My chest ached so badly it was hard to breathe. The reconciliation I thought we had was nothing but my own delusion.
In his eyes, I had been nothing more than a cheap girl he could sleep with.
I forced back my tears and walked up to Babur.
"Babur, is what you said true? These past weeks, tutoring me, treating me kindly… was it all just to get me into bed?"
Babur froze for a second, clearly not expecting me to be there.
Then his expression shifted into open disdain.
"Didn't think you'd find out this soon. Figured I could keep it going for another couple of years." He said it casually, without a hint of guilt.
"Valerie, you should be grateful I even sleep with you. I'm probably the best man you'll ever have access to in your life. A woman like you, all looks and no brains, who can only cling to a man, you'll be lucky if you end up with some construction worker or plumber."
He was so arrogant, so full of himself, that I could barely recognize the gentle Babur I once knew.
Maybe I had been clinging to a ghost.
Perhaps the man who once loved me had died the day of our anniversary.
"Relax, Valerie. I know you're not exactly high society, but that's fine. After I marry Daphne, you can still be my mistress if you behave. You can keep the apartment, the card. You'll still live the carefree life you're used to. Sounds good?"
There was charity in his tone, like he was offering me mercy. He reached out to grab my hand.
I stepped aside and slapped him across the face.
"Listen carefully, Babur." I straightened my back and met his eyes without fear, like I was declaring war. "I will get into Redmont University. I'll make you see how wrong you are. Babur, I will make you regret this."
After shouting that, I turned and ran.
If I stayed even one more second, I would have broken down.
Three full years. Over a thousand days together. So many plans for our future.
How could he discard me so easily, erase me from his tomorrow like I had never existed?
I cried all night in my rented apartment.
By dawn, my decision was made.
I canceled the lease in Baybridge, returned to Asterfall, and packed up everything that had anything to do with Babur and sold it.
Only the necklace that had once given me the courage to chase him back—I held it for a long time before deciding to keep it.
I began studying those incomprehensible books with real focus.
Even when I went for spa treatments with friends, I kept a book open in my hands.
"Valerie, you don't have to work this hard. You don't even understand half of that stuff. Why not just find another man to support you? We can go back to living carefree like before," Naomi teased, glancing between me and Lacey. "Look at you two. You've been so busy lately that even spa days can't hide how exhausted you look. Especially you, Lacey."
Lacey smiled faintly. Her eyes flicked toward my neck but she said nothing.
My hand paused over the page. I looked up at Naomi seriously.
"No, Naomi. I've made up my mind. I don't want to live off a man's affection anymore, constantly fearing the day he might abandon me. I want to be proud of myself. I will get into Redmont University. I will step onto Gilded Row. I will stand higher than Babur ever will—and I'll make him realize just how extraordinary the woman he lost truly is."
