Chapter 6: The Night I Walked Away

"It's just seventy thousand dollars. I'll give it to you. Seventy thousand or seven million, what does it matter?"

Gina grabbed her phone and threw it at me. I did not dodge and let it hit my cheekbone.

The wound the pin had left earlier that day started bleeding again.

Gina's pupils contracted. She moved toward me.

Meanwhile, I picked up the phone and transferred seventy thousand dollars to myself.

"Thanks."

Gina bit her lip, swayed, and collapsed onto the couch, curling into a ball with her brow furrowed. I knew she was sulking, but I did not want to comfort her.

I went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, put them away, and wiped down the counter until it was dry.

She must have thought I was making her something to help with the hangover. Eyes still closed, she murmured softly.

"Not too warm."

I smiled bitterly to myself, grabbed my suitcase, and left.

It turned out leaving for real was a quiet thing. I did not even make enough noise to wake someone who was tipsy.

I found a hotel at random and checked in.

Lincoln sent me a video to taunt me.

From a security camera angle, Lincoln was drowning his sorrows at a bar. Gina arrived right after and snatched the glass from his hand.

Gina was utterly humble. She knelt at his feet, begging him to put on the million-dollar Patek Philippe.

"Lincoln, I was wrong. At first, I was messing with you because of Nathan. But you're so upright and kind. You refused to accept anything I gave you. The first time you accepted a gift from me, my first reaction wasn't anger. It was happiness. Maybe I've been in love with you all along."

All the delays, all the reassurances, were just excuses for favoritism.

Lincoln was smug.

"Nathan, don't forget to tuck Gina in. And don't get too upset if she calls out my name in her sleep."

In the past, I would have lost my mind over this.

Now, I just replied, "Take care of your own girlfriend. The key's under the planter by the door."

I turned off my phone and slept soundly.

The next day, I arrived early at the airport to meet my future colleagues. Then I got a call from Gina.

"Why didn't you come to work today?"

I found it odd. Did she not know I had resigned?

I was about to speak when she muttered, "I got drunk yesterday. Why did you call Lincoln to take care of me? Does torturing yourself like some jealous fool make you happy?"

"Today's his birthday, but I won't let him steal the spotlight. I've decided to give you back your VP position first."

"Get to the office. I sent Claire to bring Anna from the hospital so she can be there with you."

"See? I'm thinking of you. We can do the wedding a bit later. I'll make it worth the wait."

I knew her well enough to recognize she was trying to give me an out. For her, this was practically generous.

"Gina, we're not married."

Gina made a small sound of acknowledgment. Her fingers curled the corner of a document, and her lips curved upward.

"I know you want to get the license before the wedding. I can agree to that. Want to go today?"

My tone was flat. "So there's no need for a wedding. We broke up a long time ago."

There was only silence on the other end.

Suddenly, Claire's voice broke through.

"Ms. Whitmore, something's wrong. Mr. Harper's sister—"

Gina frowned, waving her hand irritably. "Forget about bringing Anna. Cancel the VP appointment ceremony too. He's just throwing a tantrum over the breakup. Like I'm going to keep babying him forever."

Claire sounded panicked.

"That's not it, Ms. Whitmore. The hospital said that Mr. Harper's sister has already passed away, and he bought a plane ticket abroad."

For several seconds, I heard nothing but silence.

Then Gina's voice came back, sharp with disbelief.

"What do you mean she's passed away? Anna was supposed to be recovering. Nathan told me she was fine!"

I closed my eyes.

I had never told her Anna was fine. Gina had simply believed whatever made it easier for her to avoid taking responsibility.

"She needed emergency heart surgery," Claire replied shakily. "The hospital confirmed that the payment never arrived. Mr. Harper was there when she died."

I could almost picture Gina standing in her office, her expression changing as reality finally caught up with her.

"No," she whispered. "I promised him the money."

But a promise made too late was worth nothing to Anna.

Gina's breathing became uneven. I heard her ask Claire to repeat the words, as though hearing them again might somehow change the truth.

I ended the call.

There was nothing left for me to explain.

Through the airport windows, the morning sun spread across the runway. My future colleagues were waiting near the boarding queue, discussing our arrival schedule and the projects I would soon be handling.

Seven years ago, I had given up this opportunity because Gina needed me.

Now I was finally choosing myself.

My phone began vibrating again. Gina's name flashed across the screen, followed by one missed call after another.

I switched it off.

I had spent years waiting for her to put me first. I had waited through humiliations, broken promises, and excuses disguised as plans.

Anna had waited too.

She had waited for the woman she loved to come save her, right up until there was no time left.

I picked up my suitcase and joined the boarding line.

Behind me was the company I had helped build, the woman I had once dreamed of marrying, and the home where Anna's drawings still lay scattered across my desk.

Ahead of me was a life I had nearly abandoned before it had even begun.

When the boarding announcement sounded, I took one final look at my phone before placing it deep inside my bag.

Gina could call a hundred times. She could offer me my old position, a wedding, or every dollar she had.

None of it could bring Anna back.

And none of it could make me the man who would come running whenever she finally decided she needed me.

I stepped onto the plane without looking back.