Liora's POV
I had already finished packing my belongings into a single travel bag. There wasn’t much to take—only the essentials. I deliberately left behind every designer dress, every sparkling piece of jewelry Corwin had ever given me. I didn’t want to carry a single reminder of him with me. Not his expensive gifts, not the familiar scent that still lingered on the fabrics, and certainly not the hollow promises he had wrapped around my heart for ten years.
I would be leaving in five days.
Five days to settle loose ends. Five days to say goodbye—especially to the children who had grown attached to me, and whom I had grown to love more than I ever expected.
My gaze drifted back to the stack of handwritten letters on the table. They were the ones he’d written before everything between us collapsed beyond repair. Once, those letters had been my most treasured possessions. Now, they felt like nothing more than inked lies on fragile paper. Promises, after all, were meant to be broken—Corwin had proven that better than anyone.
One by one, I tore the letters apart.
The sound of paper ripping echoed through the room, strangely soothing, as if each tear loosened another chain binding me to the past. I was down to the final few when a voice—sharp, frantic, and unmistakably his—rang out behind me.
“What the hell are you doing, Liora?!”
I turned to see Corwin striding into the room, his gaze darting from the torn fragments clutched in my hands to the pieces scattered in the trash bin. He snatched the letter I was holding and rummaged through the bin, pulling out the shredded remains with shaking hands. His face was twisted in disbelief, as though I’d destroyed something sacred.
“Why?” he demanded hoarsely. “Why would you do this?” His voice cracked as he stared at the ruined letters like they were priceless treasures. “Is this because of Calista? Do these mean nothing to you now? I wrote every one of those for us, Liora. For our history. For everything we shared.”
His hands trembled as he tried—futilely—to piece the scraps together. For a fleeting second, I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
“Answer me!” he snapped, gripping my arms tightly and forcing me to face him. “Why can’t you see it? Your jealousy is what’s destroying us!”
I met his icy blue stare without flinching, my expression calm, my voice steady. “You’re mistaken, Corwin. I’m not jealous,” I said evenly. “Those letters were already ruined. Insects got to them. They were full of holes, barely holding together. There was nothing left worth saving.”
It wasn’t a complete lie. Some of the letters had been damaged. I simply didn’t care enough to preserve what remained.
His eyes flicked back to the torn pieces, the anger in his face slowly dissolving into reluctant acceptance. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he muttered, dragging a hand through his hair until it stood messier than usual. “I could’ve handled it. I could’ve fixed them. Tearing them up like this was… extreme. It feels like you’re ripping apart what we still have.”
“Not everything can be fixed, Corwin,” I replied quietly, offering a small, practiced smile. “Some things are better left behind. Sometimes, the only option is to let go.”
He exhaled heavily, staring down at the shredded paper with regret etched into his features. “I can write new ones,” he said softly. “I shouldn’t have gotten angry. Those letters were meant to be part of our wedding someday.”
Wedding.
The word left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.
I didn’t respond, and my silence didn’t go unnoticed. He reached up and cradled my face, his palm warm against my skin. “Are you alright?” he asked gently. “I know I haven’t been around much. But Calista needs protection right now. She almost got caught in a dangerous situation involving rival corporations, and I won’t let that happen again.” His voice softened. “You’re the only woman I love, Liora. The only one I plan to marry. You know that, don’t you?”
I nodded slowly. It was the answer he wanted—so I gave it to him.
He leaned in and pressed a brief kiss to my lips before pulling away. “Tell me,” he murmured. “What can I do to make things better between us?”
I stepped out of his hold and looked away. “I want a celebration,” I said lightly.
“A party?” He tilted his head, a faint smile appearing. “You’ve always loved events and dancing. When were you thinking?”
He didn’t know the truth—that I only pretended to enjoy those things because he did. I’d spent years molding myself to fit his world, convincing myself it was love. And yet, it had never been enough. The realization tightened painfully around my heart.
“Tomorrow night,” I replied with a smile I had perfected over time. “And I want you to dance with me.”
His smile hesitated for the briefest moment before he nodded. “If that’s what you want, then I’ll be there. We’ll dance. We’ll make it unforgettable.”
I hope so, I thought bitterly.
He kissed my forehead, lingering just long enough to feel familiar. “I should tell you,” he added after a pause, unable to meet my eyes. “I won’t be staying here tonight. There’s something urgent I need to deal with in the capital, but I promise I’ll be back in time for the celebration.”
I already knew the truth.
The staff whispered. The rumors traveled fast. He wasn’t going alone—Calista would be with him. They were heading to the city together.
Still, I kept my tone pleasant. “Be careful,” I said smoothly. “And don’t forget about tomorrow night.”
As he turned to leave, I watched his back disappear down the hall, fully aware that this was the beginning of my goodbye.
