Meanwhile, Noah and Bella sat across from each other at a dining table. 

A waiter came over once again and politely asked, "Excuse me. The dishes you ordered have been ready for quite some time. Shall we serve them now?"

"Wait a little longer." Noah waved his hand almost instinctively and dismissed the waiter.

The waiter, who'd come by several times, looked a little helpless and explained, "Sir, if the food sits too long after it's prepared, the taste may be affected…"

Hearing this, Bella glanced at the time. It'd been some time since the hour they agreed on, so she looked up at Noah and hesitantly said, "Noah, maybe we should just have the food served first. If Ms. Hartwell arrives later, we can always order more."

He seemed to waver for a moment when another waiter hurried over with someone in tow.

Before he even saw who it was, Noah impatiently snapped, "What took you so long to

"It's probably just another petty stunt to get my attention."

No one knew which word hit a nerve in Noah, but he clenched his jaw tight. The hand holding the gift box turned so pale from the force.

A second later, with a sharp flick of his wrist, the box flew out of his hand and spilled its contents in a messy scatter. Most of them were familiar to him, including the silver plain ring he'd offhandedly brought Emily years ago, which she'd worn every day since and never taken off.

There were all sorts of birthday gift boxes, big and small. Those were things he'd casually given her and almost forgotten about, but she'd always cherished them carefully.

But there was one thing among the pile he'd never seen before.

His eyes locked on a sheet of paper half-buried under the scattered items as an uneasy feeling twisted in his gut.

After a long silence, he stepped forward and pushed aside t

Bella sobbed and shook her head. "I didn't know… I just saw a stone on the floor and thought it was trash, so I threw it away…"

Noah was silent for a moment before he coldly said, "It's just a stone. You shouldn't have hit her no matter what."

He stared at Emily and demanded. "Apologize."

Standing rooted to the root, Emily was still clutching the broken charm. She looked at the man she'd once given everything to, and suddenly, he felt like a complete stranger.

"I won't apologize!"

Noah frowned. "Then don't come with us."

If this had been before, Emily would have immediately submitted. She would have bitten back tears, forced out an apology, and swallowed her grievances to please him. 

To her, Noah was more important than anything else. She'd endure anything just to stay by his side.

But now, she gave him a deep look and turned to walk away. "Fine! I'm not coming!"

Noah stood frozen in place as he hadn't expected her to leave so decisively. An odd feeling rose up in his chest like something important was slipping away.

"Noah… Am I putting you in a tough spot? Maybe you should go after her…" Bella tugged gently at his sleeve as her eyes welled up with tears.

Noah withdrew his gaze from the empty hallway and suppressed the discomfort in his chest. When he spoke, his voice was as cold as ever. "No need. She'll come to her senses soon."

But this time, he was wrong. Emily never looked back or stopped walking. Her figure disappeared at the end of the hallway, so resolute it seemed she'd never return.

After that day, she never saw Noah again.

…

Time elapsed, and soon, the last day of their divorce cooling-off period arrived. It was also their wedding anniversary.

If this had been before, Emily would have started planning a month in advance and racked her brain for a gift to make Noah happy. But this time, she'd completely forgotten the date.

She packed her suitcase in silence and got ready to leave the house for good.

Halfway through packing, she realized her belongings barely filled half a suitcase. Even after four years of marriage, there wasn't much of her stuff in the house, and it wasn't even enough to fill a single bag.

"What are you doing?" Noah's voice suddenly came from behind her.

Emily turned to see him standing at the door and frowning as his eyes fixed on her suitcase.

An off pang flashed through him, but he quickly swallowed it and indifferently said, "It was no big deal. Do you really have to leave the house over it?"

He took a few steps closer and towered over her. "Quit throwing a tantrum. Bella wants to have lunch with you tomorrow and even got you a new protective charm to make it up to you.

"You should get her a gift too and put this behind you. Don't hold it against her anymore."

Emily looked briefly startled before she let out a soft, self-mocking laugh. Her voice was quiet and oddly calm as she said, "Alright. I'll get her a gift too. She'll like it, and so will you."

Noah frowned, sensing something off in her words but couldn't quite put a finger on it.

…

The next morning, Noah first planned to show up at lunch with Emily. But just after breakfast, Bella called.

"Noah, my stomach hurts a little…" Her voice over the phone carried a trace of tears.

Noah's expression fell, and he shot up to his feet. "I'll be right there."

He grabbed his coat without another glance at Emily. "Go there by yourself. I'll send you the address."

With that, he left in a hurry and looked evidently anxious. He couldn't even wait one more second.

Standing by the window, Emily watched his car disappear from sight as a small smile tugged at her lips.

After four years of marriage, Noah had chosen his first love over Emily at their last meeting, but it didn't matter anymore. This time, she wouldn't grieve.

She turned away, picked up her packed suitcase, and walked out the door.

…

At the door of the courthouse, Emily held onto her divorce decree. 

The single sheet of paper felt weightless in her hands as if the past four years of marriage had never existed at all.

She hired a delivery guy and placed the divorce decree in a delicate box before taping a note to the top. "To Noah and Bella, wishing you both a long, happy life."

She sent the delivery guy the address and had him deliver it to Noah and Bella. When everything was done, she picked up her suitcase and grabbed a cab to the airport.

Outside the window, the city she'd spent four years in blurred and retreated behind her. Emily gazed at it quietly without a single trace of regret in her heart.

So, this was how it felt to let someone go. There was no grand, dramatic farewell and just a quiet turning of her back on a perfectly ordinary afternoon.

Just as she'd once loved Noah without holding back, now she could walk away just as cleanly and never love him again.

Meanwhile, Noah and Bella sat across from each other at a dining table. 

A waiter came over once again and politely asked, "Excuse me. The dishes you ordered have been ready for quite some time. Shall we serve them now?"

"Wait a little longer." Noah waved his hand almost instinctively and dismissed the waiter.

The waiter, who'd come by several times, looked a little helpless and explained, "Sir, if the food sits too long after it's prepared, the taste may be affected…"

Hearing this, Bella glanced at the time. It'd been some time since the hour they agreed on, so she looked up at Noah and hesitantly said, "Noah, maybe we should just have the food served first. If Ms. Hartwell arrives later, we can always order more."

He seemed to waver for a moment when another waiter hurried over with someone in tow.

Before he even saw who it was, Noah impatiently snapped, "What took you so long to come here for a meal? Where's the gift?"

The waiter stepped aside to reveal not the incomer, but i

Chapter 9