I woke up to the smell of breakfast. The tray on the nightstand was perfectly arranged—pancakes, fresh fruit, and coffee.

Jayden’s warm breath tickled my neck as he leaned down, his lips grazing my skin. “Good morning, beautiful,” he murmured, his voice low and smooth.

His hand slid across my waist, tugging me closer. “I’ve missed you. Let’s stay in bed today... just us.”

I didn’t move. My eyes remained fixed on the tray. Pancakes. Coffee. Fresh fruit. It was all too perfect, too staged.

“What do you need, Jayden?” I said flatly, turning to meet his surprised gaze.

“What?” He blinked, feigning innocence. “Why are you saying that? I’m just trying to spend time with my girl.”

I pulled away, sitting up against the headboard. “Cut the act. Whenever you want something, you suddenly remember how to be sweet. So, what is it this time?”

Jayden frowned, a hurt expression crossing his face. “Why are you being like this, Lilian? Why does it feel like you don’t care about me anymore?”

Care about him? I scoffed internally, thinking back to all the times he’d pulled this same stunt. Whenever he needed money, advice, or a favor, he’d drown me in affection, just enough to make me feel guilty if I refused.

And I had always fallen for it.

Not this time.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood, leaving him sitting there with his perfect tray of breakfast and empty words.

Jayden sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve been thinking, Lilian. I realize I’ve been... distant lately. I’ve just been worried about Scarlet, you know? After everything she’s been through, I—”

“You’ve made that very clear,” I interrupted, my tone cold.

He stood and reached for my hand, but I pulled away. “Let’s go on a date,” he said, his voice softening. “Just the two of us. Dinner, maybe a movie. Like old times.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say a word, a high-pitched scream echoed through the house.

“Jayden!” Scarlet’s voice was panicked, followed by the sound of something shattering.

Jayden didn’t even hesitate. He bolted out of the room without a word, leaving me standing there, staring at the empty doorway.

That was it. That was the last straw.

Jayden was at the hospital with Scarlet when I packed my bags. This time, there was no hesitation, no second-guessing.

The closet doors creaked open as I pulled out my suitcase. It was all ready since the day I learned of their betrayal and everything I had brought into this house—the house I owned but let Jayden live in rent-free—was going with me.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. I picked it up and dialed the number I’d memorized long ago.

“Miss Lilian,” the voice on the other end answered.

“Put the apartment up for bidding,” I said, my voice steady. “Sell everything in it. I don’t care about the price. Just make sure it’s gone by the end of the month.”

“Yes, Miss Lilian. And... the items Mr. Swift gifted you?”

I glanced at the expensive watch on the dresser, the designer bags, the jewelry. All meaningless tokens Jayden had given me to mask his indifference.

“Include them,” I said firmly. “All of it.”

“Understood.”

“Also, ensure that all the credit cards we shared are frozen. And don’t pay those balances. I want him to be in debt once I was gone,” I said, gritting my teeth.

“Yes, Miss Hugh.”

I ended the call and slipped the phone into my bag. The room felt lighter already, as if the weight of years of betrayal had started to lift.

As I zipped up my suitcase, I glanced around one last time. The memories of this place—the laughter, the fights, the false promises—flashed through my mind like an old movie reel.

This wasn’t my home anymore. It never had been.

With my suitcase in hand, I closed the door behind me and stepped into the hallway.

The sound of my heels echoed on the wooden floor as I walked out of the apartment. By the time I reached the front door, I felt a sense of clarity I hadn’t felt in years.

Once outside, I hailed a cab and gave the driver my destination.

“The airport, please.”

As the car pulled away, I didn’t look back.

The cab sped through the bustling streets, the city lights blurring past my window. I rested my head against the cool glass, trying to focus on the road ahead—on the airport, on my freedom.

Then my phone buzzed.

Jayden’s name flashed on the screen. For a moment, I debated ignoring it, but that would only make him suspicious. I swiped to answer, forcing my voice to stay calm. “Hello?”

“Lilian,” Jayden’s tone was sharp, almost frantic. “What’s your blood type?”

I frowned, gripping the phone tighter. “RH-negative. Why?”

“Scarlet needs blood,” he said quickly. “She’s anemic, and the hospital is low on her type. Go to St. Claire’s right now and donate. She’s already weak from—”

I cut him off before he could finish. “I’m not near St. Claire’s right now.”

“Then where are you?” he demanded.

I hesitated, my mind racing for a believable excuse. “I’ll head there as soon as I can.”

“Don’t take too long, Lilian,” he snapped, the urgency in his voice unmistakable. “Scarlet’s life depends on it.”

“I’ll try my best,” I lied, then ended the call before he could say more.

I exhaled sharply, my grip tightening on the phone. There was no way I was turning back. I wasn’t going to let him manipulate me into saving his precious Scarlet. Not after everything.

I dialed another number.

“Miss Lilian?”

“Make sure St. Claire’s doesn’t receive any RH-negative blood,” I said coldly. “And block all nearby hospitals from supplying it as well. Force them to go further, no matter the cost.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the voice replied, no hesitation.

I ended the call and stared out the window. A part of me whispered that I was being cruel, but I silenced it quickly. Scarlet had stolen my life, my love, my trust. If she was clinging to life now, I couldn’t bring myself to care.

A darker thought crossed my mind—what if she didn’t make it?

I swallowed it down and focused on the airport signs appearing in the distance.

Inside the terminal, I pulled out my phone and made another call.

“Lilian!” my mother’s cheerful voice filled the line. “It’s been so long since you called. How are you, dear?”

“I’m fine, Mom,” I said, forcing a smile even though she couldn’t see it. “I just wanted to let you know I’m leaving for a three-year contract.”

“A contract?” she asked, surprised. “Where to? And what about Jayden?”

“We broke up,” I said simply.

There was a pause, then my mother let out a delighted laugh. “Thank God! I never liked that man anyway. Good riddance. But forget about the research, darling. Come back home. Marry a proper man, the one I’ve always told you about. It’s time to take over the company.”

“Mom, I—”

Before I could finish, my phone buzzed with another incoming call. I glanced at the screen. Jayden. Again.

“Mom, I’ll call you back,” I said quickly.

“Oh, we’re not done with this discussion!” she said teasingly before hanging up.

I didn’t accept Jayden’s call. Instead, I opened his messages.

Where are you, Lilian? Scarlet needs blood!

Why did you freeze the account? I can’t pay for Scarlet’s treatment!

What the hell is going on? Call me back!

I stared at the texts, my chest tightening—not with regret, but with the finality of it all.

I typed a response, my fingers steady as I crafted the words.

Oh, sorry, I forgot to tell you before I left. I’m breaking up with you, asshole. Feel free to marry your whore, Scarlet.

I hit send, blocked his number, and tucked my phone into my bag.