Simon sounded cautious. "Yoana, don't get it wrong, I just ran out of time to grab a birthday gift for Sophia. I'll get you something way better later on."

"Yeah, I get it. Making do isn't so bad."

I was on the verge of marrying someone else anyway. Clinging to that ring would just be a constant thorn in my side.

Simon let out a relieved breath before asking, "I caught your resignation letter. What's with the sudden exit?"

He had seen it but had been too busy to care.

I replied, "Need a break. I'm burnt out."

He did not even pause as he responded, "Good call. Quit, stay home, and chill. I'll take care of you. Dinner's at our place later."

My hand brushed over where my belly used to swell and I murmured, "Sure."

I packed up and took a cab home.

Simon, who never touched a pot or pan, had a feast laid out.

One look told me it was all spicy fried chicken. My stomach churned at the thought. I could not handle spice with my gastritis.

It was clearly not for me.

Simon caught my eye. "Sophia's not big on eating out, and it's her birthday, so I figured I'd cook. Come on, sit down with us."

"I can't eat this stuff. You guys go ahead."

I spun on my heel, heading for the sanctuary of my room.

Sophia's voice quivered as she asked, "Simon, does Yoana not like me? Maybe I should just go."

Simon looked pale and agitated. "Yoana, can you chill out? I've told you, this is for Sophia's birthday. I even whipped up dinner myself, and here you are, still steamed and bringing everyone down."

I shot back, dead serious, "I'm not making a scene. I've got a bad case of gastritis."

The same gastritis I got from all those business drinks I had to down for him.

However, Simon was not having any of my explanations. He grabbed a slice of cake and said, "Since you can't do spicy, sweet should be okay, right?"

Before I could even get a word in, Sophia chimed in, fanning the flames.

"I just wanted to share a slice of birthday happiness with you, Yoana. Didn't mean to tick you off. They say the Drakes have had your back for fifteen years. You could at least play nice for their sake, don't put Simon on the spot."

I almost laughed. Clearly, Simon was used to looking down on me, and he let his cronies use guilt trips to keep me in line.

Sure, I had been under their roof for 15 years, but any debt I owed Simon was settled long ago.

I was about to turn down the cake when a spoonful was rudely shoved into my mouth.

Simon tossed the rest of his cake into the trash with a scoff. "It's just dinner. No need to be so dramatic!"

Reluctantly, I swallowed the bite, but instantly knew something was off.

Mango sauce. I was allergic to mangoes!

It hit me like a ton of bricks. My face flared up, and I struggled to catch my breath.

Clutching my chest, I crouched down, heaving for air.

Simon, seeing me like that, started to freak out. "Yoana, what's..."

He moved to help me, but then Sophia's voice cut through, feigning distress. "Simon, help... Help me! I got all choked up because Yoana was upset."

Simon's worry for me vanished in an instant, replaced by a look of tender concern for Sophia.

He scooped up Sophia in a rush, his eyes glaring at me, filled with loathing.

"Yoana! This is all your fault, always causing a scene! Now Sophia's choking because of you. What if something serious happens to her? Can you live with that?!"

His voice was sharp with anger as he stormed out with Sophia in his arms. Just before they left, I caught Sophia's smug look.

She might as well have shouted, "See, when it's down to me or you, he'll always pick me!"

The room fell silent, leaving me alone with a pain so deep I could barely catch my breath. Frantic, I grabbed my phone and called for an ambulance.

When I came to, Simon was there, sitting by my hospital bed.

"Yoana..." he began, gripping my hand, but a nurse bustled in, cutting him off.

Once she left, he leaned in, worry etched on his face. "Is our kid okay?"

I shook my head and whispered, "I'm fine."

Simon did not need to know that I was about to leave.

He seemed to relax.

His voice was heavy with regret as he apologized, "Yoana, I'm sorry. I had no idea you were allergic to mangoes."

However, he did know. He used to remember everything about me, down to the smallest detail. Then, those memories were just gone.

I shut my eyes, not wanting to speak.

After a while, he left, called away by Sophia. Once the IV drip was done, I checked myself out and headed home alone.

It was the final day of the countdown, and I began to pack.

Opening my closet, I found all the clothes I had excitedly picked out for the baby. Clothes that were no longer needed.

I packed them up, along with some of my own things and the birthday gifts Simon had given me over the years—treasures, once upon a time.

Then, without a second thought, I dumped everything into the trash bin downstairs.

Simon returned that afternoon to an empty room, his confusion clear as day.

"Why does the house feel so empty? Where did all the baby's clothes go? The birthday gifts in the cabinet vanished too."

I set down my glass of water and fibbed with ease. "Well, we had too much stuff. It's musty and moldy in here, so I tossed it."

Simon's voice rose with irritation. "You threw out all the birthday gifts I gave you?"

Those gifts were part of a promise he made, to give me something every year. He used to pick them out with such care, but ever since Sophia came back, my gifts turned into nothing but her castoffs.

I just hummed in response.

He went to rummage through the trash, only to find it had already been taken out.

He was clearly upset. "We've kept those for over ten years. How could you just throw them away?"

To him, they were treasures. To me, they were just things. I wonder what he would do if he knew about the miscarriage, about my plans to marry someone else.

He noticed my silence.

Then, with a heavy sigh, he wrapped his arms around me from behind. "Yoana, I'm sorry for getting worked up. It's just stuff, right? I'll get you more later."

However, there would not be a later.

I tried to wriggle out of his hold, but he clung on tight.

"Lately, even though you're right here, I feel like you're miles away. It's making me anxious. Are you still mad at me?"

I told him I was not, my voice even.

He softened his tone. "Yoana, what do you want to do?"

I paused, then said, "Let's go see the ocean, just once."

For years, I had dreamed of watching the waves with Simon.

He looked at me, disbelief in his eyes. "Is that all?"

"Yes."

He agreed, still surprised.

The perfect time to see the ocean was at dusk. That was when Simon and I would say goodbye.

I packed up and headed to the shore to wait for Simon.

However, what I got instead was his text.

[Yoana, something came up today. I'll take you to the beach tomorrow.]

I let out a sarcastic laugh. Just as I thought.

The beach at twilight was stunning, and I soaked in the beauty of the fading sun all by myself.

Lighting a candle with my lighter, I whispered, "Happy birthday to me."

Then, I sent Simon one final text.

[We're done.]

Once I sent it, I suddenly remembered I had not tossed out some old report, but it did not really matter anymore.

That was when Sophia decided to drop the act and call me.

"Got wise at last, huh? Were you trying to make him chase you by playing games? Dream on if you think those tricks will bring Simon back. He's in my cozy bed right now. You wouldn't believe how much he missed me just a while ago."

Sophia sent me a smug photo of her and Simon cuddling in bed.

She continued, her voice rising.

"If you weren't around, Simon would've been dying to marry me. So what if I was gone for three years? He's still in love with me."

I let out a dismissive snort. "Well, enjoy your prize. He's all yours."

Sophia was livid. I could hear her grinding her teeth and the crash of her throwing things around.

After hanging up, I snapped a photo of the evening waves. Without a second thought, I headed straight for the airport.

As I boarded the plane, my phone started blowing up.