Chapter 9

When Simone woke up, Tom and Belinda were already downstairs having breakfast.

The moment Tom saw her come down, he quickly pulled out a chair for her and handed her a bowl of porridge that had already cooled to room temperature. Watching her eat calmly, guilt flickered across his face.

“Simone, something urgent came up at work, and I need to leave for a business trip. If there’s anything concerning the wedding, just coordinate with the planner. I’ll wrap everything up as quickly as I can and be back soon. After the wedding, I promise to spend an entire week with you. Wherever you want to go for the honeymoon, I’ll be there with you.”

Simone already knew from the night before that this wasn’t about work. He was leaving to spend time with Belinda. But she no longer cared about his whereabouts. She gave him a faint nod.

Before Tom walked out the door, she called out to him one last time.

“Tom.”

He paused, then smiled indulgently, ruffling her hair.

“Simone, you’re going to miss me, aren’t you? I’m only gone for a few days. Soon, we’ll be married, and you’ll see me every day.”

Outside, Belinda’s voice called for him. Tom kissed Simone on the cheek and hurried out the door.

She watched him leave. This would be the last time she ever saw him.

Not long after Tom and Belinda left, Simone received a message from Belinda.

“Miss Watson, you saw everything last night, didn’t you? I’m surprised you can tolerate so much.”

“Tom has already promised to spend the next few days with me. Imagine that—your fiancé staying by another woman’s side right before the wedding. You really are the saddest bride in the world.”

“Today, we’re going to pick out a new house. Tom says we’ll live there together. Haha, you’re welcome to visit anytime, Miss Watson.”

Simone didn’t reply. Instead, she instructed the house staff to gather all her belongings from the villa, including the photos of her and Tom, and pile them in the backyard.

One of the staff hesitated as they held up the framed wedding photos.

“Miss Watson, should we include these as well?”

Simone’s gaze fell on the massive wedding portrait hanging in the center of the living room. In the photo, she was looking directly at the camera, while Tom’s eyes were fixed on her, brimming with what seemed like love.

What had once looked like a picture of bliss now felt like a cruel joke.

She nodded and directed them to take it down.

When all the photos and belongings were gathered, she lit a fire.

She stood there quietly, watching five years of memories go up in flames, bit by bit, until nothing remained but ashes.

With the last ember extinguished, so too were the feelings she had carried for five years.

There were two days left before her departure.

Belinda sent another message, this time with a photo of a pregnancy test result.

“Wow, what a surprise! Turns out I’m pregnant! This will be Tom’s first child, and he’s thrilled. He even said he’s going to allocate some of his shares to the baby.”

“But we might’ve overdone it last night. The doctor said I need bed rest because of some bleeding. Tom was so worried he personally made soup and fed it to me. I’m just so happy. You’re happy for me too, right, Miss Watson?”

Simone still didn’t reply. Instead, she picked up her wedding dress from the boutique and, with a pair of scissors, began cutting it into shreds, piece by piece.

This dress, once created for her, no longer held any meaning.

On the day she was set to leave, Belinda sent yet another message, this time with a photo of her hand adorned with a large diamond engagement ring.

“Tom proposed to me! He promised me a grand wedding and said he’d never let me or the baby suffer.”

“Miss Watson, you should learn to step aside gracefully. Tom doesn’t love you anymore.”

This time, Simone replied.

“Wishing you all the best in realizing your dreams.”

After sending the message, she accessed the villa’s surveillance recordings. Tom had brought Belinda there more than once, seeking thrills in her home. There were plenty of moments captured on camera, especially in the living room.

She saved the footage and sent it to the wedding planner.

“This is the surprise I want to give Tom on our wedding day. Make sure it’s played in front of everyone. Keep it a secret.”

The planner quickly agreed to her request.

Once the arrangements were finalized, Simone received a video call from Tom.

His expression carried a hint of guilt.

“Simone, the work here isn’t finished yet. I won’t make it back until tomorrow morning. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely be there before the wedding.”

She chuckled softly.

“Alright. I’ve prepared a surprise for you at the wedding.”

Tom’s face lit up with excitement.

“My sweet girl, what kind of surprise? I can’t wait!”

“Simone, I’ve been waiting for five years to marry you. Tomorrow, you’ll finally be my wife. I’m so happy—”

His words were abruptly cut off. His body froze for a moment, and he let out an involuntary gasp.

Simone’s eyes filled with scorn.

“Tom, I hope you’ll enjoy the surprise.”

Before he could respond, she ended the call and stepped out of the villa.

The car arranged by the agency to help her fake her death was already waiting at the door.

At the airport, she tapped a few words into her phone before handing it to the staff.

“Make sure this phone is placed next to the body and delivered to the groom tomorrow. Tell him I died at six o’clock in the evening. I’ve left some final words for him on the phone.”

Six o’clock was the time she had ended the video call.

She wanted Tom to believe that while he was indulging in passion with Belinda, she had taken her own life out of despair.

The staff nodded and took the phone, handing her a new ID and plane ticket in return.

“Miss Aurora, we’ll erase all traces of your journey. Wishing you safe travels and a happy life ahead.”

Aurora. That was the name she had chosen for herself.

It symbolized a farewell to her past and the dawn of a new beginning.

From this day forward, her life would embark on an entirely new journey.