Chapter 2

The message included a list of important instructions.

I read through them carefully, then started packing up my apartment.

I pulled out my custom guitar—stashed away for years—and strummed it. Still in perfect tune.

Leo knew how much music meant to me; it's how we first connected.

Back then, I'd play his favorite songs for him, and we'd travel together.

But as time went on, life got busy and stressful. Leo stopped enjoying my playing, so I put the guitar away and focused on work.

Later, when things got more comfortable financially, he just kept pulling further away from me.

I once suggested we take a trip together, and he got all annoyed.

"Anya, how old are you? Can you stop acting like a kid? Why don't you focus on your career?"

But then I found out he and Chloe were using business trips as excuses to hit up arcades, play games at internet cafes, and take scenic boat rides.

So it wasn't that he thought we were too old for fun.

He just thought I was too old for his fun.

I dug out all my old instruments and called a friend who'd always wanted them.

When he heard I was giving them to him, he sounded shocked: "For real? I offered you good money before and you wouldn't sell. What changed your mind?"

I kept it simple: "I'm moving abroad. Can't take them with me."

"Abroad?" He sounded surprised. "With Leo?"

"No, just me."

I told him about the international secondment briefly. He still seemed confused, but finally suggested we get dinner to catch up.

I said sure.

After we hung up, I kept packing.

The photo wall Leo always wanted to take down, the silly pottery we made together that he called childish, the two-seater couch, our matching rings...

Before I knew it, it was evening.

Leo still wasn't home.

I didn't do the usual—making dinner and waiting, wondering when he'd walk through the door.

Instead, I grabbed my bag and headed out to meet my friend.

There were three or four of us—we hadn't seen each other in almost a year, so they were pretty surprised to see me.

"Have you lost weight? You look skinnier than the last time I saw you."

I smiled and didn't say anything.

After a few drinks, everyone was feeling tipsy and talking freely.

When my upcoming move came up, one of my drunk friends got really worked up on my behalf.

"Anya, I've been wanting to say this forever—you should've left Leo ages ago! Look at you now, he's totally messed you up!"

"If he hadn't stolen your research, you'd be way more successful than you are now. He wouldn't even have a job at your company! All these years, your friends tried to tell you, but you just wouldn't listen."

The others tried to hush him up quickly.

"He's had too much to drink—don't take it personally," one friend said, covering his mouth.

I knew why he was reacting like that.

After all, the old me would've defended Leo no matter what.

We'd drifted apart because they once confronted Leo in front of me. Back then, I got mad and stormed off because I didn't believe them.

But that incident was actually what made me realize—suddenly—how Leo had been manipulating me all along.

"It's fine. Leo and I are breaking up anyway." When I said that, everyone looked shocked. I raised my glass: "Thanks for trying to warn me. I'll drink to that first."

My friends were worried I was heartbroken and tried to comfort me at first, but they relaxed when they saw how calm I was.

After we said goodbye, I went home. I took out my key and was about to unlock the door when it opened from the inside.

Leo was standing in the doorway, leaning against the wall, his tall frame rigid. He looked a little upset.