When He Chose His Young Secretary, She Moved On Without Loving Him

[Keiran, let’s break up.]

Claudette Williams’s message hung in the air, heavy and unacknowledged, like the cold dishes on the table before her. No matter how many times they were reheated, the taste was long gone.

She glanced at the clock; midnight had come and gone. With a sigh, she rose, sweeping the untouched food into the trash.

Just as Claudette finished tidying up, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the door.

When Keiran Harris finally entered and saw her still sitting in the dimly lit living room, he stopped, surprised. "Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

As always, the first thing he did was reach out, pulling her into his arms. "You said you’d be back for dinner, so I made a whole table of food waiting for you!"

A faint smile traced Claudette's lips as she spoke, calm as ever, though a subtle distance lingered in her gaze, a new, unspoken wall between them.

Keiran wrapped her in his arms, his apologies pouring out in a flurry. "It’s all my fault. Go ahead, punish me if that’ll help. Tonight’s client was crucial, a lastminute meeting I couldn’t turn down. I promise I’ll make it up to you tomorrow. Look, I even brought you a gift, Love’s latest masterpiece, crafted just for you."

Claudette didn’t turn down Keiran's gift; after all, she could sell it for cash once she left. Yet her expression was different now, missing its usual warmth.

She couldn’t quite place when Keiran had become so adept at lying, his words flowing without a single hesitation. His “important client” was nothing more than that freshfaced intern he’d recently hired with suspicious enthusiasm.

“Oh, really?” she replied, her voice tinged with sarcasm. “Your client must be quite inconsiderate, choosing tonight of all nights to meet with you, almost as if to spite me.”

Keiran didn’t skip a beat. “Exactly, ruining my date with you. Next time, I’ll file a complaint with their boss!”

Claudette watched Keiran’s face, searching for any flicker of guilt, but there was none. Either he’d perfected the art of hiding his emotions in his highpowered position, or he was simply a master of deceit.

“Alright, I’ll take a shower first, then I’ll come to bed with my darling,” he murmured, giving her a suggestive grin.

Claudette smiled, giving a small wave to send him off. But as his back turned, her smile faded, vanishing into the silence of the room.

There was a time when hearing Keiran call her "darling" would have wrapped her heart in warmth. She used to melt at the way he’d say “Claude” in that deep, irresistible voice of his. But now, the very sound of it churned her stomach.

The moment Keiran stepped into the shower, Claudette slipped her hand into his coat pocket, pulling out his other phone.

She’d told herself she wouldn’t look, but the temptation was too strong. Her fingers betrayed her, opening the chat with his pinned contact, his socalled “beloved.”

[Do you like it?]

The words lingered, paired with a seductive photo of Corinne Clark, young, stunning, and radiating a vibrancy that made Claudette’s twentyeightyearold self feel like a distant shadow.

[My little temptress, always finding new ways to drive me wild.]

[If I didn’t, you’d just run back to that old woman.]

[Corinne, watch your mouth.]

Should Claudette have felt relieved that she still held a place in Keiran’s mind? Or did that thought only deepen the ache?

[It doesn’t matter. You’re mine—now and always.]

[Yes, yes, my queen. Just for you, all yours.]

Reading Keiran’s tender words felt like a dagger twisting in Claudette’s chest.

Claudette thought back; it had been over two months since Keiran had last reached for her.

Once, she had slipped into his embrace, draped in her favorite dress, hoping to reignite the spark. But he’d only brushed her off with a tired smile. “I’m exhausted; let’s just rest tonight.”

She’d sympathized, chalking it up to long hours, only to realize later that his energy had already been spent on someone else.

Claudette thought her heart had gone numb, but the slow, searing ache reminded her that it still hurt deeply.

She brushed the tears from her eyes, slipping his phone back where it belonged without waiting for him to see. She knew it was time to let go.

Her mind drifted to the first time she’d met Keiran in a dim alley near the university gates. He stood there, surrounded by a few others, his face a mask of calm, fearless, as though this was all too familiar to him.

Right before the fight could erupt, Claudette intervened, her tone cutting through the tension. “What are you all doing? The police are already on their way.” At that, they scattered, not daring to linger.

Keiran turned to go, but Claudette took his arm and led him to the convenience store. Gently, she tended to his wounds, the faint bruises lending an unexpected edge to his soft features as she placed each bandaid with care. They had no reason to connect before, but after that night, it seemed fate had other plans. She’d catch sight of him daily and soon learned he was a freshman, three years younger than her.

Keiran was always alone, solitary, and distant, which struck her as lonely. So, each morning, she’d offer him her breakfast, a small gesture of kindness. Soon enough, he grew to expect it, waiting by the lecture hall doors every morning, watching for Claudette’s familiar smile.

It wasn’t long before he took his turn, bringing breakfast and waiting patiently each day. Slowly, an unspoken connection grew between them, woven from shared silences and lingering glances.

This quiet routine stretched on for months until Claudette finished her project and prepared to leave campus. She could see that Keiran had grown attached to her, maybe because he didn’t have anyone else close.

Once she graduated, Claudette returned home, taking charge of her parents’ small company.

Whenever Keiran had the time, he would wait for her downstairs, and before long, her office became his quiet retreat. But everything changed with one single spark: the arrival of a bouquet of 99 roses from an admirer.

Keiran’s fury was unmistakable, and though Claudette suspected the cause, she hesitated to confront him, not wanting to shatter the delicate balance they had built.

That night, in the stillness of the office, the tension between them finally snapped. Keiran’s emotions spilled over, his voice low and intense as he pulled her close, confessing that in her arms, he found the warmth he had been craving, true warmth that made him feel, for the first time, that he truly had her.

Claudette had once believed Keiran’s words were a promise of love, but now, with the distance between them, it all seemed like the youthful, empty declarations of a boy.

He had found that same warmth elsewhere, leaving her behind as though she had never been needed.

The year Keiran graduated, Claudette threw herself into the world of networking, attending endless meetings and drinking until dawn to help him secure a position within Harris Corporation.

To her surprise, it took him only a year to rise to the top, and in the next two years, he had transformed the company into something far more powerful than she had ever imagined.

What Claudette had once seen as a "poor soul" now revealed itself as a predator, a wolf lurking quietly in the shadows.

Her eyes lingered on the photo in her hand as disbelief crept over her. If she hadn’t accidentally discovered Keiran’s second phone and seen a message from someone named “Beloved,” she might never have known the truth.

A bitter chuckle escaped her, the irony sharp. Seven years of her youth were given to Keiran, yet never once had he considered her his “beloved.”

With a sigh, she shook her head, pulling herself back from the edge of these painful thoughts.

She gathered every photograph they had shared, carefully placing them in a box. It was time to let go, everything that belonged to her had to be cleared out. She was leaving, and she wanted to do so without leaving a trace.

At the office, Claudette handed over her responsibilities, her voice steady as she gave instructions to transfer the funds to her designated account.

“President, are you really leaving us?”

Claudette replied, “Don’t worry. The contract’s clear: if you don’t make any mistakes and don’t leave of your own accord, you’ll be fine. You’ll keep your job.”

Claudette left everything behind, even the gifts Keiran had once given her. Her assistant looked at her, confused. She had always held onto those things as if they were treasures. “Just throw them out. People change. What’s the point of holding onto the past?”

The assistant gave a slight nod, understanding without further question, and said nothing more.

When Claudette finally arrived home, she found Keiran sitting there, smoking. The ashtray was heaping, an unspoken sign of how long he had been stewing in his own frustration. “Where were you? Why didn’t you answer my calls? Why didn’t you respond to my messages?”

Claudette lied, her voice slipping into a cool, practiced tone. “Sorry, I got caught up with things and missed your calls. Was there something urgent?”

Keiran sensed the shift in her demeanor, a subtle change that tugged at him, though he couldn’t pinpoint what was off. Claudette had never spoken to him with such a cold, distant edge before. “I was worried sick about you! Don’t just vanish like that again. You’re driving me insane.”

He moved to kiss her, but she instinctively pulled back. “Is it because I smell like smoke, Claude?”

In the past, whenever Keiran lit up, Claudette would always be quick to put out the cigarette, her voice laced with concern as she reminded him of its toll on his health.

But today, she only frowned, a fleeting, almost imperceptible gesture, and made no mention of his smoking. She didn’t mention the smoke at all, and the subtle distance in her demeanor unsettled him. “I’m sorry. I won’t smoke again. I was just... worried about you.”

Claudette’s lips curved into a faint, almost unreadable smile. “It’s fine. I was just lost in thought.”

“I’m going to take a shower."

That night, for the first time, Keiran didn’t reach for his second phone. Instead, he held Claudette tightly in his arms, his body trembling as if trying to find solace in her presence after the coldness she had shown him earlier.

If she hadn’t discovered his messages with another woman, she might have believed the warmth in his embrace, might have convinced herself that he truly loved her.

But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe he never did. Perhaps it had all been a fantasy, an illusion woven from her own hopes.

Keiran pressed her beneath him, his movements frantic, as though he needed to reclaim something, anything, from their bond. But Claudette pulled away, avoiding his touch, her voice soft but firm. “My period... I’m not feeling well.”

Keiran didn’t say a word, merely pulling her into his embrace, his hand resting lightly on her stomach. Claudette’s tears fell quietly, a river of sorrow she could no longer contain.

Once, he had been her constant caretaker, watching over her with gentle care during her cycle, his every thought consumed with ensuring she was comfortable. But now, his touch felt distant, his concern replaced with something colder, something she couldn’t quite name.

Keiran used to know Claudette’s cycle like the back of his hand, always reminding her before it began to avoid cold foods and drink hot water.

But tonight, when she dropped a casual hint, he didn’t seem to notice that her timing was off.

It was only a matter of time before the truth unraveled. Keiran’s secretary, Corinne, sent her a request on WhatsApp.

Claudette’s heart skipped as she accepted it, her curiosity tinged with dread as she tapped into Corinne’s moments feed, updated only seconds ago.

[It’s so annoying. I wanted something cold to drink, but he insists it’s my period and won’t let me have anything but hot water,] the post read, accompanied by a candid photo of Keiran carefully selecting menstrual products.

A sharp pang gripped Claudette’s heart; a sudden sting stole her breath. When she finally steadied herself, she realized her eyes were wet. It wasn’t that Keiran had forgotten her cycle; he had simply memorized someone else’s.

[Ms. Williams, don’t you think it’s inappropriate at your age to hold on to Keiran, guilttripping him into staying with you?]

[Guilttripping?] Claudette typed back, bewildered.

[Keiran told me that since you helped him in the past, he feels obligated to stay with you, even though he wants to move on.]

It felt like something shattered within her, a deep fracture in her heart, breaking something she hadn’t realized was so fragile.

Claudette let out a hollow laugh, tears streaming down her cheeks. So, in Keiran’s heart, their relationship had been nothing more than a sense of duty. In that instant, any lingering attachment dissolved.

She left Corinne’s messages unanswered, yet Corinne continued, proudly detailing the ways Keiran spoiled her. Claudette’s heart shifted from sorrow to tears, and finally, a strange calm settled over her. Everything Keiran once did for her, he now did for Corinne.

That evening, Keiran casually mentioned a business trip to the capital for a few days. Claudette simply nodded, not questioning him. While he was in the shower, she reached for his coat pocket, unable to resist glancing through their messages.

[You promised you’d spend tonight with me.]

[I told you I’d take you to Ice World, didn’t I? Just be patient, alright? I need to keep things quiet over here; otherwise, how am I supposed to slip away with my little temptress?]

In Keiran’s eyes, it seemed Claudette was nothing more than an inconvenience, a barrier between him and his desires.

[Then don’t touch her,] came the response.

[I haven’t touched her. I’m practically drained dry from you; I’ve got nothing left.]

Perhaps because she had already released her hold on him, the messages didn’t stir anything in Claudette. She calmly placed the phone back where she had found it.

As Keiran stepped out of the bathroom, his coat buzzed from across the room. His other phone, however, lay in plain sight beside Claudette on the nightstand. He shot her a sheepish glance. “That’s my work phone. I’ll handle it, and then I’m all yours, okay?”

“Take your time,” Claudette replied, her voice steady. “Work comes first.”

She stood just outside the study, her ear pressed against the door, listening to his soft murmurs as he spoke to the woman on the other end.

“Be good. Get some rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

When Keiran finally returned, Claudette couldn’t stop herself from asking one last question.

“Keiran, I want to go to the capital with you. I’ve always wanted to see the snow. For someone from the south, snow feels like an irresistible temptation.”

Keiran quickly masked the flicker of guilt that flashed across his face, his smile almost too perfect.

“My sweet, understanding wife, how about we save that for next time? This trip is crucial, and I may not even have time for a break. I’d feel terrible if I couldn’t spend more time with you.”

Claudette looked at him, the man who always wore that innocent expression just for her, and she chose not to press him further.

“All right.”

She saw the relief on Keiran’s face as though a heavy load had been lifted from his shoulders. It was no wonder they said that when one person starts to tire in a relationship, it’s often a sign that it’s time to let go. To Keiran, Claudette had become nothing more than an obligation.

His heart was already claimed by the fresh, youthful college girl, someone full of promise, not someone like her, who was nearing thirty.

After Keiran left, Claudette glanced at the time, realizing she had less than two weeks. She packed up her belongings with a quiet finality and sent them off to the place where they would no longer belong to her.

Then, she gathered all the jewelry Keiran had given her and exchanged it for cash; after all, she deserved that much. During the seven years of her youth, taking those things felt like the least she could do.

With everything in place, Claudette grabbed only her phone, bank card, and ID and bought a oneway ticket to Lexington Bay. When she landed, she splurged on an outfit that would transform her. If Keiran had seen her now, he wouldn't have recognized her even if she had stood right before him.

Amid the busy streets, she felt like a stranger, out of place in a world that didn’t belong to her. She wandered through the crowd, snapping photos with her phone. Who knew if she’d ever get another chance to visit? She wouldn’t let this trip go to waste.

The familiar name sliced through the air, and she turned her head without thinking. “Keiran, come on, come hold me!”

Keiran gently lifted Corinne onto the ice sculpture, taking his time to photograph her in different poses, each one more radiant than the last. Almost as if in a daze, Claudette pulled out her phone and captured the scene, her finger trembling slightly as she pressed the shutter.

Back then, she had begged Keiran to take just a few pictures with her at an amusement park. Those photos had been her treasures, proof of the love she once thought was endless.

Now, watching this scene unfold, Claudette felt a stab of bitter realization, how foolish she had been. She had come all this way only to watch them flaunt their love so effortlessly, each moment another cruel layer of her heart breaking.

She uploaded the Ice World photos to her Facebook feed, leaving them captionless, just a few pictures to speak for themselves. The effect on Keiran and Corinne was immediate.

[You shameless woman! Following us around, do you think this will win Keiran back?] Corinne’s message practically vibrated with rage.

Just below it, Keiran’s texts appeared, his tone starkly different, carrying a tense urgency.

[Did you go to Lexington Bay?]

[Why didn’t you tell me?]

[Where are you? Why aren’t you answering my calls?]

Claudette watched her phone light up with each call and each message. She simply let it ring, her fingers resting still, refusing to respond.

Corinne fumed, her anger simmering beneath the surface, but she didn’t dare to let it spill out. Then, Keiran’s sudden announcement made her freeze.

“Pack up, we’re heading back,” he said, his tone firm.

“What? We’ve only been here two days! I haven’t even begun to enjoy myself. There’s so much we haven’t done. I’m not going back.”

Corinne thought her tantrum might soften his stance and that he would relent as he always did. But this time, Keiran’s gaze held steady, unbending.

“Fine. If you don’t want to go back, then we’re done. Don’t contact me again.”

But Corinne wasn’t about to let Keiran slip through her fingers. He was her gateway to the life she’d always dreamed of. After reaching the airport, she fired off another message to Claudette.

[This is all your fault. If it weren’t for you, we’d still be enjoying ourselves. Why do you keep haunting us like a shadow? You’re not young anymore; shouldn’t you stay home instead of following us around?]

So, Keiran was still terrified of Claudette learning the truth. But if he feared her reaction so much, why had he betrayed her in the first place?

From the moment he boarded the plane until he touched down, he bombarded her with messages. Claudette couldn’t make sense of it. If he cared so much, how could he have cheated so casually? Did he love her? She wasn’t sure anymore. And yet, to say he didn’t love her felt off; everything about his anxious behavior screamed he feared being found out.

After all their years together, Claudette decided it was time to indulge herself for once. She ignored every call and every message and spent her days in Lexington Bay.

A figure stumbled toward her when she stepped inside, nearly knocking her off balance. Keiran, frantic and trembling, clung to her, breathing hard, murmuring her name the way he used to in their most intimate moments. A wave of nausea washed over her. She tried to break free, but he held on desperately, like a man searching for something he’d lost. When his fingers moved to unbutton her shirt, she shoved him back with all her strength.

He stared at her, eyes red and wide, frozen in disbelief. He looked worn, his stubbled face hollowed by dark circles and a clenched jaw. His hands trembled, balled into tight fists.

“What’s going on? Did something happen?” Claudette’s steady, cool voice only seemed to heighten his panic; she’d never spoken to him like this before.

“Are you upset with me? Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll take you, right? Please, don’t shut me out. I’ve been searching everywhere for you. You didn’t answer my calls, didn’t respond to my messages… You have no idea how worried I was,” he pleaded.

Claudette looked at the pitiful man in front of her, clinging to her like a lost child. She might have fallen for this act if she hadn’t seen the truth behind his facade.

“Oh, my apologies. After I posted on Facebook, I misplaced my phone. Someone found it and handed it to the hotel desk. When I got it back, I was rushing to make my flight. Besides, weren’t you busy with business? I figured I’d enjoy myself for once. I’m an adult; I can take care of myself.”

For days, Keiran hardly left Claudette’s side, skipping work entirely to stay close to her.

“Claudette, have you noticed anything missing around here?” he asked.

Following his eyes, Claudette shrugged. “I might’ve tossed a few things; they seemed pointless. Can’t quite remember.”

“True. Sometimes, the old things just lose their charm. It feels refreshing to replace them with something new.”

She had always seen Keiran as sentimental, but he was here craving change. So that was it, that was what led him to Corinne?

Claudette’s eyes fell on the calendar. Just five days left.

Keiran wrapped his arms around Claudette from behind, breaking her thoughts with his sudden warmth. “It’s been ages since we felt close like this. I miss it.”

Claudette instinctively shifted away, and at last, Keiran seemed to catch on. “Why have you been so distant lately, not even letting me near you? Have you met someone else?”

Seeing the accusation flash in his eyes, Claudette almost laughed. Here he was, the one betraying her, yet he dared to act like the wounded one.

“You’re reading too much into things. I’m just tired. Still haven’t quite adjusted after the trip.”

Keiran’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing, each alert followed by some flimsy excuse, a quick trip to his study, another urgent call.

Claudette watched him slip away each time, clearly messaging Corinne. “They’re planning a gettogether. I won’t be long.”

Feigning understanding, Claudette urged him on, watching as he left. The moment he was gone, she headed to the bathroom, scrubbing at her skin where his touch lingered, each swipe of the soap an attempt to erase the lingering ache.

As expected, he never returned. The next morning, his assistant’s call was all too familiar, saying he had too much to drink and stayed at a hotel, so she did not need to worry.

The next morning, Claudette opened her phone to a message from Corinne, complete with two photos. One captured Keiran cradling Corinne, a sickeningly tender moment. The other displayed a gleaming necklace, a gift from him to Corinne.

[See this, old woman? This necklace is Keiran’s way of apologizing to me. What’s the point in keeping him around when his heart’s clearly mine?]

Yet Claudette’s gaze lingered not on the woman in his arms but on that necklace, its emblem unmistakable. It was from the “Love” collection, the very line Keiran had chosen for his first gift to her back when he took over the family business.

Claudette had always admired the brand's designs, and to her, "Love" had symbolized everything their relationship stood for. Keiran had even bought the entire line, placing it under her name to ensure it was hers alone.

But now, the "Love" necklace hung around another woman’s neck, its significance shattered. What had once been her exclusive symbol of their love was now tainted. She had once intended to keep it as a reminder of their bond, but now, it seemed more like a bitter memory.

With a quiet resolve, she pulled out the custom pieces she had left, and without hesitation, sold them all.

The countdown had begun.

Three days left.

Lately, whenever Keiran returned home, it seemed that more and more of Claudette’s things were gone. The house, once filled with her presence, now only echoed with the things he had bought. Each day, his unease grew as if he could feel the emptiness creeping in around him.

Keiran had been anxious ever since Claudette had disappeared once before. He handed over his company responsibilities to avoid another repeat of that nightmare. He instructed his staff to leave him be unless absolutely necessary.

One quiet morning, the sound of clanging dishes echoed through the house. At first, Claudette thought there was an intruder, but when she entered the kitchen, she found Keiran cooking.

“You’re up! Breakfast’s nearly ready. Just sit tight for a minute; your royal meal will be served soon, courtesy of your knight in shining armor.”

“Thank you,” she replied.

Her simple words froze him in his tracks.

“What’s wrong?”

He shook his head and returned to his task, clearly lost in thought.

Perhaps it was guilt or some attempt to make amends. Still, Keiran surprised her later by taking her to an amusement park.

“Why are we here? Didn’t you once say only childish people come to places like this?”

Claudette remembered all too well the last time she had begged Keiran to visit the amusement park. He had looked at her with disdain, mocking the idea as something beneath him. He hadn’t even bothered to enjoy himself, and after a few quick photos, they had left.

Keiran’s smile was playful, almost mischievous. “I’ll always be a kid at heart when I’m with you, Claude. So, I think I’m more than qualified to bring you here.”

In response, Claudette caught Keiran's smile, offering only a faint curve of her lips. In the past, she would have been swept away by it, but now it barely touched her. Her nod was almost mechanical, as though she were going through the motions.

Keiran bought tickets and led her to the Ferris wheel, his hand guiding her like it had so many times before. As others screamed in delight, clutching their boyfriends in excitement, Claudette sat still, savoring the peaceful thrill of the height, her gaze fixed on the horizon. At the top, Keiran turned her face toward him, and their lips met in a strangely distant kiss.

Whispers floated through the air around them. People gazed at Keiran, amazed by how romantic he was compared to their own boyfriends.

“Claudette, I love you!”

But Claudette didn’t react as Keiran had hoped. He squeezed her hand tightly, attempting to play it off with a grin. “Aren’t you happy? You once told me that if two people kiss at the top of the Ferris wheel, they’ll be together forever.”

Claudette’s lips barely moved as she responded. “That’s just a fairy tale for kids. Don’t believe in it.”

Keiran wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “Are you upset because I haven’t been spending enough time with you? We’ll always be together, won’t we?”

Claudette remained silent, and Keiran grew increasingly anxious, his need for reassurance growing with every passing second. “Right?”

In an attempt to coax her into a response, he playfully nipped at her neck, his teasing tone laced with a hint of frustration. “Take off the last word.”

It was as if he couldn’t rest until she gave him that final “right?”

“Okay, yes.”

Only then did Keiran release her, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.

Countdown: The Last Day.

Today was Claudette's birthday, and Keiran had spared no expense in organizing a lavish celebration for her. The entire city knew that the CEO of Harris Corporation had an adored girlfriend, someone he had cherished for years, and women everywhere envied Claudette for it.

Keiran kept her by his side as if his grip on her would somehow prevent her from slipping away. But lately, he couldn’t ignore the coldness that had begun to creep between them. She seemed to show more warmth to a neighbor than to him, and the realization stirred a deep unease and fear within him.

Determined to prove to the world that they were the perfect couple, he seized this moment to solidify their image.

After the party, Claudette checked her phone. She found a series of angry messages from Corinne, each laced with mocking words and accusations that Keiran truly loved her instead.

For the first time, Claudette responded with a single line.

[If he loves you so much, then let him make it official. Have him let you stand by his side openly, like at today’s birthday party.]

Her words struck a chord with Corinne. [Just wait. I’ll show you who Keiran values more, me or you, and make you give up once and for all.]

As Claudette started to head upstairs, she caught sight of Keiran rushing down the stairs. She paused, knowing what had just happened; Corinne had messaged him.

“There’s something urgent at the office that I need to handle. I might be late; why don’t you go ahead and sleep, okay?”

“Keiran, I want you here. Didn’t you say you wanted that too?”

Claudette looked into his eyes, eyes she once believed were the purest, most beautiful, now shadowed by the filth of lies.

Keiran hadn’t expected her to respond that way, but he quickly made his choice. “Then wait for me. I’ll be back soon. I promise to make it up to you, Claude.”

He brushed past her without a second thought, oblivious to the deep disappointment in her eyes. Claudette nodded, but just as he turned to leave, she called out to him, her voice soft but firm. “Keiran, no matter what happens, always be honest with the one you love most. Don’t wait until it’s too late, and all you’re left with is regret. Nothing stings more than that.”

Keiran almost turned back, his unease growing with her cryptic words. But the persistent ringing of his phone urged him to keep moving. With a quick nod, he rushed into the elevator.

Claudette watched him leave, her heart turning to stone. The door closed, marking the end of their world together.

“Mr. Collins, be here in thirty minutes!”

Knowing Corinne would call Keiran away, Claudette had already made arrangements for someone to retrieve her last belongings. Before she left, she snapped her SIM card in two and tossed it into the trash by the door.

Goodbye, Keiran.

Goodbye to seven years, and I’ll never get back.

On her 28th birthday, Claudette made a silent wish: “Keiran, I’ll never love you again.”