The next day at the all-hands meeting, Julian suddenly asked Sienna to report specific project data—work I had done entirely. She stammered, completely unable to explain.

Julian's face remained stone-cold. "If you can't explain your own work, Sienna, perhaps you shouldn't keep your position."


The conference room fell dead silent. Sienna covered her mouth and fled, sobbing.

After the meeting, the break room buzzed with gossip.

"Jesus, the CEO looked murderous today."


"Think Sienna's falling from grace?"

As I made coffee, someone called out: "Aurora, you're awfully quiet. Gotta say, you're tough. When Julian tore into you publicly, you didn't even cry."


I couldn't care less about their drama. But when everyone's gossiping about the boss, silence looks suspicious.

So I laughed: "I'm just an employee. How could I compete with the boss's favorite? They're like a real-life 'Succession'—love and war, the ultimate rich-people relationship."

I gripped my cup, adding: "Honestly, I'm invested in their little soap opera."

Only then did I notice the sudden silence...

I looked up into Julian's ice-cold stare.

Under everyone's sympathetic gazes, I was summoned to the executive floor.

The moment I entered, he embraced me tightly from behind.

I jumped and pushed him away. "Julian, the door's open! Anyone could walk in!"

But he stared into my eyes, as if searching for something buried deep inside.

Finally, he released me, his voice hoarse: "Aurora, there's nothing between Sienna and me. Before—"

He stopped. "Never mind. I'll prove it with actions."

I stood stunned, never expecting to receive freely what I'd once begged for through tears and tantrums.

But now...

My plane would take off in seven days.

I'd already... stopped wanting anything.

The night before my Paris flight was also the eve of our seventh anniversary.

Determined to end things cleanly, I agreed to meet him for dinner.

To avoid suspicion, I dressed carefully as always.

But at the restaurant entrance, I saw it.

Sienna rushed forward and kissed Julian.

Evening breeze. Summer night. Stars. Every element identical to that night seven years ago when we'd become official.

Except back then, Julian had held me. Now that position belonged to Sienna.

Sienna's almond eyes gleamed beautifully. She looked at me, her gaze flickering with triumph and challenge.

I couldn't help but smile bitterly.

My heart felt like a frozen, dead pond.

Finally, I felt absolutely nothing.