The apartment door eased open.

Emmett’s voice drifted in from the entrance, laced with playful affection.

My fingers froze.

The pen tip left a long, black streak across the calendar.

His eyes landed on the calendar in my hand, and his lips curved into a faint smirk.

“How could I possibly forget my baby’s graduation ceremony? I even planned something special for you that day.”

My fingers clenched tightly around the calendar.

I looked up, forcing a faint smile as I met his eyes.

“I’ve prepared a special gift for you, too.”

Emmett paused, then chuckled.

“You’re graduating, and yet you’re the one with a gift for me?”

I met his eyes, my gaze calm.

“Why not? Is that not allowed?”

Emmett paused, then chuckled softly.

“Of course it is. But Babe, will your Uncle Franklin be attending the graduation?”

I smiled, but the warmth didn’t reach my eyes.

“Do you want him there?”

“Well… if he finds out his lifelong rival has been with his precious niece, he might beat me so badly in front of the entire ceremony that even my parents wouldn’t recognize me.”

Hearing the humor in his voice, I glanced up nonchalantly.

“But Uncle Franklin just called. He said he’ll be attending the ceremony.”

Emmett raised his eyebrows slightly at my words. He let out a quiet laugh.

“Then let him come. It’s the perfect chance to let Franklin know what’s really going on between us.

“We’ve never seen eye to eye—but what can I do? He’s my lover’s uncle. I’ll just have to bite the bullet and call him ‘uncle’ too.

“Getting punched by an uncle doesn’t sound all that embarrassing, right?”

An invisible hand seemed to clutch my heart, squeezing until even breathing felt difficult.

Emmett slowly leaned in, his breath warm against my ear.

My body tensed immediately. I turned my head quickly to avoid his kiss.

"I… I'm a little tired tonight."

His lips paused briefly against the curve of my neck. With a sigh, he looped an arm around me and held me close.

"Alright. Then rest well tonight."

He tousled my hair gently before turning toward the bathroom.

The next morning, I woke early and packed a box full of old things.

Watches, tie clips, cufflinks, leather shoes...

Each of these had once been a carefully chosen gift from me to him, selected one by one over the years.

The moment I saw them again, I remembered the half-smiling, half-mocking look he always wore when receiving them.

Back then, I thought we shared something special.

Now I realized—it had only ever been me, hopelessly infatuated.

I picked up the box and headed downstairs.

I tossed it all into the trash bin without a second thought.

By the time Emmett woke, the apartment already felt noticeably emptier.

He glanced around the room, a flicker of surprise on his face.

"Why does it feel like a bunch of things are missing? Where’s my razor? And the matching mugs we used to have—where are they?"

I kept my expression calm and said evenly, "I threw them out."

He rubbed his brow, confusion in his voice, "Why throw everything out all of a sudden?"

I met his eyes, my gaze steady.

"They were outdated. It's time for something new."

Emmett didn’t press further.

"Hmm. Alright then. Send my assistant a list of what you need, and I’ll have him pick everything up. It’s almost ten—I’ll drive you to the office?"

I smiled and gently declined.

"No need. I quit this morning."

He paused mid-step and turned to look at me, frowning slightly.

"Didn’t you like that job? You wouldn’t even agree to intern at my company. Why quit all of a sudden?"

I remained silent for a few seconds before answering quietly, "Graduation’s coming. I want to focus on finishing school first."

There was a flicker in his eyes—a trace of something unreadable. He quickly set down what he was holding and nudged me onto the sofa.

"That’s fine. You’ll be graduating soon anyway. Once you’re done, come work at my company."

He slipped an arm around my shoulders while the other hand gently toyed with my earlobe.

His voice dropped to a lazy murmur, low and hoarse.

"That way, I can see you every minute of every day."

I stood abruptly, stepping away from his touch.

"If you don’t leave now, you’ll be late,” I said icily.

Emmett opened his mouth to speak, but after glancing at his watch, he chuckled and tapped me lightly on the forehead.

He adjusted his tie and walked to the door.

Then he turned back.

"Babe, I’ve got a dinner engagement tonight. Don’t wait up, okay?"

I didn’t say anything.

After he left, I returned to the bedroom.

I spent the entire afternoon sorting through and tossing out everything we once shared—every last item.

By the time I stood again in the middle of the apartment that no longer felt like home, it felt as if an anvil had settled on my chest, pressing down until I could barely breathe.

That was when my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.

[7 PM. Cloudview Restaurant. I’m Emmett’s fiancée. Don’t be late.]

I pushed open the restaurant door.

My gaze swept across each table until it landed on a woman seated by the window.

She wore an elegant dress and flawless makeup, her every movement exuding the effortless grace of someone born into wealth.

I walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down without a trace of emotion on my face.

She glanced at me.

“I booked a private room. Let’s talk there.”

Without waiting for a reply, she stood and walked ahead.

I had no choice but to follow.

Inside the private room, she began pouring a glass of water with deliberate, unhurried gestures.

I didn’t rush her. I simply sat in silence and watched.

“I’m Amelie Poldark,” she announced abruptly. “Emmett’s fiancée.”

She spoke plainly, her tone laced with a hint of provocation.

I said nothing, but calmly met her gaze.

Amelie clearly hadn’t expected my composure.

She pursed her lips.

“Aren’t you supposed to be his girlfriend? Don’t you have anything to say about me suddenly showing up as his fiancée?”

I shook my head, my eyes hollow and distant.

What thoughts could I possibly have?

The moment I overheard that conversation in the hallway, I had given up on Emmett for good.

She bit her lip and let out a low chuckle.

“The Meyers and Poldarks are about to enter a major partnership. Both sides have already agreed to a marriage alliance. Emmett has given his consent.

“No matter what promises he made to you, in the end, he’ll marry me. So I suggest you walk away while you still can.

“I can even offer you some compensation—save you from ending up with nothing.”

I took a deep breath and kept a steady gaze on her.

“When does this project between your families launch? When do you plan to announce the engagement?”

Amelie looked a little caught off guard, but a triumphant smile soon crept across her lips.

“By the end of this month. The exact date isn’t set, but it’ll be around then.”

The end of the month, right when I was supposed to graduate.

So Emmett had planned it all out.

Expose the scandalous photos at my graduation, then ride the wave straight into a public alliance with the Poldarks.

A perfect strategy, one even Uncle Franklin wouldn’t be able to counter.

But still…Emmett, oh Emmett.

You were colder than I ever imagined.

It’d been three years, and I still couldn’t warm your heart.

I looked up at her and calmly poured myself a cup of water.

My voice came out light and even. “Alright. I understand.”

Amelie hadn’t expected such a composed reaction.

Her face darkened instantly.

I set my cup down and didn’t give her a chance to speak.

“Don’t worry. I don’t want Emmett anymore. He’s all yours.”

As soon as the words left my lips, I rose from my seat, ready to leave.

But Amelie suddenly stood up and grabbed my arm.

Before I could react, she seized the steaming cup of water from the table and hurled it at me.

The scalding liquid splashed across my shoulder and chest.

Still not satisfied, she reached for her handbag and aimed it straight at my face.

I raised my hand instinctively and slapped her hard across the cheek.

Stunned and seething, Amelie lunged forward and shoved me to the floor with all her strength.

I had been sheltered my whole life, raised as a gentle, soft-spoken girl, but even docile lambs grow teeth when cornered.

And at that moment, faced with a woman so vicious and irrational, I didn’t even think.

I stood up and struck her again.

"How dare you!" she shrieked, her face twisted in rage.

I stared at her, unflinching, not the slightest bit afraid.

In fact, I almost laughed.

“I’ll kill you!” she screamed.

Hearing her hurl those words, my patience snapped.

I raised my hand once more, ready to deliver another slap.

But just before my palm met her cheek again, someone caught my wrist.

I turned and saw Emmett standing there, his face twisted in fury.

The moment Amelie spotted him, she put on a wounded expression and threw herself into his arms, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“Your girlfriend is so cruel, Emmett,” she sobbed. “I just wanted to talk to her, and she tried to hit me…”

Seeing her weep so pitifully in his arms, Emmett’s face darkened further.

“Claire!” he snapped. “Why did you hit her for no reason? Was it Franklin who taught you that, or did I?”

My eyes burned red with anger, and my voice trembled with fury.

“For no reason? What a joke! The restaurant has surveillance—go check the footage. See for yourself why I hit her, and what she did to me!”

Could he not see how soaked I was? The disheveled state I was in?

I had intended to lay out the facts calmly and reasonably, but he blindly defended Amelie, never once bothering to confirm the truth.

“No matter what happened,” he said coldly, “you shouldn’t have raised your hand. Amelie said she only asked you out for a meal. She did nothing to you.

“Attacking someone is wrong, Claire. You need to apologize.”

He wanted me to apologize to her?

The victim… apologizing to the aggressor?

Fury surged in my chest. I stared at him.

“I did nothing wrong. No matter what you say, I won’t apologize,” I said firmly.

He insisted on an apology, and I stood firm in my refusal.

Neither of us wanted to give in.

In the end, it was Amelie—perhaps afraid the situation would escalate and expose the truth—who raised her tear-streaked face and looked at Emmett.

“It’s my fault… Don’t argue with her anymore. My heart… It’s acting up again…” she whispered.

Emmett’s face immediately showed signs of anxiety and panic.

He shot me a look that was hard to read and rushed to help Amelie up, then hurried to the hospital without a backward glance.

Watching them leave, my anger gradually faded, replaced by a deep sense of frustration and sorrow.

Tears, which I had held back for so long, suddenly overwhelmed me.

I quickly wiped them away, then went to the restroom to wash my face before leaving the restaurant.

Just as I stepped onto the sidewalk, a motorcycle came speeding toward me.

In the next moment, Emmett appeared out of nowhere, pulling me into his arms to protect me.

A loud crash rang out, and the entire world spun out of control.

In the chaos, I lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying in a hospital bed.

Emmett sat at my bedside, his face pale and exhausted, yet his eyes sparkled with a mix of concern and relief.

“You’re awake! You scared me to death! Don’t ever do that again, do you hear me?

“Stay still, don’t move. I’ll go call the doctor to check on you.”

After he left, his phone, which he had left on the table, suddenly buzzed with a new message notification.

I glanced at the message Amelie had sent.

When Emmett returned with the doctor, he noticed that his phone screen was lit up and his pupils constricted.

He immediately stood, took his phone, and quickly scanned its contents. His steps faltered for a moment.

Unable to resist, he glanced at me as the doctor examined me.

"Did you have a look at my phone just now?"

"No, why?" I asked calmly.

He smiled, as if relieved, then casually said, "It’s nothing."

He turned and asked the doctor about various precautions I needed to take.

For the first time, I couldn't read him.

This was supposed to be our charade—a transactional relationship with an expiration date.

He shouldn't care whether I saw his messages.

Unless…

The treacherous thought surfaced: Was he afraid of losing me?

I crushed the hope before it could take root.

After everything, how could I still be this naive?

The monitors beeped steadily as I made my decision.

I would go home.

Leave Emmett behind.

And finally, stop loving him.