Chapter 1

I had been married to Quentin for three years.

In all that time, he never spent a single anniversary with me.

Instead, he traveled to over a hundred countries with his childhood sweetheart, Skylar.

On my birthday, he ditched me again. "I have to go on a seven-day business trip. Be a good girl and wait for me to come back," he said.

I watched his retreating back in silence, knowing exactly where he was headed. He was going to spend those seven days in the arms of his first love.

He was certain I would just take it. He thought I was too soft to ever fight back.

But this time, he didn't know the truth.

By the time he returned, I would already be on a plane, flying toward a new life.

1

Two months ago, I practically begged Quentin to give me a unique surprise for my birthday this year. He nodded and promised he would.

I spent weeks full of anticipation.

But when he walked out of the bedroom trailing a suitcase, he said the same thing he said every year. "I ordered a yellow sapphire necklace for you. I won't be here for your birthday."

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest.

He didn't even notice my expression as he walked into the living room.

I looked around the house I had worked so hard to build. I had picked out every piece of furniture to make it feel like a home.

But Quentin was never satisfied. He was always praising Skylar's taste over mine.

Once, I wanted to hang our wedding photo on the living room wall. He refused. He said the painting Skylar sent was a better fit for that spot.

The memory twisted like a knife in my gut. I could only lower my head and swallow the bitterness.

Seeing my silence, he took my hand gently. "Hey, I'll make it up to you when I get back, okay?"

I had heard those words so many times they had lost all meaning. My eyes burned with unshed tears.

I looked him straight in the eye, one last spark of hope in my voice. "Can't you just stay for this one birthday?"

He snapped his hand away, his face darkening with annoyance. "Why are you being so difficult lately? I'm busy with work. Do you expect me to drop everything and revolve my life around you?"

"Would you be happy if we ended up broke because I stayed home?"

"Just wear the necklace I bought you to your party. I'll be gone for seven days. Just wait for me."

He started walking toward the door.

Then, as if remembering something, he turned back. "Oh, and remember to water the lilies in the garden."

Skylar had sent those lilies. I was deathly allergic to pollen, but he never cared enough to remember.

Every time I got near them, my nose would itch, I'd sneeze uncontrollably, and my skin would break out in hives. It was miserable.

Once, when I was sick and already weak, I lay on the sofa gasping for air as that thick scent filled the room. It felt like I was suffocating.

I waited until he got home and pleaded with him. "I'm really struggling right now. Can we move those flowers somewhere else?"

His brow furrowed instantly. He looked at me with nothing but cold impatience.

"It's just a few flowers. Why are you being so petty?"

"Skylar went out of her way to send those. Can't you just deal with it for once?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died in my throat.

He always chose Skylar. Always. Eventually, I just stopped expecting anything else.

Looking back at these three years, I realized I had prepared for every anniversary alone. Every birthday was spent in an empty house with a cold piece of jewelry.

To me, those necklaces weren't gifts. They were insults.

I had spent two months dreaming of a surprise―a sunrise at the beach or stargazing on a mountain.

I had even canceled my own party just to be with him. Now, all those dreams were shattered, leaving behind nothing but a hollow ache.

I watched him leave, knowing he was rushing to be with her.

I thought about the plane ticket I had booked for seven days from now.

A faint, tired smile touched my lips. I whispered to the man who abandoned me every year, "Goodbye, Quentin."