Ethan was still on the phone, his voice gentle and patient as he discussed the details of the engagement party with Chloe.

Ava stood silently at the door, listening to the voice that had once been her entire world.

She quietly swallowed the words she had been about to say.

What was the point of telling him?

She was just his ward, his responsibility. Which university she went to, where she went... he wouldn't care.

She turned and walked away, her steps light, as if she was afraid of disturbing the sweet scene inside.

Back in her room, she looked around the space she had lived in for ten years.

There were fifteen days left.

In fifteen days, she would leave this place completely.

Her gaze fell on the small lamp on her nightstand. It was shaped like a chinchilla, a gift from Ethan for her tenth birthday. The light it cast was a warm, soft yellow.

He had told her then, "Ava, from now on, I will be like this chinchilla, protecting you always."

He had been her protector.

But that was all in the past.

She reached out and turned off the lamp. The room was plunged into darkness.

It was time to pack.

She pulled a dusty old suitcase from the back of her closet and opened the display cabinet.

Inside were all the gifts Ethan had given her over the years.

A lucky charm he’d stood in line for hours to get from a tiny, renowned artisan shop. A custom-blended perfume he had personally created for her.

One by one, she placed them into the suitcase.

With each item, her heart felt a little emptier, as if a hole was being torn open inside her.

She pressed down the feeling of desolation and opened the bottom drawer of the cabinet.

Inside lay a faded, yellowed notebook.

It was her diary.

The first few pages were filled with childish scrawls, recording her turbulent childhood after her parents' divorce and the bullying she endured from classmates.

Ethan had accidentally seen it once.

He hadn't said anything then, but later that night, he had come to her room and sat by her bed.

He had gently stroked her hair and told her, "Ava, you are the brightest star in my eyes."

She later found out he had gone to her school and warned the bullies. From then on, no one had dared to bother her again.

He had secretly protected her childhood.

As she grew up, her handwriting in the diary became neater, and the entries were all about him.

About the time he won a major award and told her, "You are my medal of honor."

About the time he gave her a rose and said, "I'll wait for you to grow up."

She flipped to the last page. It was a message he had written for her when she was a high school sophomore.

Study hard and get into Wharton. After you graduate, you can come work at my company. I'll keep looking out for you.

A tear fell silently, blurring the ink on the page.

She quickly wiped her eyes, her expression hardening.

She began to tear the diary, page by page.

With each torn page, a piece of her past with him was erased.

When the last page was torn, she threw all the fragments into the suitcase and zipped it shut.

Just then, she heard a noise from downstairs.

She walked out of her room and saw Chloe Vance standing in the living room, pulling a suitcase behind her. Ethan was hugging her from behind.

You're here, Ethan said, his voice soft.

Chloe saw Ava on the stairs and smiled, walking over. "Ava, I brought you a gift."

She opened her suitcase and took out a delicate box. Inside was a beautiful little cake, a mango mousse topped with fresh fruit.

Ava’s smile tightened.

She was severely allergic to mangoes.

She remembered one time when a new housekeeper had served a dessert with mango puree, and she’d had a terrifying allergic reaction, ending up in the emergency room.

Ethan had fired the housekeeper on the spot and had made the kitchen a strict no-mango zone ever since.

He used to remember every preference, every vulnerability.

Ava, Ethan's voice came from behind Chloe, a hint of displeasure in his tone. "Chloe picked it out for you. Take it."

Ava looked at Ethan. He had an expression that said it was only natural.

Her heart ached with a dull pain.

He had not only taken back his affection, but he had also forgotten her weaknesses.

She took a deep breath, took the box, forcing a smile.

Thank you, Chloe. It's beautiful.

But she didn't care anymore.

In fact, she should thank them.

Thank them for making her decision to leave even firmer.

Chloe stayed the night.

Ava lay in her bed, the thin walls unable to block out the ambiguous sounds coming from the next room.

Sleep was impossible.

She got up and went to the balcony, lighting a cigarette. She had secretly learned to smoke a long time ago.

The bitter taste filled her mouth, just like the bitterness in her heart.

The next morning, she went downstairs with dark circles under her eyes.

Chloe, looking refreshed and glowing, pulled her over to the sofa.

Ava, Ethan's birthday is coming up. What kind of party do you think he'd like? A seaside theme?

The faint red marks on Chloe's neck were just visible above her collar. They were like needles, pricking Ava's eyes.

She remembered walking with Ethan on a beach one evening. She had told him she loved the sea.

He had promised her that from then on, every one of his birthdays would be celebrated by the sea.

Back then, his eyes were full of her.

Now, he avoided her like the plague. He had forgotten everything she liked and disliked.

Just as Ava was about to speak, Ethan interrupted from the kitchen. "If you want to know about my affairs, you should ask me directly."

Chloe pouted playfully. "I just thought Ava would know you better."

Ava forced a smile, her heart aching. "I don't know him that well."

She stood up to leave, the bitterness in her heart threatening to overwhelm her.

Where are you going so early? Ethan's voice, suddenly cold, stopped her.

Ava's heart trembled. "I have an appointment to get my visa."

Chloe looked surprised. "A visa? Are you going on a trip? With your boyfriend?"

Ethan's brow furrowed, his tone sharp with disapproval. "Ava, I don't want you getting involved with anyone until you're settled in college."

His cold condemnation hit her heart. She didn't even have the strength to explain.

Chloe smoothed things over with a smile. "Oh, Ethan, don't be so strict. Ava is a big girl. It's normal to fall in love."

Ethan and Chloe left together, hand in hand.

Ava stood in the living room, her hands slowly clenching into fists.

She had only one eighteenth year, and she had given it all to him.

She would not let her youth be buried in a swamp of unrequited love.

She walked out of the house. A light drizzle was falling, and the air was cold.

She remembered how Ethan used to personally pick her up and drop her off on rainy days, holding an umbrella over her. He used to say she was his sheltered port in a storm.

She told herself to get used to walking alone.

She opened her umbrella and walked into the rain.

After getting her visa, she was about to call a cab when she instinctively clicked on Ethan's profile, which she had set as a special notification.

He had just posted a new update.

A rainy day is perfect for an official announcement.

The accompanying photo was a wedding picture of him and Chloe. He was smiling, his eyes full of tenderness.

The comment section was flooded with congratulations.

The left side of her chest didn't ache with that familiar pang anymore. It was numb.

She calmly typed a comment.

A match made in heaven.