Maeve said nothing, simply packing her belongings into a suitcase. Then, she said to Bonnie, "Alright. Let's go." Bonnie, noticing Maeve's red-rimmed eyes, asked, "Are you really leaving? What about… here?"

"This isn't my home, in the first place," Maeve said with self-mockery. "I just… I thought this place would become my home someday. I had a dream that didn't belong to me for too long," she thought. "It's time to wake up." Bonnie quickly comforted her. "You can stay at my house as long as you want. My parents are frequently away." Maeve smiled. "Thank you, Bonnie."

The next day, Byron didn't go directly to the company after his hospital discharge. Instead, he asked the driver to turn around and go to the apartment. Upon entering, he noticed the living room was significantly emptier. The snacks, the rabbit-shaped pillow, the facial masks, and hand cream—usually scattered everywhere—were gone. Byron frowned, a sudden thought striking him. He went to the guest room.

The wardrobe was empty; not a single piece of clothing remained. Maeve has left, he thought. She's left without a trace, even taking the daisy bedding from the round bed.

Byron stood there, his blue eyes gloomy, a sneer playing on his lips. He thought, "She's learned how to leave home, hasn't she?"

He left the guest room, called Archer, and said, "Find out where Maeve is."

"Okay, Mr. McDaniel."

After hanging up, Byron went to the terrace. He squinted at the vegetables on the flower rack Maeve hadn't taken, then unplugged the water dispenser. Maeve didn't know her precious vegetables would be neglected so soon.

She'd spent a day and night at Bonnie's, when she received a call from a college classmate about a class reunion at a hotel. She'd been close to many classmates, but her relationship with them had faded since she started dating Jeff. Hoping to reconnect, she attended. Almost everyone was already there, including Maura, who had tripped her at the restaurant. Maura had brought her new boyfriend.

"Oh, look who's here," Maura said. "It's our Maevelicious!"

"It's not easy to see you, Maevelicious. You were the only one missing last year."

"You weren't absent this year, but why no boyfriend? If you've broken up, I call dibs!"

The others joked and whistled. "Maevelicious" was a nickname from their school days, earned after her stunning performance of "She Walks in Beauty" at the freshman welcome party.

Maeve sat down, raised her juice, and said, "I'm sorry for missing last year's reunion. This juice is my apology."

"Our Maevelicious is as straightforward as ever," the class monitor, Evan Parker, said, clapping. "Of course, we forgive you." The others followed suit.

Maeve laughed.

"Do you need to flatter her so much?" Maura said, rolling her eyes. "It's pointless. She's married."

Evan looked at Maeve, nervous. "Maeve, you're married? When?"

Before Maeve could answer, Maura interjected, "Recently. I even saw her husband."

"Who's the lucky guy? What does he do? What's he like?" The classmates were curious.

"Is he the Graves Group heir she dated?"

"Wow!"

Maura laughed. "The Graves heir has good taste. He didn't marry her. Her husband's a driver. He's only passably good-looking, no designer labels, quite shabby." The room's atmosphere grew tense.

"Maeve, you're more than qualified to marry rich. Why a driver...?"

"It's not that I discriminate against drivers, but poor couples face many problems. Without money, every issue is magnified."

"You're a catch. Why such a bad choice?"

In the past, Maeve might have argued about occupational equality, but now… she found them amusing. She smiled slightly, saying nothing.

Maura, seeing her subdued demeanor, said, "Oh, I forgot to mention. My boyfriend's paying. Eat and drink freely." The expensively dressed man beside her nodded. "As long as everyone has fun."

Attention turned to them; applause followed.

"You two are generous."

"We won't hold back then."

"This isn't cheap. Tens of thousands a night. Maura, can your boyfriend afford it?"

Maura looked proud. "He's the general manager of Roche Electronics. A small amount for him, unlike some drivers."

The room cheered, ignoring the implication. Seeing some of her former friends cheering, Maeve gave up on reconnecting. Evan comforted her. "Maura just speaks her mind. Ignore her."

Maeve smiled faintly. "I didn't take it to heart. Thank you." Evan blushed and turned away.

Maura rolled her eyes, thinking, She's married and still trying to seduce Evan. Despicable!

Mid-meal, Maeve, feeling tipsy, went to the restroom. She overheard voices inside.

"Lily, weren't you and Maeve close? Why didn't you talk to her?"

Lily looked disdainful. "Oh please. She's selfish, only cares about climbing the social ladder and marrying rich. When we asked her to introduce us to her ex-boyfriend's circle, she refused."

"I know, right? It's not like we were competing for a boyfriend. We just wanted to meet rich guys. Did she need to act like we were thieves?"

"She's bad at reading the room, which is why the Graves heir dumped her." "Serves her right. Being with a driver suits her."

Laughter followed. Maeve's heart ached at their words. The speakers were Lily Carter and Zoe Jackson, former dorm mates and friends.

Maeve thought, They did ask, but I refused because I wasn't even close to Jeff's circle. He treated me like an ornament, controlling my friends and messages, never introducing me to anyone. It's hard to talk about, so I never told them. They see it this way...

She lowered her gaze, opened the restroom door, and said, "You guys seem to be having a great time." The time stamp "08:13 Mon, Oc" was incomplete and removed.