opened his mouth to speak, but Asteria’s phone rang, cutting him off.

When she saw it was her mother calling, Asteria took the phone and stepped out onto the balcony.

By the time she returned, Primo was once again lost in conversation with Yesha.

"Whose phone was that? I think I heard something about a visa."

"It’s nothing, just work-related," Asteria casually dismissed it, her tone light.

Primo let out a quiet sigh of relief. "That’s good. You’d better not be planning a honeymoon trip. I don’t have time for that."

"I know."

Since Yesha had returned, Primo had been glued to her, leaving little room for anything else.

They sat side by side, but the air between them grew thick with unspoken words.

Asteria felt the growing awkwardness and decided to break the silence. She went to the bedroom and returned with the moon necklace, offering it to Primo. "How did it end up with you? I’ve been looking for it everywhere."

"I found it on the road. Only realized it was yours after I saw your lost item post online,” she replied.

Two million spent searching for an old moon necklace. And yet, the total cost of their wedding combined barely reached five hundred thousand dollars.

Primo’s obvious favoritism toward Yesha left Asteria in stunned silence.

He eagerly snatched the necklace from her.

Asteria glanced at his bare ring finger and suddenly asked, "Where’s your wedding ring?"

He froze, caught off guard. "I don’t know when I lost it..."

Seeing the cold indifference on Asteria’s face, Primo felt something stir inside him, something he couldn’t quite place.

It wasn’t just the missing ring. It was something deeper, more significant.

An unsettling sensation crept through him, leaving him uneasy. Just as he opened his mouth to explain, his phone buzzed with a new message.

It was from Yesha.

Primo stood abruptly, the tension in his shoulders betraying his thoughts. He walked toward the door, only to stop mid-step.

Turning back, he leaned in and pressed a fleeting kiss to Asteria’s forehead.

"Sorry, my wife. I’ve been so caught up lately, and you’ve had to handle everything."

"I promise, once this busy patch is over, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world!"

In all their years together, Primo had never spoken to Asteria with such tenderness.

He knew women craved sweet words, but Asteria was different. Too understanding, too patient to demand anything. It was easier to shower the needy, demanding Yesha with affection.

Asteria stood there, watching his retreating figure in silence.

Had this been in the past, she would have been elated, believing she had finally broken through the cold walls of the man she loved.

But today, she simply washed her face with a look of disdain, brushing off the lingering bitterness before continuing with her routine.

Time moved at a crawl.

Soon, the day before the wedding arrived.

Only two thin pages remained on the calendar.

The wish for today read, [Have a reunion dinner together.]

It was a wish Asteria had held close to her heart for over twenty years.

But deep down, she knew it would never come true.

Her mother would never forgive Connor, her father, just as Asteria could never forgive Primo.

She didn’t linger on the thought.

Instead, she applied a light touch of makeup and slipped into her favorite white dress, ready to face the day.

She went to the movies alone, ordering a full couple's meal just for herself, then took a solitary ride on the Ferris wheel.

When the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, the sun began its slow descent.

The golden orb sank beneath the horizon, and the city she’d known her entire life was bathed in a warm, red glow.

A gentle breeze kissed her face as Asteria opened her arms, embracing the moment.

In that fleeting instant, it felt as though all the memories drifted away with the evening wind, leaving nothing but peace.