Chapter 5
Preston’s eyes widened in disbelief. It took him a long moment to recover from the shock, while Julio–unaware of the truth–kept pressing him for
answers.
The world around him blurred. Swallowing hard, Preston forced himself to stay calm. After a while, he tried calling Selene again.
Once. Twice. Twenty times. Still, no one picked up.
Clutching his car keys, he hurried downstairs, only to run into Mira returning home.
Noticing his anxious, flustered state, Mira reached out to dab the sweat from his forehead with a tissue–Preston sidestepped her touch without a word.
He looked at Mira, his expression complicated. In the past, he’d always indulged her, forgiving every whim, grateful for the comfort she’d given him. But now, even that certainty wavered.
He furrowed his brow, smoothly changing the subject. “I’ve got something to take care of You should get to bed early tonight.”
Mira didn’t pick up on his unease. She clung to his arm, pouting sweetly. “Mr. Hawley, is Ms. Sutton bothering you again? We’re about to get married, you know. If you run off to see her in the middle of the night, I’ll get jealous.”
Her eyes sparkled with feigned innocence. “But if Ms. Sutton really insists, I can come with you.”
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Preston clenched his jaw, his tone growing impatient. He forced himself
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to remain composed. “It’s nothing urgent. I’ll go tomorrow. Once I finish this fifth condition, there’ll be nothing left between us.”
His voice softened as he finished the sentence.
Mira, thrilled, hugged his arm tighter. “Preston, I can’t wait to be your bride. Do you know how long I’ve dreamed of this moment?”
For now, Preston pushed thoughts of Selene aside.
If he was going to settle down, Mira made sense–she was gentle, attentive, and always made him look good in public. Not like Selene, who challenged him at every turn and never let him save face.
He could already imagine Selene’s next excuse to mess with him.
As for her wish to have her ashes buried with her parents–Preston didn’t believe for a second that Selene would actually die.
At that thought, his frown eased. He smiled, suddenly relaxed.
Today was Mira’s birthday. As she wished, Preston threw her an even grander party than Selene had ever had. He filled the venue with five million roses.
Seeing Mira in her dazzling, exquisite gown, Preston’s mind drifted to Selene.
He felt a pang of guilt–he’d never managed to make Selene happy at her own birthday party. Afterward, he’d spent sleepless nights designing a wedding dress, intricate and elaborate, insisting on sewing it himself.
Mira moved, hugged him, and planted a kiss on his cheek.
“Preston, the dress is beautiful. I love it.”
But in his mind, Selene’s face lingered.
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Chapter 5
Despite their constant bickering, Selene had made efforts in their marriage.
She’d pretend to stumble just to fall into his arms.
She’d sneak a kiss when he was drunk.
She’d tuck him in at night.
Little things, over and over.
Suddenly, his heart dropped, a wave of bitterness rising–followed by longing for Selene.
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Rubbing his eyes, Preston abruptly pulled away from Mira. “Mira, I need to go check on Selene.”
Mira stared at him, stunned, jealousy and confusion churning inside her.
In the past, Preston would drop anything to be by her side, no matter the excuse. He’d never missed a single anniversary or special day together. They’d once sworn in Iceland to spend countless birthdays together.
But this was the very first, and Preston was leaving her for Selene.
Without thinking, Mira chased after him, clutching his hand, her eyes full of hurt and stubbornness.
Preston tried to pull free, but she wouldn’t let go. Exasperated, he stopped and looked at her, his irritation plain.
“Mira, don’t make a scene, okay? I really have something to deal with. Don’t worry–I promise I’ll be back before midnight. The party and the dress were for you. Consider them my gifts.”
As he spoke, he kept glancing at his phone.
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The person who used to bombard him with messages hadn’t reached out in days.
The emptiness gnawed at him.
Mira felt it too–a ripple of disappointment spreading through her heart.
“I just want you to stay with me, Preston. Do you know what people will say if you leave me on my birthday?
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“Can’t it wait until the party’s over? Or are you choosing Selene over me?”
In the past, the answer had always been clear–Preston would choose Mira without hesitation.
But this time, she waited and waited, and her name never came.
Her heart trembled. Mira lowered her gaze, unable to believe it, her voice shaking.
“Preston, do you love Selene? You keep denying it to save face, but you must love her. The way you look at her, how at ease you are around her- you can’t hide it.”
Preston’s mind was in chaos. For a moment, he faltered, but then he steeled himself.
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“Mira, I’m not going. You know I hate seeing you upset. I’ll stay with you tonight, okay?”
But Mira found no joy in his words. Tears welled in her eyes, her heart drowning in sorrow.
During the party, Mira could sense Preston’s mind was elsewhere.
Still, she stubbornly clung to the fact that, at least physically, Preston was by her side. “That was enough,” she told herself.
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Someone toasted her with red wine.
Mira glanced at Preston–the look in his eyes was distant, empty of warmth.
She downed the wine, bitterness spreading in her chest.
How could Preston forget she was allergic to alcohol?
That night, she ended up in the hospital. Before falling asleep, she clung
to Preston’s hand, needing reassurance again and again.
Preston watched Mira’s severe allergic reaction but felt nothing.
Meanwhile, Selene had arrived in San Francisco.
Her lawyer said, “Ms. Sutton, this is Lucian Verran–his family’s in real estate, worth billions. Your parents asked me to—”
Selene sighed and cut him off.
“I know him. He used to live next door. I never imagined he’d do so well.”
The lawyer studied Selene, surprised. “Ms. Sutton, are you really alright? Preston may never contact you again.”
Selene looked up at the clear blue sky, her voice light.
“That’s exactly what I want.”
Selene didn’t seek Lucian out right away. Instead, she started interviewing for jobs.
She’d been out of the workforce for years while with Preston.
Now, with a new lease on life, she wanted to challenge herself.
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Expressionless, she scrolled through her phone, noticing over 90 missed calls from Preston. She quietly blocked his number.
She wanted no more ties to Preston.
When love becomes too exhausting, you have to learn to let go.
Late that night, Preston finally caved and called his assistant.
“Find out where Selene is. She’s really something—won’t even answer my calls anymore.”
The assistant stammered, unable to give a straight answer.
Preston, frustrated, pressed him. “Can’t you just tell me? Is Selene paying your salary now?”
“Mr. Hawley, didn’t you receive Ms. Sutton’s death certificate? It was sent from New York–Presbyterian Hospital, along with her ashes.”
Preston collapsed into his chair, stunned and pale.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
After a long pause, he finally managed to speak, his voice trembling.
“Did Selene put you up to this? Tell her I’ve fulfilled all five conditions. This marriage is over. She’s played me enough–does she really have to go
this far?”
He bit his lip, terrified of the answer.
“How could Selene be dead?” he thought, his mind racing.
But the assistant repeated, “Mr. Hawley, a death certificate can’t be forged. And according to Ms. Sutton’s will, she wanted her ashes buried with her father. Mr. Hawley, I’m afraid you’ll have to handle that.
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“You and Ms. Sutton were husband and wife. Please, let her have a little dignity in the end.”
The call ended abruptly, leaving Preston no chance to argue.
A crushing wave of grief engulfed him, leaving him gasping for air.
“Selene is dead?” he thought to himself.
He couldn’t believe it.
Mira walked in, wrapping her arms tightly around him, gently stroking his ear in comfort.
“Preston, maybe Ms. Sutton just faked her death. You’ll find her.”
