Chapter 2: Leaving Without Looking Back

The familiar voice echoed behind me.

"Where's Penelope?"

Even after hearing Emil McLaren speak my name, I didn't turn around.

Not this time.

In my previous life, that single sentence would have made my heart race with hope.

I would have believed he was finally looking for me because he cared.

But now I knew better.

He wasn't searching for me out of concern.

He simply wanted to make sure I hadn't embarrassed him in front of his guests.

I tightened my grip around my handbag and continued walking toward the main road.

"Penelope!" Emily called after me.

"Wait!"

She hurried to catch up, breathing heavily.

"Something's wrong with you today."

"You didn't even cry."

I smiled faintly.

"Maybe I cried enough in another lifetime."

Emily frowned, clearly confused by my strange answer.

"What does that even mean?"

"Nothing."

"I'm just tired."

She looked at me carefully.

"Are you giving up on Emil?"

For years, everyone around me knew only one version of Penelope Hudson.

The girl who loved Emil McLaren more than herself.

The girl who followed him everywhere.

The girl who forgave every cruel word because she believed love required patience.

That girl had died in the sea.

"Yes," I answered quietly.

"I'm giving up."

Emily stared at me for several seconds.

"You can't be serious."

"You've loved him since we were children."

"You waited for him for over ten years."

"Exactly."

"And that's long enough."

Neither of us spoke for a while.

The evening wind carried faint laughter from the McLaren mansion.

Fireworks illuminated the sky as the birthday celebration officially began.

Everyone inside was celebrating.

Everyone except me.

But strangely...

I didn't feel lonely.

Instead, I felt lighter than I had in years.

"What will you do now?" Emily finally asked.

I unlocked my phone and showed her the acceptance email.

"Wanoki Island?" she read aloud.

"Volunteer Research Program?"

"You're leaving Bellamore?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"But your engagement with Emil..."

I smiled bitterly.

"There won't be one."

"Not anymore."

Emily looked genuinely worried.

"Have you told him?"

"No."

"Don't you think you should?"

I looked back toward the brightly lit mansion one last time.

"He won't care."

"And honestly..."

"I don't need his permission anymore."

Back inside the McLaren residence...

Emil stood beside the enormous birthday cake while guests applauded.

He wore an expensive black suit that made him look even more handsome than usual.

Countless women admired him.

Yet his expression remained unusually cold.

"Emil, make a wish!" one of his friends shouted.

He picked up the knife but didn't move.

"Was Penelope here?" he suddenly asked.

His friend nodded casually.

"Yeah."

"We sent her away like you asked."

"She didn't cause trouble?"

"No."

"She just... left."

Emil frowned slightly.

"That's all?"

"Pretty much."

"She didn't cry."

"Didn't beg."

"Didn't wait outside either."

Another friend laughed.

"Looks like she finally got the message."

For some reason, Emil felt a strange discomfort in his chest.

Something wasn't right.

Usually, Penelope would still be waiting somewhere outside the gates.

She always did.

She never gave up so easily.

"Forget her," another guest said.

"Sarah just arrived."

The atmosphere instantly changed.

A beautiful young woman entered the ballroom wearing an elegant champagne-colored dress.

Sarah Fuhrer.

The woman everyone believed Emil truly loved.

"Happy Birthday, Emil," she said with a warm smile.

She handed him a carefully wrapped gift.

"I hope I'm not late."

"You're right on time," Emil answered.

His friends immediately surrounded Sarah.

Everyone welcomed her enthusiastically.

Yet despite all the laughter around him...

Emil subconsciously glanced toward the entrance again.

For the first time in years...

Penelope wasn't there.

Meanwhile...

I returned to the small apartment I had rented for years.

Everything inside reminded me of Emil.

The bookshelf filled with novels he once recommended.

The framed photograph from our graduation.

The blue scarf I knitted for him but never had the courage to give away.

In my previous life, every object carried precious memories.

Now they felt like heavy chains.

I opened a large suitcase.

"Time to let go," I whispered.

One by one, I packed only what truly belonged to me.

Clothes.

Books.

Important documents.

Everything connected to Emil went into a cardboard box.

The photo albums.

Birthday gifts.

Letters I had never dared to send.

Even the tiny seashell he once picked up for me when we were children.

I sealed the box shut.

The next morning, I donated everything to a recycling center.

The elderly volunteer accepted the box with a smile.

"Are you sure, dear?"

"These look important."

"Not anymore."

For the first time in years...

My heart didn't ache as I walked away.

When I returned home, another message appeared on my phone.

It was from Mrs. McLaren.

"Penelope, come have dinner with us tonight."

"There's something important we need to discuss."

I knew exactly what it was.

In my previous life...

This dinner had ended with both families announcing our engagement.

Back then, I had cried tears of happiness.

Now...

I calmly typed my reply.

"I'm sorry."

"I won't be coming."

A few seconds later, my phone rang.

Mrs. McLaren herself was calling.

"Penelope?"

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes, Aunt Helen."

"Then why aren't you coming?"

"Because..."

I took a slow breath.

"I no longer wish to marry Emil."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Even through the phone, I could hear her breathing stop.

"Penelope..."

"Did Emil say something to you?"

"No."

"This decision has nothing to do with him."

"It has everything to do with me."

"I'm leaving Bellamore tomorrow."

"Leaving?"

"Where are you going?"

"Wanoki Island."

"I won't be coming back anytime soon."

"Child... don't make such an impulsive decision."

"I've thought about it carefully."

"Please take care of yourselves."

Before she could persuade me further, I politely ended the call.

Across the city...

Mrs. McLaren slowly lowered her phone.

Her expression was filled with disbelief.

"What's wrong?" Mr. McLaren asked.

She looked toward their son, who was sitting across the dining table.

"Penelope..."

"She said she doesn't want to marry you anymore."

The dining room instantly fell silent.

Emil slowly looked up.

"...What did you say?"