Chapter 3

By morning, Niall finally emerged, his clothes wrinkled and messy. The hickeys on his neck and collarbone were impossible to miss. They weren't there yesterday, which meant they had to be from last night. Freya was already pregnant, for heaven's sake. Why was he still tangled up with her? Before long, Niall returned, carrying bags of takeout. It was obvious Freya was doing fine. If she weren't, she wouldn't have the appetite to eat that much. I closed my aching eyes and drove away. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I could have sworn I felt someone's gaze on me from upstairs as I left. When I got home, I didn't even bother washing up. I collapsed into bed, utterly drained. Half asleep, I felt a gentle kiss brush against my cheek. Without thinking, I instinctively struck out at whoever was there. The sharp sound jolted me wide awake. Niall's left cheek was flushed bright red, but he didn't lash out. Instead, his eyes held a desperate, pleading look. "Janice, you're awake! You must be starving. I brought all your favorite dishes—lobster risotto, clam chowder, beef stew—" "Niall, where did you spend the night?" He faltered for a second before looking down. "You didn't come for me, so Richard took me back to his villa. I just stayed there for the night." Even though he was bundled up now, the hickeys on his neck were still visible. I couldn't believe he had learned to lie to me. With his gaze lowered, it was obvious he was hiding his guilt, afraid I'd see right through him. "Where is she now?" "Who?" "Freya. Your childhood sweetheart." Niall's eyes immediately reddened, tears spilling down his cheeks. "Janice, please don't act this way. I'm sorry. I deserve all the blame. I know I've let you down, but I couldn't bring myself to abandon Freya. "Her father was once our family's driver. One day, I insisted on going out. Though he tried to stop me, I wouldn't back down. Reluctantly, he drove me anyway. "During the journey, we were involved in a car accident, and he gave his life protecting me. Because of that, Freya was left an orphan. "If it weren't for me, her father would still be alive. She wouldn't have been left alone… I owe her everything. "But Janice, I had it all planned. I was going to save Freya first and then come back for you. Even if it meant risking my life, I would have rescued you. Please, I'm begging you. Don't leave me!" But unfortunately, I was no longer Niall's first choice. "Is that it? Do you have anything else to say?" He looked at me, his eyes shadowed by turmoil. In the end, he chose to keep the truth to himself. "No." "How's Ms. Wilde?" "She's doing fine." "Niall—" Just as I was about to reveal everything, his phone rang. The name "Freya" flashed across the screen. With a hint of irritation, he declined the call. Still, Freya kept trying. Finally, he set his phone to silent. "Answer it. What if it's something important?" "What could she possibly want other than causing trouble?" His annoyance appeared sincere, though he didn't realize the gentle affection underlying his words. A bitter ache rose within me. "Just answer it." "Alright. I'll do whatever you want, honey. Just say the word." With that, he grabbed his phone and stepped over to the window. Since when did he start hiding from me every time he took a call? "Didn't I tell you not to call unless it's something urgent? What do you want now? Alright, alright. I get it." After hanging up, he turned toward me, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "Hey, baby, I need to step out for a bit." "Alright." He raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you curious where I'm going or what I'm doing?" A smirk played on my lips. "That's your freedom. It's none of my business." "But before, you always—" "You said it yourself. That was before. Just leave me alone, and don't disturb my sleep." I used to love Niall with all my heart. I was jealous, desperate to have him only for myself. But now, that love had faded completely. I didn't care where he went or what he did anymore. Still, letting go of him wasn't easy, especially knowing I'd once loved him with everything I had. Niall draped the blanket over me and stayed quietly by my side. I lost count of how long he lingered there. By the time I drifted off to sleep, he hadn't moved an inch. When I woke, the sun was sinking below the horizon, and Niall was gone. I stared around at the empty house, feeling slightly dazed. There was a time when I genuinely believed I was the luckiest person alive. Love was scarce in my family, but Niall filled the emptiness they left behind. He gave me the freedom to live boldly. But now, his heart belonged to someone else. I realized it was time for me to go. But before leaving, I had to see his parents one last time. Though they never fully accepted me, they were the ones who raised Niall, the man who once loved me like I was his entire world. After freshening up, I packed the car with health supplements and drove to their home. Just as I reached the door, laughter and chatter drifted out from inside. The sound hit me like a lightning bolt straight to the chest.