“Fine. If you don’t want to go back, then we’re done. Don’t contact me again.”

But Corinne wasn’t about to let Keiran slip through her fingers. He was her gateway to the life she’d always dreamed of. After reaching the airport, she fired off another message to Claudette.

[This is all your fault. If it weren’t for you, we’d still be enjoying ourselves. Why do you keep haunting us like a shadow? You’re not young anymore; shouldn’t you stay home instead of following us around?]

So, Keiran was still terrified of Claudette learning the truth. But if he feared her reaction so much, why had he betrayed her in the first place?

From the moment he boarded the plane until he touched down, he bombarded her with messages. Claudette couldn’t make sense of it. If he cared so much, how could he have cheated so casually? Did he love her? She wasn’t sure anymore. And yet, to say he didn’t love her felt off; everything about his anxious behavior screamed he feared being found out.

After all their years together, Claudette decided it was time to indulge herself for once. She ignored every call and every message and spent her days in Lexington Bay.

A figure stumbled toward her when she stepped inside, nearly knocking her off balance. Keiran, frantic and trembling, clung to her, breathing hard, murmuring her name the way he used to in their most intimate moments. A wave of nausea washed over her. She tried to break free, but he held on desperately, like a man searching for something he’d lost. When his fingers moved to unbutton her shirt, she shoved him back with all her strength.

He stared at her, eyes red and wide, frozen in disbelief. He looked worn, his stubbled face hollowed by dark circles and a clenched jaw. His hands trembled, balled into tight fists.

“What’s going on? Did something happen?” Claudette’s steady, cool voice only seemed to heighten his panic; she’d never spoken to him like this before.

“Are you upset with me? Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll take you, right? Please, don’t shut me out. I’ve been searching everywhere for you. You didn’t answer my calls, didn’t respond to my messages… You have no idea how worried I was,” he pleaded.

Claudette looked at the pitiful man in front of her, clinging to her like a lost child. She might have fallen for this act if she hadn’t seen the truth behind his facade.

“Oh, my apologies. After I posted on Facebook, I misplaced my phone. Someone found it and handed it to the hotel desk. When I got it back, I was rushing to make my flight. Besides, weren’t you busy with business? I figured I’d enjoy myself for once. I’m an adult; I can take care of myself.”

For days, Keiran hardly left Claudette’s side, skipping work entirely to stay close to her.

“Claudette, have you noticed anything missing around here?” he asked.

Following his eyes, Claudette shrugged. “I might’ve tossed a few things; they seemed pointless. Can’t quite remember.”

“True. Sometimes, the old things just lose their charm. It feels refreshing to replace them with something new.”

She had always seen Keiran as sentimental, but he was here craving change. So that was it, that was what led him to Corinne?

Claudette’s eyes fell on the calendar. Just five days left.

Keiran wrapped his arms around Claudette from behind, breaking her thoughts with his sudden warmth. “It’s been ages since we felt close like this. I miss it.”

Claudette instinctively shifted away, and at last, Keiran seemed to catch on. “Why have you been so distant lately, not even letting me near you? Have you met someone else?”

Seeing the accusation flash in his eyes, Claudette almost laughed. Here he was, the one betraying her, yet he dared to act like the wounded one.

“You’re reading too much into things. I’m just tired. Still haven’t quite adjusted after the trip.”

Keiran’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing, each alert followed by some flimsy excuse, a quick trip to his study, another urgent call.

Claudette watched him slip away each time, clearly messaging Corinne. “They’re planning a get-together. I won’t be long.”

Feigning understanding, Claudette urged him on, watching as he left. The moment he was gone, she headed to the bathroom, scrubbing at her skin where his touch lingered, each swipe of the soap an attempt to erase the lingering ache.

As expected, he never returned. The next morning, his assistant’s call was all too familiar, saying he had too much to drink and stayed at a hotel, so she did not need to worry.

The next morning, Claudette opened her phone to a message from Corinne, complete with two photos. One captured Keiran cradling Corinne, a sickeningly tender moment. The other displayed a gleaming necklace, a gift from him to Corinne.

[See this, old woman? This necklace is Keiran’s way of apologizing to me. What’s the point in keeping him around when his heart’s clearly mine?]

Yet Claudette’s gaze lingered not on the woman in his arms but on that necklace, its emblem unmistakable. It was from the “Love” collection, the very line Keiran had chosen for his first gift to her back when he took over the family business.

Claudette had always admired the brand's designs, and to her, "Love" had symbolized everything their relationship stood for. Keiran had even bought the entire line, placing it under her name to ensure it was hers alone.

But now, the "Love" necklace hung around another woman’s neck, its significance shattered. What had once been her exclusive symbol of their love was now tainted. She had once intended to keep it as a reminder of their bond, but now, it seemed more like a bitter memory.

With a quiet resolve, she pulled out the custom pieces she had left, and without hesitation, sold them all.

The countdown had begun.

Three days left.

Lately, whenever Keiran returned home, it seemed that more and more of Claudette’s things were gone. The house, once filled with her presence, now only echoed with the things he had bought. Each day, his unease grew as if he could feel the emptiness creeping in around him.

Keiran had been anxious ever since Claudette had disappeared once before. He handed over his company responsibilities to avoid another repeat of that nightmare. He instructed his staff to leave him be unless absolutely necessary.

One quiet morning, the sound of clanging dishes echoed through the house. At first, Claudette thought there was an intruder, but when she entered the kitchen, she found Keiran cooking.

“You’re up! Breakfast’s nearly ready. Just sit tight for a minute; your royal meal will be served soon, courtesy of your knight in shining armor.”

“Thank you,” she replied.

Her simple words froze him in his tracks.

“What’s wrong?”

He shook his head and returned to his task, clearly lost in thought.

Perhaps it was guilt or some attempt to make amends. Still, Keiran surprised her later by taking her to an amusement park.

“Why are we here? Didn’t you once say only childish people come to places like this?”

Claudette remembered all too well the last time she had begged Keiran to visit the amusement park. He had looked at her with disdain, mocking the idea as something beneath him. He hadn’t even bothered to enjoy himself, and after a few quick photos, they had left.

Keiran’s smile was playful, almost mischievous. “I’ll always be a kid at heart when I’m with you, Claude. So, I think I’m more than qualified to bring you here.”

In response, Claudette caught Keiran's smile, offering only a faint curve of her lips. In the past, she would have been swept away by it, but now it barely touched her. Her nod was almost mechanical, as though she were going through the motions.

Keiran bought tickets and led her to the Ferris wheel, his hand guiding her like it had so many times before. As others screamed in delight, clutching their boyfriends in excitement, Claudette sat still, savoring the peaceful thrill of the height, her gaze fixed on the horizon. At the top, Keiran turned her face toward him, and their lips met in a strangely distant kiss.

Whispers floated through the air around them. People gazed at Keiran, amazed by how romantic he was compared to their own boyfriends.

“Claudette, I love you!”

But Claudette didn’t react as Keiran had hoped. He squeezed her hand tightly, attempting to play it off with a grin. “Aren’t you happy? You once told me that if two people kiss at the top of the Ferris wheel, they’ll be together forever.”

Claudette’s lips barely moved as she responded. “That’s just a fairy tale for kids. Don’t believe in it.”

Keiran wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “Are you upset because I haven’t been spending enough time with you? We’ll always be together, won’t we?”

Claudette remained silent, and Keiran grew increasingly anxious, his need for reassurance growing with every passing second. “Right?”

In an attempt to coax her into a response, he playfully nipped at her neck, his teasing tone laced with a hint of frustration. “Take off the last word.”

It was as if he couldn’t rest until she gave him that final “right?”

“Okay, yes.”

Only then did Keiran release her, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.

Countdown: The Last Day.

Today was Claudette's birthday, and Keiran had spared no expense in organizing a lavish celebration for her. The entire city knew that the CEO of Harris Corporation had an adored girlfriend, someone he had cherished for years, and women everywhere envied Claudette for it.

Keiran kept her by his side as if his grip on her would somehow prevent her from slipping away. But lately, he couldn’t ignore the coldness that had begun to creep between them. She seemed to show more warmth to a neighbor than to him, and the realization stirred a deep unease and fear within him.

Determined to prove to the world that they were the perfect couple, he seized this moment to solidify their image.

After the party, Claudette checked her phone. She found a series of angry messages from Corinne, each laced with mocking words and accusations that Keiran truly loved her instead.

For the first time, Claudette responded with a single line.

[If he loves you so much, then let him make it official. Have him let you stand by his side openly, like at today’s birthday party.]

Her words struck a chord with Corinne. [Just wait. I’ll show you who Keiran values more, me or you, and make you give up once and for all.]

As Claudette started to head upstairs, she caught sight of Keiran rushing down the stairs. She paused, knowing what had just happened; Corinne had messaged him.