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.
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