Alia

My steps halted for a moment as my eyes caught a very familiar figure. Julian, the man who used to mean everything to me, walked out of the office lobby, followed by Elis beside him. My heart fluttered, unable to contain the emotions that had been locked away for so long. I knew this was the moment I had been waiting for, even though I wasn’t sure I was ready to face the painful reality that pierced my soul.

I carried the lunchbox I had carefully prepared, hoping to surprise him with a small gesture—a meal that might remind him of everything we had been through. With steady steps, I approached them.

"Julian," I called, my voice quieter than I intended. They both paused for a moment, and my eyes met his, but all I received in return was a flat stare.

I held up the food and smiled, trying my best not to appear fragile. "I brought lunch, it’s your favorite," I said, hoping he would accept it, even if only as a small token of unreciprocated affection.

However, Elis didn’t let the opportunity slip away. Confidently, she stepped closer, wrapping her arm around Julian’s intimately. It seemed to be a display of her power in front of me. Her smile was sharp, almost as if challenging me to object.

Elis looked at the food I was holding with a dismissive glance. "Mr. Julian, I’ve already booked a restaurant for us. You don’t need to bring food from home. A CEO like you shouldn’t be carrying food that may not even be nutritious or decent," she said, her tone laced with certainty.

I glanced at Julian, hoping he would defend the meal I had prepared with love and care. I wondered what he would say—whether he would respond to my good intentions with understanding, or if I had truly lost all significance in his life.

I tried to explain, though my voice began to tremble. "I made this food with care and ensured its nutrition. I want you to eat well, Julian. It’s your favorite."

Julian merely shrugged, as if he hadn’t heard me. "Just take it home or give it to someone else," he replied, his flat tone freezing any hope I once had. "Elis has already arranged everything. You don’t need to seek attention from me anymore. Don’t interrupt my work with your behavior."

Elis smiled triumphantly, and I felt as though the world had crumbled in an instant. Haughtily, she said, "Come on, Julian. Let’s go."

I took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions that were about to erupt. I knew what I had to do. I would no longer concern myself with Julian. No more cooking for him. No more attention would I give.

As they turned to walk away, I stared at Julian’s back, and the words finally escaped my lips in a firm voice, though my heart shattered. "Goodbye, Julian," I said, releasing what had been long pent up.

Suddenly, Julian stopped. He turned his head, and I felt his sharp gaze cutting through me. He probably understood the meaning of my words, but before he could respond, Elis roughly grabbed his arm and urged him into the car. Without a word from Julian, they drove off.

I stood there, staring at their departing car, my heart breaking as they vanished from view. Slowly, I turned around and walked back into the office.

Inside, the staff greeted me warmly, still with smiles and respectful glances. I knew they appreciated every step I had taken with Julian to build this company. Half of the company’s shares were mine, and I remembered how hard we both worked together to make it great. Five years together, fighting for the dream we had built. But now, that dream was gone. After the company reached its peak, Julian had asked me to stop working. I remembered the promises he had made—that once everything succeeded, we would get married and live happily ever after. But all of that had been nothing more than a fantasy.

As I walked through the hallways of the office that had once been filled with our memories, I felt as though every corner called out to me, reminding me of every moment we had shared. But when I opened the door to Julian’s office, I knew everything had changed. The room, once filled with photos of the two of us, was now empty. There were no pictures left. All those memories seemed to have vanished into thin air.

I noticed a pile of photos in the corner of the room, lying among old files. Trembling, I picked them up. The smile that had once been on my face was now just a painful memory. Without thinking, I tore the photos one by one, until nothing remained.

Suddenly, Jordi, Julian’s personal assistant, entered the room with an anxious look on his face. He looked at me, fear clearly visible in his expression.

"What are you doing, Miss?" he asked, his voice trembling.

I stared at him for a moment, ignoring his question, then asked, "Is the file I requested ready?"

Jordi lowered his gaze, not daring to look at me. In a soft voice, he handed me the file. I glanced at it for a moment, ensuring everything was as I had asked. Without saying another word, I quickly exited the room.

However, Jordi called out to me. "Miss, shouldn’t this be discussed directly with Mr. Julian? He’ll be very upset if he finds out you left like this."

I paused for a moment, turning to look at Jordi. "I only took what was rightfully mine and discarded what no longer mattered," I replied firmly. "Besides, if this company thrives without any dishonesty, it will still prosper even if I’m no longer part of it."

Jordi tried to speak further. "Don’t you regret it? You’ve abandoned so much effort and love you both worked so hard for."

I chuckled bitterly. "I’d regret it more if I stayed in a place where my presence is no longer valued," I said, then added, "I know you feel regret, Jordi. But this can no longer be sustained."

I glanced at the food I had left behind. Wordlessly, I handed it to Jordi. "This is for you," I said.

Jordi thanked me, though I knew he simply pitied me. After that, I left the office without looking back.

At the apartment, I packed my things. I went through everything that still reminded me of Julian. I found the documents that justified my decision to leave. The things he had bought for me, the photos of us—everything I discarded into the trash. I pressed the button on my phone and answered Mama’s call.

"Yes, Mama. I’m coming home," I replied in a firm voice.

In the car, I sat quietly, staring at the gallery of old photos on my phone. With one finger, I selected a picture of the two of us—and uploaded it to social media with one short, heart-wrenching sentence: "It’s over."

I took a deep breath. Everything was over.

—

Alia

I vividly remember how it felt to leave my parents' house. At that time, my heart was filled with ego, and I left without a second thought. It was all because of Julian. But today, after all these years, I'm back—returning to the house I once thought was lonely and meaningless. Now, I'm back with an empty feeling and an open wound, even though I seem to have made peace with reality.

As soon as I arrived at my parents' house, I was overcome with anxiety. What would they say after all this time? Mom and Dad must be angry, right? They must be disappointed, especially after I left everything behind for a man who never appreciated me. But as soon as I entered the house, the atmosphere that greeted me was very different.

"Alia, Mama's daughter!" Mama's soft and loving voice greeted me with a warm embrace. I stood there in silence for a moment, unable to say anything. It was as if I could feel the warmth that had been missing for so long. "We are so grateful you're back. Maybe it’s for the best that you decided to leave Julian."

I didn’t know what to say. I should feel relieved, but my heart was still heavy. They weren’t angry; they welcomed me with love. They understood better than anyone what it's like to be crushed by someone you love.

Mom looked at me with concern. "Alia," she said cautiously, "how about considering an arranged marriage? I'd like you to meet Felix, my best friend's son."

Felix’s name sounded familiar. I felt unprepared to hear it. An arranged marriage? What did she mean? But she continued gently, "Felix is a fine young man, Alia. Papa and I know him well. He’s quite mature, and most importantly, he respects women. We're not asking you to accept him right away—there’s no rush. Get to know him first, and if you feel he’s the one, the decision is yours."

I let out a long sigh. I wasn’t ready to open my heart again, especially after everything that had happened with Julian. I was still traumatized, and the wound in my heart felt so deep. But I also couldn’t refuse Mom’s request. Maybe this was the best way to let go of the past and repay my parents, who had worried about my happiness for so long.

"All right, Mom. I'll get to know Felix. But I don't promise anything," I replied quietly, trying to show that my heart was still closed to love. But I knew this decision wasn’t only for me—it was also for my parents, who had been concerned about my happiness for so long.

A few days later, we agreed to meet at a restaurant. Both families exchanged stories, talking about the past and the future. I was surprised to learn that Aunt Renata, Mom's best friend, had a grown son. Felix, my potential future husband, was five years older than me. This was my first time meeting him.

Felix, a seemingly quiet and polite young man, immediately showed a different attitude than I had expected. As I was about to sit down, he pulled out the chair with care. "Please, sit down, Alia," he said in a soft voice.

When the seafood arrived, I was surprised to see Felix carefully separating the crab shell and meat for me, making sure each part was separated so I could enjoy it more easily. It reminded me of the past, when I always had to separate the crab meat for Julian, while Julian just sat there, enjoying his food without a care in the world.

But this time, it felt different. Felix wasn’t just polite; he seemed caring and responsible. After the meal, I intended to pay the bill, but Felix refused. "Let me pay," he said with a smile. "When you and your family are with me, it’s my responsibility."

An unfamiliar feeling filled my chest. I didn’t feel burdened or coerced. Everything felt natural. It was different from how I had felt with Julian. With Felix, I felt safe and secure.

Time passed quickly, and I began seeing Felix more often. We talked about many things, getting to know each other better. Mama Amy began to ask me about my feelings. "What do you think of Felix, Alia? Are you starting to like him?"

I looked at my mom with mixed emotions. After thinking for a moment, I replied, "I don’t think there’s any reason to reject him, Mom. Besides his good personality, Felix is also Aunt Renata’s son, someone I’ve known for a long time. I don’t think there’s much more to think about."

Mom smiled with relief at my answer. "Then let’s have an engagement party. Everything will be fine, Alia."

A few days later, both families gathered to celebrate our engagement. I felt comfortable, though not fully prepared. Here I was, in the midst of a supportive family, with a man I barely knew, but who had made me feel confident about a bright future. It felt like the world was spinning so fast, and everything I’d fought so hard for had turned out to be nothing but painful. What I had once thought was trivial and insignificant turned out to be a source of happiness.

When Felix thanked me after we exchanged rings, his words were sincere. "I’ve loved you for a long time, Alia. I promise to make you happy and to be the only woman in my life after Mama."

I was touched, and tears began to fall. I never thought that in such a short time, the feelings that had once been locked in my heart would begin to open up again. Felix, whom I had just met, had understood my feelings and given me what I had been searching for—security and respect.

However, in the middle of this blissful moment, the door to the room suddenly burst open. A very familiar figure stood there, his face full of anger. Julian. He had arrived with several bodyguards. "This event is unauthorized!" he shouted in a voice that shook the room.

The atmosphere immediately became tense, and I stood frozen, unable to speak. All eyes were on me, and I could feel my heart racing. What did Julian want? Had he come to ruin everything I had found?