What Claudette had once seen as a "poor soul" now revealed itself as a predator, a wolf lurking quietly in the shadows.

Her eyes lingered on the photo in her hand as disbelief crept over her. If she hadn’t accidentally discovered Keiran’s second phone and seen a message from someone named “Beloved,” she might never have known the truth.

A bitter chuckle escaped her, the irony sharp. Seven years of her youth were given to Keiran, yet never once had he considered her his “beloved.”

With a sigh, she shook her head, pulling herself back from the edge of these painful thoughts.

She gathered every photograph they had shared, carefully placing them in a box. It was time to let go, everything that belonged to her had to be cleared out. She was leaving, and she wanted to do so without leaving a trace.

At the office, Claudette handed over her responsibilities, her voice steady as she gave instructions to transfer the funds to her designated account.

“President, are you really leaving us?”

Claudette replied, “Don’t worry. The contract’s clear: if you don’t make any mistakes and don’t leave of your own accord, you’ll be fine. You’ll keep your job.”

Claudette left everything behind, even the gifts Keiran had once given her. Her assistant looked at her, confused. She had always held onto those things as if they were treasures. “Just throw them out. People change. What’s the point of holding onto the past?”

The assistant gave a slight nod, understanding without further question, and said nothing more.

When Claudette finally arrived home, she found Keiran sitting there, smoking. The ashtray was heaping, an unspoken sign of how long he had been stewing in his own frustration. “Where were you? Why didn’t you answer my calls? Why didn’t you respond to my messages?”

Claudette lied, her voice slipping into a cool, practiced tone. “Sorry, I got caught up with things and missed your calls. Was there something urgent?”

Keiran sensed the shift in her demeanor, a subtle change that tugged at him, though he couldn’t pinpoint what was off. Claudette had never spoken to him with such a cold, distant edge before. “I was worried sick about you! Don’t just vanish like that again. You’re driving me insane.”

He moved to kiss her, but she instinctively pulled back. “Is it because I smell like smoke, Claude?”

In the past, whenever Keiran lit up, Claudette would always be quick to put out the cigarette, her voice laced with concern as she reminded him of its toll on his health.

But today, she only frowned, a fleeting, almost imperceptible gesture, and made no mention of his smoking. She didn’t mention the smoke at all, and the subtle distance in her demeanor unsettled him. “I’m sorry. I won’t smoke again. I was just... worried about you.”

Claudette’s lips curved into a faint, almost unreadable smile. “It’s fine. I was just lost in thought.”

“I’m going to take a shower."

That night, for the first time, Keiran didn’t reach for his second phone. Instead, he held Claudette tightly in his arms, his body trembling as if trying to find solace in her presence after the coldness she had shown him earlier.

If she hadn’t discovered his messages with another woman, she might have believed the warmth in his embrace, might have convinced herself that he truly loved her.

But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe he never did. Perhaps it had all been a fantasy, an illusion woven from her own hopes.

Keiran pressed her beneath him, his movements frantic, as though he needed to reclaim something, anything, from their bond. But Claudette pulled away, avoiding his touch, her voice soft but firm. “My period... I’m not feeling well.”

Keiran didn’t say a word, merely pulling her into his embrace, his hand resting lightly on her stomach. Claudette’s tears fell quietly, a river of sorrow she could no longer contain.

Once, he had been her constant caretaker, watching over her with gentle care during her cycle, his every thought consumed with ensuring she was comfortable. But now, his touch felt distant, his concern replaced with something colder, something she couldn’t quite name.

Keiran used to know Claudette’s cycle like the back of his hand, always reminding her before it began to avoid cold foods and drink hot water.

But tonight, when she dropped a casual hint, he didn’t seem to notice that her timing was off.

It was only a matter of time before the truth unraveled. Keiran’s secretary, Corinne, sent her a request on WhatsApp.

Claudette’s heart skipped as she accepted it, her curiosity tinged with dread as she tapped into Corinne’s moments feed, updated only seconds ago.

[It’s so annoying. I wanted something cold to drink, but he insists it’s my period and won’t let me have anything but hot water,] the post read, accompanied by a candid photo of Keiran carefully selecting menstrual products.

A sharp pang gripped Claudette’s heart; a sudden sting stole her breath. When she finally steadied herself, she realized her eyes were wet. It wasn’t that Keiran had forgotten her cycle; he had simply memorized someone else’s.

[Ms. Williams, don’t you think it’s inappropriate at your age to hold on to Keiran, guilt-tripping him into staying with you?]

[Guilt-tripping?] Claudette typed back, bewildered.

[Keiran told me that since you helped him in the past, he feels obligated to stay with you, even though he wants to move on.]

It felt like something shattered within her, a deep fracture in her heart, breaking something she hadn’t realized was so fragile.

Claudette let out a hollow laugh, tears streaming down her cheeks. So, in Keiran’s heart, their relationship had been nothing more than a sense of duty. In that instant, any lingering attachment dissolved.

She left Corinne’s messages unanswered, yet Corinne continued, proudly detailing the ways Keiran spoiled her. Claudette’s heart shifted from sorrow to tears, and finally, a strange calm settled over her. Everything Keiran once did for her, he now did for Corinne.

That evening, Keiran casually mentioned a business trip to the capital for a few days. Claudette simply nodded, not questioning him. While he was in the shower, she reached for his coat pocket, unable to resist glancing through their messages.

[You promised you’d spend tonight with me.]

[I told you I’d take you to Ice World, didn’t I? Just be patient, alright? I need to keep things quiet over here; otherwise, how am I supposed to slip away with my little temptress?]

In Keiran’s eyes, it seemed Claudette was nothing more than an inconvenience, a barrier between him and his desires.

[Then don’t touch her,] came the response.

[I haven’t touched her. I’m practically drained dry from you; I’ve got nothing left.]

Perhaps because she had already released her hold on him, the messages didn’t stir anything in Claudette. She calmly placed the phone back where she had found it.

As Keiran stepped out of the bathroom, his coat buzzed from across the room. His other phone, however, lay in plain sight beside Claudette on the nightstand. He shot her a sheepish glance. “That’s my work phone. I’ll handle it, and then I’m all yours, okay?”

“Take your time,” Claudette replied, her voice steady. “Work comes first.”

She stood just outside the study, her ear pressed against the door, listening to his soft murmurs as he spoke to the woman on the other end.

“Be good. Get some rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

When Keiran finally returned, Claudette couldn’t stop herself from asking one last question.

“Keiran, I want to go to the capital with you. I’ve always wanted to see the snow. For someone from the south, snow feels like an irresistible temptation.”

Keiran quickly masked the flicker of guilt that flashed across his face, his smile almost too perfect.

“My sweet, understanding wife, how about we save that for next time? This trip is crucial, and I may not even have time for a break. I’d feel terrible if I couldn’t spend more time with you.”

Claudette looked at him, the man who always wore that innocent expression just for her, and she chose not to press him further.

“All right.”

She saw the relief on Keiran’s face as though a heavy load had been lifted from his shoulders. It was no wonder they said that when one person starts to tire in a relationship, it’s often a sign that it’s time to let go. To Keiran, Claudette had become nothing more than an obligation.

His heart was already claimed by the fresh, youthful college girl, someone full of promise, not someone like her, who was nearing thirty.

After Keiran left, Claudette glanced at the time, realizing she had less than two weeks. She packed up her belongings with a quiet finality and sent them off to the place where they would no longer belong to her.

Then, she gathered all the jewelry Keiran had given her and exchanged it for cash; after all, she deserved that much. During the seven years of her youth, taking those things felt like the least she could do.

With everything in place, Claudette grabbed only her phone, bank card, and ID and bought a one-way ticket to Lexington Bay. When she landed, she splurged on an outfit that would transform her. If Keiran had seen her now, he wouldn't have recognized her even if she had stood right before him.

Amid the busy streets, she felt like a stranger, out of place in a world that didn’t belong to her. She wandered through the crowd, snapping photos with her phone. Who knew if she’d ever get another chance to visit? She wouldn’t let this trip go to waste.

The familiar name sliced through the air, and she turned her head without thinking. “Keiran, come on, come hold me!”

Keiran gently lifted Corinne onto the ice sculpture, taking his time to photograph her in different poses, each one more radiant than the last. Almost as if in a daze, Claudette pulled out her phone and captured the scene, her finger trembling slightly as she pressed the shutter.

Back then, she had begged Keiran to take just a few pictures with her at an amusement park. Those photos had been her treasures, proof of the love she once thought was endless.

Now, watching this scene unfold, Claudette felt a stab of bitter realization, how foolish she had been. She had come all this way only to watch them flaunt their love so effortlessly, each moment another cruel layer of her heart breaking.

She uploaded the Ice World photos to her Facebook feed, leaving them captionless, just a few pictures to speak for themselves. The effect on Keiran and Corinne was immediate.

[You shameless woman! Following us around, do you think this will win Keiran back?] Corinne’s message practically vibrated with rage.

Just below it, Keiran’s texts appeared, his tone starkly different, carrying a tense urgency.

[Did you go to Lexington Bay?]

[Why didn’t you tell me?]

[Where are you? Why aren’t you answering my calls?]

Claudette watched her phone light up with each call and each message. She simply let it ring, her fingers resting still, refusing to respond.

Corinne fumed, her anger simmering beneath the surface, but she didn’t dare to let it spill out. Then, Keiran’s sudden announcement made her freeze.

“Pack up, we’re heading back,” he said, his tone firm.

“What? We’ve only been here two days! I haven’t even begun to enjoy myself. There’s so much we haven’t done. I’m not going back.”

Corinne thought her tantrum might soften his stance and that he would relent as he always did. But this time, Keiran’s gaze held steady, unbending.