Chapter 1

1 Another fight with Mark, and I didn't bother to chase after him this time.

My friends tried to talk some sense into me.

"He's just stubborn, all bark and no bite."

"A difficult guy needs a patient lover."

But I was honestly tired. I didn't want to be the one to always back down.

Years of silent treatment, arguments, and avoidance had left me exhausted and confused.

Was he really just stubborn, or did he just not love me anymore?

......

So, when he threatened to break up with me again, I said, "Let's break up."

I said it.

Mark clearly froze.

But I just kept my head down and continued speaking.

"I'll pack my things and leave as soon as possible."

"We can forget about everything we bought together; you can keep it all."

"And the clothes you have at my place, please pick them up when you can."

"Or I can ship them to you…"

The only sound in the quiet room was my voice.

Mark's face shifted from gloomy to expressionless.

He suddenly interrupted me.

"What about Pudding? How do we split him?"

Pudding was a stray cat I'd found near my apartment complex.

I adopted him, covered all his expenses.

But he wasn't affectionate towards me; eight out of ten times, he wouldn't let me hold him.

He even scratched my wrists a few times.

Mark, on the other hand, was usually indifferent towards him, never bothering to care for him.

Yet Pudding would rub against Mark, purring and cuddling him.

"You can keep him."

I let out a breath.

Even if I loved him, this kind of preferential treatment was disheartening.

"Sarah,"

Mark said, his voice tight with anger, "You missed Valentine's Day, and now you're throwing a tantrum?"

But wasn't it Mark who brought up breaking up first?

Maybe he forgot.

After all, he always used the threat of breaking up. Since it worked on me, it became his go-to tactic.

"I told you, my flight was delayed, that's why I came home late."

Mark just scoffed.

"Excuse. Why didn't you book an earlier flight?"

I'd been working non-stop for over ten hours on that business trip.

I barely managed to catch the flight home that day.

But Mark wouldn't listen; he'd find a hundred more reasons to blame me.

So I fell silent, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.

Mark walked towards the door, then turned back, his tone cold.

"I won't come back until you admit you're wrong."

I said, "We're broken up."

But Mark didn't seem to hear me.

He tilted his head, continuing as if to himself.

"I'll give you another chance. My anger isn't just about you being late."

This was the first time he'd said something like this; usually, he just slammed the door.

Although his tone was still harsh.

"Think about it and come apologize to me."

I sat on the couch for a long time.

Then, dragging my weary body, I cleaned up the living room.

I even fished the Valentine's Day gift out of the trash can.

I'd run around dozens of stores overseas, carefully choosing that gift.

But the recipient hadn't even glanced at it, let alone cherished it.

So it was as worthless as the mess scattered on the floor.

After cleaning the living room, I went to my room to pack my things.

This was Mark's apartment.

The entire place was filled with traces of my presence.

The mugs, blankets, and dinnerware we'd chosen together…

I packed only a few clothes and grabbed my suitcase.

As I reached the door, a flash of yellow darted out.

As if trying to stop me, Pudding lay down in the middle of the living room, refusing to move.

His round eyes stared fixedly at me.

When I first found him, he was dirty and skinny, clearly malnourished.

Now his fur was fluffy and glossy; he looked adorable.

I crouched down, and this time, Pudding, unusually, didn't resist my touch.

I stroked his head.

"I'm leaving. He'll take care of you now."

Pudding probably liked this outcome.

After all, he always preferred Mark.

Unlike me, he never showed me any affection.

I gently removed Pudding's claws from my pants leg.

Ignoring his insistent meows, I picked up my suitcase and left.