Chapter 4

After returning home from Adrian's, I became strangely calm.

No more tears, no more breakdowns, no more emotional turbulence.

Like a pool of stagnant water.

Julian hadn't come back yet. He must still be at the Little Tree Hollow with Nina and the children.

I checked the time. A few more hours.

That was enough.

I opened the closet and looked at those shirts.

Twenty-three of them, each sewn by my own hands. I remembered every stitch, every thread. I remembered the care I took selecting fabric for him, the sweetness of staying up late to finish them.

I'd thought these shirts bore witness to our love.

But now I knew—they only witnessed my one-sided devotion.

I took out scissors and cut them up, one by one.

The sound of tearing fabric filled the quiet room, crisp and resolute.

No heartache, no reluctance.

Only the lightness of liberation.

After shredding the shirts, I opened my jewelry box.

The pieces were all expensive—gifts from Julian over the years. Each one had once brought me joy, made me feel treasured.

But now I knew Nina had identical copies.

I called Hannah. "Help me donate these jewels to charity."

"All of them?" Hannah sounded surprised.

"All of them," I said. "Come get them right away."

Then the photos.

I brought out all the albums, flipping through them one by one.

Our first date, him nervously holding my hand.

Our first kiss under the moonlight at the Little Tree Hollow.

The day he proposed, kneeling on one knee, eyes full of sincerity.

At the marking ceremony, biting into my gland, swearing eternal loyalty.

Every photo had once been a cherished memory.

But now they all served as evidence of lies.

I tore the photos out one by one and threw them into the fireplace.

Flames licked at those memories, turning them to ash.

Three years of marriage, burned to nothing.

Hannah arrived quickly and took the jewelry. She looked at the shredded fabric and ashes littering the floor, wanting to speak but holding back.

"Is tomorrow's flight ready?" I asked.

"It's ready," she said. "Departing at 3 PM."

"Good." I nodded.

After Hannah left, I cleaned up the room, tossing all the fabric scraps into garbage bags.

Then I sat on the couch, waiting for tomorrow to come.

At eight that evening, Julian came home.

He looked to be in a good mood, a smile still on his face.

"Baby, you're home." He came over to hug me. "I thought you'd gone out."

"No." I smiled gently. "I've been home waiting for you."

"Sorry I'm back so late." He kissed my forehead. "Work kept me until now."

Work.

He was still lying. But I didn't care anymore.

"You must be tired. I'll heat up dinner for you." I stood.

"No, no, I already ate out." He pulled me back. "Just sit with me for a while."

We sat on the couch.

"Julian," I said softly, "I need to go out tomorrow."

"Where?" He immediately became alert.

"I have some things to handle—" I'd barely begun when his phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, his expression shifting slightly.

It was Nina.

"I need to take this." He stood and walked to the balcony.

I sat on the couch, hearing him lower his voice.

"Mm... I know... okay... I'll come over tomorrow..."

He hung up and returned, looking somewhat weary.

"Sorry, work." He said. "What were you saying? You're going out tomorrow?"

"Yes, some personal matters to handle," I said.

He opened his mouth as if to ask something, but stopped. Perhaps Nina's call had distracted him, or perhaps his guilty conscience held him back.

"Well... alright then." He finally said. "How long will you be gone?"

"I'll be back the day after tomorrow," I said. "Just in time for our marking ceremony anniversary."

Hearing "anniversary," his expression relaxed into a smile. "That's perfect. I've already arranged the celebration. We'll celebrate together when you get back."

"Mm." I nodded.

That night, I slept soundly.

Because I knew everything would soon be over.

...

The next morning, Julian got up early.

"I'll drive you to the airport," he said.

"No need." I shook my head. "Don't you have to go to the office? Don't trouble yourself."

"Taking you isn't trouble." He insisted. "You're the most important person to me."

"Julian." I looked at him. "I'll be back the day after tomorrow. You don't need to be so nervous."

"But—"

"Didn't you say last night that the company had a lot to deal with?" I interrupted. "I can go myself. Besides, I want some time alone."

He paused, finally compromising. "Alright. But call me anytime."

"Okay." I nodded.

He dressed and prepared to leave.

"The day after tomorrow, our anniversary." He hugged me. "I'll wait for you to come back."

"Mm." I said softly. "I'll be back."

He kissed my forehead and turned to leave.

I stood by the window, watching his car drive out of the complex.

Then I returned to the bedroom and took out that document folder from the drawer.

Inside was the abortion certificate, screenshots from those provocative videos Nina had sent me, Julian and Nina's chat records, the twins' DNA report.

All the evidence, neatly arranged inside.

I attached an elegant greeting card to the outside of the folder:

"Happy Marking Ceremony Anniversary.

This is my gift to you.

I hope you like it.

—Lydia"

I placed the folder into a gift box and tied it with a ribbon.

Then I walked into the study and set it on the desk.

In the most visible spot.

Today, tomorrow, or on our anniversary—whenever he opened this gift, he would understand everything.

I removed the Moon Goddess protection amulet from around my neck and placed it beside the gift box.

This supposedly "one-of-a-kind" talisman no longer held any meaning for me.

Having done all this, I left home with a simple suitcase.

Hannah's car was already waiting downstairs.

"Is everything ready?" she asked.

"Yes." I nodded. "Let's begin."

The car headed toward the airport.

I looked out the window at this city.

This place had once been my home, holding three years of marriage, three years of lies.

Now I was leaving.

In the form of death.

"The plane will send out a distress signal at the scheduled time," Hannah said. "Your new identity is ready too. Someone will meet you when you arrive."

"Thank you, Hannah," I said.

"Don't mention it." She squeezed my hand. "You deserve a better life."

At the airport, I got out of the car.

"Take care," Hannah said.

"You too."

I turned and walked toward the boarding gate.

As the plane took off, I looked through the window at the city below growing smaller and smaller.

I thought of those intimate videos Nina had sent.

I thought of Julian's smile at the twins' birthday party.

I thought of Julian saying he would "compensate" me.

Now I would give him something he could never have.

That was—my departure.

Complete, uncompromising departure.

This was my final "gift" to him.

And my redemption for myself.

The plane traveled through the clouds.

The sky was blue, the clouds white.

The colors of freedom.

I closed my eyes, a slight smile forming on my lips.

Goodbye, Julian.

Goodbye, Lydia Wright.

From now on, I am only myself.