Chapter 2

Jenson's phone rang from the coffee table. Its custom ringtone was loud and unmistakable in the silent living room. Estella hesitated for a second before walking toward it. But before she could reach the table, a damp figure barreled past her and shoved her aside. Her shin slammed hard against the sharp edge of the table. The intense pain brought tears to Estella's eyes instantly. And yet, the man responsible—Jenson—didn't even notice. He snatched up his phone and disappeared back into the bathroom. Clenching her jaw, Estella limped to the couch. She'd barely sat down when she heard his voice from the bathroom. It was low and anxious, even as Jenson tried hard to sound calm. "Don't be scared. Stay in your room and don't come out. I'm coming right now." A bitter taste filled Estella's mouth. In their six years together, Jenson had always been composed and rational. Yet tonight, he was frantic over a single phone call. It was at this moment that Estella realized he wasn't naturally cold—he just didn't love her. Jenson rushed out of the bathroom, his face tense. He walked past her without stopping, only saying one sentence. "Something came up at work. Don't wait up." And just like that, he was gone. What he failed to notice was that the woman who'd used to hand him his coat and remind him to come home early didn't even lift her head this time. Estella sat on the couch for a long time. Only when the pain in her leg dulled did she finally stand and head to the bedroom. There, she started packing. The mugs she'd bought for them but Jenson had never used, the rings she'd handcrafted but never gotten to give him, the custom wedding ribbon she'd designed, and the vows she'd carefully written—one by one, she tossed them into a trash bag without hesitation. Two hours later, half the room was empty. Just as Estella let out a breath, her phone rang. Zoe's excited voice burst through the speaker. "Estie! I'm on a business trip abroad and just woke up to this great news! Welcome to the team! I'll be back in a week, and we can head to Anebert together. But… didn't you say you were planning your wedding with your boyfriend? Is he okay with you going to Anebert?" Estella paused. For the past six years, Jenson had kept their relationship so low-profile that barely anyone knew they were together. It was only three days ago, when Zoe had asked if she wanted to join her new studio in Anebert, that Estella had told her about the upcoming wedding. And now, in just a few days, everything had fallen apart. Her voice was calm as she replied, "It's fine. The wedding's canceled." At that moment, Jenson stepped into the room and caught those three words. His eyes flickered with a trace of panic. "What do you mean 'the wedding's canceled'?" Startled, Estella turned to see him standing behind her. She steadied herself and made up a random excuse. "A friend had an emergency, so they called off their wedding." Jenson didn't question it. "Oh. By the way, didn't you say on your birthday that you wanted to do a couple's photoshoot? The photographer called today. They have an opening tomorrow." Estella instinctively wanted to refuse. But before she could say a word, Jenson's gaze landed on the now-bare dresser. His brows knitted in confusion. "Estie, were you cleaning? Why does it feel like half the stuff is gone?" Estella nodded casually. "Yeah. I wasn't using any of it, so I got rid of it. There's no point keeping things that take up space." For some reason, Jenson felt an odd sense of unease creep into his chest.