“Hey, look! Isn’t that Mr. Blackthorne and Miss Frost?” one of the maids suddenly gasped.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I glanced at my phone. A blogger was doing random street interviews under a ‘time capsule‘ theme–and just by chance, they’d interviewed Vincent and Sable.
Vincent wore his usual blank expression, clearly uninterested. But Sable was excited, practically glowing with enthusiasm. Vincent humored her, playing the doting boyfriend.
The blogger read their random question aloud:
“If you could go back five years, what would you do?”
Sable frowned, pretending to struggle for an answer.
Vincent pulled her closer, his voice dangerously soft, but his words sharp as knives.
“I would have killed anyone who tried to approach me with ulterior motives… and made sure I met Sable, much sooner.”
The tenderness was for Sable. She leaned into him, glowing with happiness.
While the cruelty was for me.
My grip on the phone tightened, my heart sinking. He still hated me this much. But I didn’t care
anymore.
I printed Sable’s picture, slid it into the album of his mistresses and wrote: 100. Goodbye. I locked it away in the study drawer, along with the signed divorce papers.
A parting gift for Vincent. He’d like it.
After that, I quietly began packing my things.
When Vincent and Sable returned, I had just tossed a woven blanket into the trash bin.
“What are you doing?” Vincent asked.
My body stiffened slightly. “Sort thing out where it belong to garbage,” I said flatly.
He walked over and saw the bin full of handmade crafts I’d once made for him, along with several expensive dresses he’d given me.
“You never even wore these dresses. How are they garbage?” he frowned.
Without stopping my hands, I replied calmly, “Some things just aren’t meant to fit. No point forcing it.”
Like people. After five years, I had finally seen things clearly.
Vincent seemed to sense the underlying meaning behind my words, his frown deepening.
Before he could say anything, Sable clung to his arm and pouted. “Vincent, I’m tired. Can I sleep in that room tonight?” She pointed at the master bedroom.
Vincent pressed his lips together. “Sable just had skin graft surgery. She’s uncomfortable at night. It’ll be easier for me to take care of her if she sleeps in the master bedroom.”
I raised my eyes and met Sable’s deliberately provocative gaze.
She was challenging me.
Chapter 2
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5:36 pm D D DX.
After all, the master bedroom was my last stronghold,
In the past, I would throw a fit every time he tried to let one of his women stay there. But now… didn’t care anymore.
I simply nodded. “Alright. I’ll go pack up my things.”
The master bedroom was filled with memories I had poured my heart into. It took me an entire afternoon to clear it out.
When Vincent saw the empty room, his expression grew strange.
“Sable’s only staying temporarily. Once she’s better, she’ll move out. Why pack everything sc thoroughly?”
“I’d rather replace things when the time comes than cling to the old,” I answered smoothly. Vincent stared at me suspiciously. “Andrea, you’re not acting like yourself. What are you plotting?”
I said nothing.
Just then, Sable let out a little gasp. “Wow, this bracelet is gorgeous!”
I looked up sharply and saw her holding a pale pink agate bracelet from my vanity.
My chest tightened. I quickly strode over. “Give it back.”
5:36 pm
4
