Vincent was gone for a full week.

But I always knew what he was doing. With Serafina posting everything on Instagram, it was hard not to know.

The two of them on a private yacht, having dinner at a cliffside restaurant in Positano, kissing under a Capri sunrise…

On her social media, I saw a completely different Vincent.

So, he could act like a man in love.

Just not with me.

I didn't pay much attention to their itinerary. I would just glance at the photos and quickly scroll past.

I was busy myself. The apartment was filled with so much stuff that it took me several days to clear everything out.

I also took a trip back to my parents' house in the suburbs to tell them I was leaving for a classified project and wouldn't be in contact for a long time.

My father was surprised.

"You and Vincent are about to get married. Won't you two be separated for a long time if you go?"

My mother’s eyes were full of worry. She took my hand and pleaded.

“Think about this, Eleanor. You and Vincent have come so far. I’m worried he won’t approve of you leaving for this project, and what about your wedding…?”

I knew what my parents were thinking.

They had seen my devotion to Vincent over the years, and they knew how he treated me.

Before we got engaged, they had gently tried to warn me, saying that I didn't seem to mean that much to him and that I should reconsider.

But I was confident I could change him, that I could make him accept me completely.

So they let it be.

Now, with the wedding so close, they were afraid that if I suddenly left, Vincent would object, maybe even call off the engagement.

They were worried I would get hurt.

But this time, I was the one calling it off.

I told my parents the wedding was canceled. They were silent for a long time.

I didn't tell them about Vincent having a child with another woman. I didn't think they could handle that kind of shock. I just said I wanted to focus on my research.

My parents exchanged a look. Since their daughter had made up her mind, they would support her.

In the end, my father just sighed, patted my shoulder, and said as long as I didn’t regret it, that was all that mattered.

Back at the apartment, I asked my best friend, Chloe, to help me get rid of all the boxes I had packed. They were stacked up in the living room, taking up a lot of space.

We made several trips up and down, finally tossing all the boxes into the building's trash compactor. The apartment suddenly felt vast and empty.

Chloe looked around, a little emotional.

She remembered just two months ago, after Vincent proposed, I had dragged her out for a night of champagne, giddy and repeating over and over how my dream had finally come true.

Now, just two short months later, I had decided to call it all off.

“Oh my god, Eleanor, you’re serious. I thought you were just angry when you said you were canceling the wedding.”

“I’ve watched you follow Vincent Moretti around for years. Tell me, what the hell happened?”

Maybe because I was so close to leaving, I suddenly felt the urge to talk.

I told Chloe everything that had happened over the past month.

Including the fact that Serafina was pregnant with Vincent’s child.

Chloe had been a witness to my entire relationship with Vincent. After hearing the story, she swore loudly.

“And after everything you did for him, he gets another woman pregnant right before your wedding and expects you to be okay with it? What the fuck is in his head? Cement?!”

I shook my head, swallowing the bitterness.

“Who knows. He said Serafina was his savior, and he had to grant her every wish.”

Chloe was furious, practically jumping out of her skin.

“You saved his life too, Eleanor! How come he never thought to repay you like this!”

I didn’t say anything more.

Maybe he just didn't love me.

But it was okay. Soon, I would be gone.