Chapter 2

2

My phone vibrated on the nightstand.

It was a message from Elena, a senior colleague currently in Italy.

"Liam, your work just won the International Sculpture Design Award. Are you sure you won't reconsider moving abroad?"

"I really want you to join me as a partner. It's a crime to let your talent waste away!"

I replied: "Elena, I'll fly to Italy as soon as I wrap things up here."

"Don't worry. I won't break my promise this time."

Six months ago, Elena mentioned a month-long international competition in Italy.

She encouraged me to try.

I discussed it with Vanessa and went.

After submitting my work, I initially turned down Elena's offer to join her studio.

I booked the earliest flight home.

I made up excuses, saying I missed home or couldn't get used to the lifestyle.

But the truth was, I just couldn't bear to be away from Vanessa.

I was only gone for a month, and she managed to land herself in the hospital by not taking care of herself.

In our ten years together, that was the longest we had ever been apart.

My friends always asked what kind of spell Vanessa had cast on me to make me revolve my entire life around her.

I would always smile and say, "She saved my life. I can never repay that debt."

The first time I met Vanessa was the darkest summer of my life.

I had been falsely accused of plagiarizing a project, and my career was over before it started.

I was in a dark room with a blade, ready to end it all to prove my innocence.

She was the one who grabbed the blade, her voice trembling as she said, "I believe you."

The blade sliced her hand that day, blood dripping everywhere.

I was terrified and dropped the knife immediately.

In the years that followed, I kissed that scar on her hand a thousand times in prayer.

She helped me find the person who framed me and cleared my name with the university.

Because of her, I could walk in the sun again.

From then on, we were inseparable.

I depended on her. I followed her for a decade.

I stayed by her side from her days as a broke student to her current position as CEO.

I never imagined that in the end, she would be the one to break her word. The love she promised me was being given to someone else.

Elena, worried I'd back out again, called me.

Before she could speak, I said, "Elena, I'll be reporting for duty in a week."

She went silent for a moment before saying, "Good. I'll be waiting for you."

A moment later, she texted: "Liam, there is a beautiful new world waiting for you."