Chapter 4: The Empty Apartment

Thirty-one days later...

Derrick Cromwell finally returned to the city.

The month-long client tour had been declared a success. Molly couldn't stop talking about the contracts they had signed, the luxury hotels they had stayed in, and the compliments clients had given her presentations.

Derrick listened absentmindedly while driving toward the apartment he shared with Yara.

For the first time in weeks, he thought about her.

She hadn't called.

Not once.

No dramatic messages.

No emotional voice mails.

Not even a complaint.

It was unusual.

Very unusual.

Normally, after two or three days of silence, Yara would give in.

She would knock on his office door carrying coffee.

Or she'd send a simple text.

"Can we talk?"

She always apologized first, even when they both knew she wasn't the one who should.

This time...

Nothing.

"You're thinking about Yara again, aren't you?" Molly asked from the passenger seat.

"No."

"Really?"

"She's probably still angry."

Molly smiled knowingly.

"Leave her alone for another day or two. Women like her just need a little space."

Derrick didn't answer.

Deep down, something felt... off.

He couldn't explain why.

When the car finally stopped outside the apartment building, Molly leaned toward him.

"See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Don't spoil Yara too much."

He gave a small nod before stepping out.

The hallway outside his apartment was unusually quiet.

He unlocked the door and walked inside.

"Yara?"

No answer.

He frowned.

"I'm home."

Silence.

The living room lights were off.

The air felt cold.

Something immediately caught his attention.

The bookshelf.

Half of it was empty.

His eyes swept across the room.

The paintings were gone.

The throw blanket Yara always kept on the sofa had disappeared.

Her favorite reading chair was missing.

"Yara?"

He walked quickly toward the bedroom.

The wardrobe doors stood open.

Only his suits remained.

Every dress.

Every handbag.

Every pair of shoes...

Gone.

His heartbeat quickened.

He checked the bathroom.

Her skincare products had disappeared.

Her toothbrush was gone.

The hairdryer she complained about replacing...

Gone.

"What the hell..."

He grabbed his phone and called her.

The automated voice answered immediately.

"The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable."

Blocked.

He stared at the screen in disbelief.

"She blocked me?"

His jaw tightened.

"Fine."

"Let's see how long that lasts."

He tossed the phone onto the sofa before noticing something on the dining table.

A small velvet box.

His breathing slowed.

He already knew what was inside before opening it.

The engagement ring.

Perfectly polished.

Resting exactly where she wanted him to find it.

Beneath it lay a folded piece of paper.

Only one sentence.

Our engagement is over.

No explanation.

No accusations.

No tears.

Nothing.

Just...

A full stop.

Derrick crumpled the paper instinctively.

"She's overreacting."

He repeated the sentence aloud as if convincing himself.

"She'll calm down."

"She always does."

Yet somehow...

The apartment had never felt this empty before.

The next morning, Derrick arrived at Wantrell Corporation earlier than usual.

The receptionist smiled politely.

"Good morning, Mr. Cromwell."

"Morning."

He walked toward the executive floor before pausing.

"Ask Yara to come to my office in ten minutes."

The receptionist looked confused.

"Mr. Cromwell..."

"Yes?"

"Ms. Carter doesn't work here anymore."

His expression froze.

"What do you mean?"

"She resigned last month."

"Impossible."

"Human Resources processed everything while you were away."

Without another word, Derrick strode toward HR.

The department director immediately stood.

"Mr. Cromwell."

"Where's Yara's file?"

The director handed him a folder.

"She submitted her resignation the day after you left."

"Why wasn't I informed?"

"You approved it yourself."

Derrick frowned.

"I never approved anything."

The director quietly turned the monitor toward him.

Digital Approval History.

Employee: Yara Carter.

Status: Accepted.

Approved by: Derrick Cromwell.

Date: Thirty-one days earlier.

His own electronic signature appeared beneath the document.

He remembered that afternoon.

Driving.

Signing dozens of files without reading them.

"..."

For several long seconds, he said nothing.

"Did she say why she resigned?"

"No."

"Where did she go?"

"She declined the exit interview."

Derrick closed the file.

For the first time in years...

He didn't know where Yara was.

She hadn't left clues.

Hadn't argued.

Hadn't begged.

She had simply...

Left.

As he stepped out of HR, whispers followed him through the hallway.

"He really didn't know?"

"Apparently not."

"I thought they were getting married."

"So did everyone else."

He ignored them and entered his office.

Something immediately felt wrong.

His schedule wasn't organized.

Several client files sat in random piles.

His morning meeting had been double-booked.

Even the coffee tasted different.

"Molly," he called.

She entered with her usual confident smile.

"Welcome back."

"Where's my Singapore contract?"

Her smile faded.

"I... thought Yara handled those."

"She resigned."

Molly blinked dramatically.

"She what?"

"Didn't you know?"

"No..."

She lowered her eyes to hide the tiny spark of satisfaction flashing through them.

"I'm sure she'll come back after she cools down."

Derrick looked toward the empty chair outside his office.

For seven years...

Yara had occupied that desk.

She knew every client.

Every deadline.

Every detail.

He had never once imagined the company without her.

Now...

For the very first time...

He wondered whether she had been carrying far more than he had ever noticed.

And somewhere across the city...

Yara walked into another office building, holding a fresh copy of her résumé.

Completely unaware...

That the man she had finally left behind had just realized he no longer knew where to find her.