Chapter 75  Mark was caught off guard. After all, Chase was already so attentive to Nicole over the past couple of years: He leaned in, asking, “Mr. Reyes, what exactly are you hoping to uncover?  back.”  need to know what really happened to Amanda’s child and what she did to Amanda behind my Chase’s frown deepened, the turmoil and conflict within him becoming more apparent. He wanted to get to the bottom of it but feared the truth might be too harsh, shattering his perception of Nicole.  The more he discovered Nicole’s faults, the more it highlighted how often he had wronged me and the embarrassing role he played in those events. With no other options left, he finally said, “And also, arrange my trip abroad as soon as possible”  “Yes, sir. It’s quite late now. You should get some rest.”  Chase’s flight was set for the following afternoon, and he still had a mountain of unfinished tasks. So, instead of heading home, he  ragged his weary self to the suite to catch some sleep.  It had been ages since I last visited, and the place had changed quite a bit. Photos of Chase and Nicole had replaced the ones of us. The bedsheets had Nicole’s favorite pattern, and her belongings cluttered the shelf nearby. Despite his exhaustion, Chase was taken aback by how everything in the room screamed Nicole.  ad lonely, eyes fixed  He plopped down in front of the bed, yanked off his tic, and lit up a cigarette. He seemed both worn out and unblinkingly on the photo by the bedside.  What did  that make me?  Perhaps he found it strange too–how this room, once ours, was now filled with Nicole’s presence. After finishing his cigarette, he didn’t bother washing up. Instead, he grabbed a bag and stuffed all of Nicole’s things into it as if it would somehow erase her from his life.  He opened the closet to stash the bag, only to find himself dumbstruck. Half of the closet was packed with Nicole’s clothes–outfits for both spring and winter, including pajamas and robes  Chase let out a bitter laugh, then erupted in frustration, yanking clothes from the closet and tossing them to the floor.  Nicole had seeped into every corner of his life. He could remove the clothes, but not the memories of her presence.  In a huff, Chase left everything in a mess and stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door shut with a loud bang  I crouched on the floor staring at the bag he had discarded. The top photo frame had fallen out, and its glass cracked right between him and Nicole.  I felt no comfort now, knowing my own photos had likely been smashed and replaced in a similar fashion.  Maybe one day he’d see Nicole for who she truly was, but what difference would it make? I could never forgive them, and the past couldn’t be undone  Too tired to clean up, Chase stepped over the chaos, lay down on the bed, and switched off the light.  With his elbow covering his eyes, I couldn’t see his expression, only the slight tremble of his shoulders as his voice pierced the quiet room. “Amanda…”  Standing by the window, I gazed out at the bustling city. Even at 3 am, traffic was constant, and the skyscrapers across the way blazed  with light.  How many people were lying awake, troubled by their thoughts tonight?  How many more peaceful nights could my family have? I’d be watching.  Chase only managed a few hours of sleep before the first light of dawn woke him. He opened his wardrobe to pick out clothed for the day, reaching instinctively for something light but ultimately opting for a dark suit.  He stepped out with determination. His first call was to his assistant. “Clear everything out of there.”  Mark was hesitant, as he knew the suite’s history well. “But those are Ms. Nicole’s things. She’ll be upset when she finds them gone the next time she’s here.”  Everyone knew how critical Nicole was to Chase, especially with her heart condition. Whenever she visited, people tiptoed around her like she was royalty  If she had a heart episode, who could bear that responsibility? Mark’s careful question only fueled Chase’s anger “Bang!” he slammed his coffee cup down. “She’s my sister, not my wife. Does her stuff belong in my bedroom?”  “Of course not, of course not: Mark nodded, quickly mopping up the spilled coffee.  1 I felta pang of sympathy for him. This was all on Chase Without his go–ahead, Nicole wouldn’t have dared to take such liberties. Now, he was blaming others for his actions–what nerve!  12:00  Chapter 75  For the sake of his job, Mark didn’t dare speak up. After tidying up, he headed to the suite to find a heap of Nicole’s things on the  Everything was there, from toiletries to clothes Mark had to double–check, “Mr. Reyes, should I dispose of everything?”  “All of it!” Chase replied through gritted teeth.  “Alright.”  “Wait, after you clear this out, put my wife’s things back.”  Mark hesitated, “But, Mr. Reyes…  “What now?”  “Ms. Nicole broke your and your wife’s framed photo. I thought of keeping the photo, but she told me not to bother since there were plenty more, so I threw it away. As for your wife’s clothes, Ms. Nicole deemed them outdated and had me discard them too.”  Chase exploded, “How dare she!”  L