Chapter 3

Skye's Perspective

"Alanna returns in 48 hours. We've waited seven long years—now is not the time for errors," Derick announced.

The group erupted in chuckles.

"Marriage? Come on, when Alanna left for her studies abroad, you were weeping at the airport, vowing to wed her upon her return."

"Indeed! Don't tell us you've fallen for the younger one now."

"Look, jests are fine, but don't toy with matrimony. If you do, you'll face Alanna's wrath."

Derick grinned, unperturbed. "Didn't I already turn her down? Alanna is the only one I've ever wanted to marry. She's my ideal."

Concealed in the darkness, I felt my eyes well up with tears.

It dawned on me that I had never been part of Derick's plans—right from the start.

I retreated from the scene, the chilly night air stinging my face.

'Skye, if love isn't meant for you, let it go,' I resigned myself to the thought.

Derick didn't return until dawn but left fresh Parisian pastries on the table, as was his custom.

Noticing my bare feet, he quickly lifted me onto the sofa.

"You never wear footwear. Don't expect me to help if you get menstrual cramps," he chided gently.

I chuckled, tucking my feet under a pillow.

Derick was aware of my menstrual cycle precisely. Whenever the pain made me pale, he'd embrace me, warming my abdomen.

But in two days, someone else would be in his arms.

When he offered me a pastry, I declined.

Love that isn't yours, no matter how sweet, is merely an illusion. Like overly sugared pastries, it leaves only a bitter aftertaste.

"Derick, my supervisor just called an urgent meeting, and I'm already behind schedule. I'll eat when I return."

Before he could reply, I rushed into the elevator, unable to bear his presence any longer.

The moment I realized his lack of love for me, I should have known—I no longer belonged here.

For the first time, I deceived him. In truth, there were no meetings. Apart from tomorrow's graduation ceremony, I had no obligations at school.

At a café, I video called my brother.

His job had strict communication rules, and calls were always prearranged. His first words upon seeing me were: "Have you and Derick separated?"

My brother had always disapproved of my relationship with Derick, though he never explained why. Eventually, as I constantly praised Derick's qualities, he reluctantly accepted it.

Years ago, when Alanna invited me to study overseas, I opted to stay for graduate school, unwilling to endure a long-distance relationship.

But I had always aspired to work in an international laboratory.

Now, nothing was holding me back. I was finally free to pursue my dreams.

"Yes, Alanna's returning," I whispered, a silent understanding passing between us.

My brother, Piers Alvarez, gazed at me through the screen, his expression grave. After a prolonged silence, he finally spoke.

"I'll arrange a flight for you tomorrow, alright?"

Tears flowed down my cheeks as I nodded.

Within moments, a flight confirmation appeared on my phone: [July 7th, 12:12 a.m.]

It wasn't just any date. It was Alanna's birthday.

Derick was incredibly detail-oriented. He even noted Alanna's birthday down to the minute.

I'd once discovered those numbers scribbled on a locked journal's cover while cleaning. At the time, I thought they were random jottings.

Now I understood—those faded digits represented seven years of his dedication to Alanna.

From the café window, I watched Derick's vehicle zoom by before heading home.

Once there, I retrieved my luggage and began packing.