Chapter 8

I stood outside the door, feeling as if all the blood in my body had frozen.

So, more than a decade of companionship really couldn't compare to their one month of knowing each other.

I turned to leave, but accidentally bumped into a waiter carrying a tray.

The sound of shattering glass startled the people in the private room.

Alex pushed the door open. Seeing me, his face instantly changed.

"Alice? You heard everything?"

He asked, frowning.

I nodded frankly.

Alex's expression grew complex:

"Since you know, then you should understand how much I like Bethany."

"Don't try to ruin this proposal. You can't stop it…"

"Don't worry."

I cut him off, a faint smile gracing my lips,

"I won't be there the day you propose."

I paused: "Because…"

That day was also the day I was leaving the country.

Before I could finish, Alex's phone rang, Bethany's exclusive ringtone.

He answered, his tone instantly tender:

"Honey, I'm with my friends. I'll be right back…"

I took advantage of his call to turn and leave.

My back was perfectly straight, my steps steady, as if I had finally shed a heavy burden.

After Alex hung up, he realized I was gone.

He looked down the empty hallway, vaguely remembering me saying something earlier.

But his mind had been entirely focused on Bethany's call, and he hadn't heard clearly.

Never mind, it probably wasn't important anyway.

He didn't dwell on it and re-entered the private room.

The day Alex decided to propose to Bethany was also the day my visa paperwork came through.

Back at the villa, I contacted the agent again and signed the sales contract with the buyer.

After completing all the handover procedures, I boarded the car with all my luggage.

On the way to the airport, my phone vibrated.

It was a message from our mutual friends' SnapChat group, live-streaming Alex's proposal.

【Look, Alex rented out the entire amusement park!】

【The fireworks show is so thoughtful, it's Bethany's favorite Disney theme!】

【I heard the ring is custom-made, a full five carats!】

I exited the group chat and opened my conversation with Alex.

The last message was from a month ago, when he said to me:

"Alice, I miss you."

My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long time. Then, I slowly typed a line of text.

"Alex, I wish you a successful proposal. I will fulfill your wish and never see you again."

The moment the message was sent, his status immediately showed "typing…"

Alex replied quickly:

"Just don't bother me in the future, that's all. As for seeing each other, how can we avoid it if we're in the same city? I'll treat you to dinner after the proposal."

I looked at the message and suddenly laughed.

He still thought I would cling to him, even now.

I didn't reply. I just blocked his account.

A boarding announcement sounded. I took out my phone's SIM card and gently snapped it in half.

The small card that had been with me for years broke into two pieces and was tossed into the trash.

Inside the cabin, the flight attendant smiled and guided me to my seat.

"Madam, this flight is bound for London Heathrow Airport, estimated flight time eleven hours and twenty-five minutes."

I nodded and fastened my seatbelt.

The plane slowly taxied, accelerated, and finally lifted into the sky.

Outside the cabin window, the city I had lived in for twenty-three years grew smaller and smaller, eventually disappearing beneath the clouds.

I suddenly remembered when Alex was sixteen, after his parents' funeral. He stood there in the setting sun and said to me:

"Alice, from now on, it's just the two of us."

I slowly closed my eyes.

Alex, from now on, I won't be by your side.

From this day forward, our paths diverge, and we shall never meet again.