I blocked Lucas on everything – his friends included.

An unknown number texted me: Mia Lowell, Lucas’s fiancée.

[Lucas is mine now. You wouldn’t believe how he dotes on me. Do the right thing and leave. Save yourself the embarrassment.

[He couldn’t stand you, you know. Every time he saw you, he’d buy me a gift to make up for it. I have everything you had, and more.

[Stay away from my fiancé. If you don’t, I’ll tell everyone how you tried to seduce him.]

Mia Lowell. Lucas’s perpetually flustered little assistant.

Slender, fragile.

A harsh word and her eyes would well up like a kitten’s.

Would Lucas recognize this version of her?

She’d sabotaged me countless times before.

Spilled wine on my designer gown. “Accidentally” broke my diamond necklace.

Even then, I knew she was a manipulative little snake, but Lucas was utterly charmed.

If I raised my voice even slightly, he’d jump to her defense.

Such a waste of my beautiful clothes and jewelry.

Whenever I complained, Lucas would dismiss it lightly,

“You’ve got closets full of that stuff. She’s just a kid fresh out of college, doesn’t know any better. Don’t be so hard on Mia.”

Doesn’t matter how much I had, you break it, you should pay.

I handed the case to a lawyer, instructing him to demand compensation from Mia for every single item.

Then, I pulled out the SIM card and tossed it in the trash.

Jerk and snake. May you be miserable together forever.

Mom and Dad came upstairs, saw me packing, their faces etched with worry.

"Irene, are you sure about this? That Reed boy is beyond unacceptable! We’re going straight to his parents!"

My relationship with Lucas had been tacitly approved by both families.

Similar backgrounds, childhood sweethearts – what could be more stable?

"Mom, Dad, if you want to spare me any more humiliation, don’t go.

“Isn’t it good I’m going abroad to help Liam run the business? You’ve always wanted me to gain some experience."

They looked surprised.

I’d been the queen of teenage drama, chasing Lucas since high school.

"You’re not just doing this out of anger?" Mom asked tentatively.

I hugged them tightly. "I know I’ve been difficult. But that stops now."

My parents had always held the same hopes for me as they did for Liam.

I was the one who’d been foolish, stubborn, mistaking Lucas for my entire world.

"Alright, alright," Dad said, voice thick.

"Our Sullivan kids are all made of strong stuff. You set your mind to it, you go. And if you make a mess? Daddy’s got your back."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.

I boarded the flight overseas.

Everything about Seabreeze City has become a thing of the past for me.