Chapter 2

Jenson's phone rang from the coffee table. Its distinctive ringtone cut through the living room's silence. Estella hesitated before approaching it. But before she reached the table, a damp Jenson barreled past, shoving her aside. Her shin slammed against the table's sharp edge, the intense pain instantly bringing tears to her eyes. Jenson, however, didn't notice. He snatched his phone and disappeared into the bathroom.

Clenching her jaw, Estella limped to the couch. Barely settled, she heard his low, anxious voice from the bathroom, though he strained for calmness. "Don't be scared. Stay in your room and don't come out. I'm coming right now."

A bitter taste filled Estella's mouth. In their six years together, Jenson had always been composed. Yet tonight, he was frantic over a single phone call. In that moment, she realized his coldness wasn't natural; he simply didn't love her.

Jenson rushed out, his face tense. He passed her without a pause, merely saying, "Something came up at work. Don't wait up." He was gone. He failed to notice that the woman who once tended to his coat and urged him home early didn't even raise her head.

Estella sat for a long time. Only when the leg pain subsided did she stand and go to the bedroom. There, she began packing. The mugs he'd never used, the rings she'd handcrafted but never given him, the custom wedding ribbon, and her carefully written vows—one by one, she tossed them into a trash bag without a second thought.

Two hours later, half the room was empty. Just as Estella exhaled, her phone rang. Zoe's excited voice filled the speaker. "Estie! I'm on a business trip and just got fantastic news! Welcome to the team! I'll be back in a week, and we can go to Anebert together. But… didn't you say you were planning your wedding? Is your boyfriend okay with you going to Anebert?"

Estella paused. For six years, Jenson had kept their relationship so private that few knew they were together. Only three days ago, when Zoe had offered her a position at her new studio in Anebert, had Estella mentioned the wedding. And now, in a matter of days, everything had crumbled. Calmly, she replied, "It's fine. The wedding's canceled."

At that moment, Jenson entered, catching those three words. His eyes flickered with panic. "What do you mean, 'the wedding's canceled'?"

Startled, Estella turned to find him behind her. She composed herself and offered a fabricated excuse. "A friend had an emergency; they called off their wedding."

Jenson didn't question it. "Oh. By the way, didn't you say you wanted a couples' photoshoot for your birthday? The photographer called; they have an opening tomorrow."

Estella instinctively wanted to refuse, but before she could speak, Jenson's gaze fell on the now-bare dresser. His brows furrowed in confusion. "Estie, were you cleaning? Why does it feel like half your things are gone?"

Estella nodded casually. "Yeah. I wasn't using any of it, so I got rid of it. No point keeping things that take up space."

For some reason, Jenson felt a strange unease settle in his chest.