Five days to go. I submitted my resignation letter to the university.

To be with Vincent, I had turned down my mentor's offer to continue my research at an Ivy League school. Instead, I followed Vincent back to Chicago and took a position as a teaching assistant in the physics department.

My colleagues were surprised to see me resign.

“Why the sudden resignation, Dr. Hayes?”

“You just gave us engagement sweets the other day. Are you going to be a full-time Mrs. Moretti now? Mr. Moretti is a lucky man,” one colleague joked.

I held my box of personal belongings and smiled.

“No, the wedding is off.”

When I got home and opened the apartment door, I saw Vincent, who I hadn't seen in a week, sitting on the living room sofa with Serafina.

Vincent saw the box in my hands and instinctively asked.

“What are you doing with all that stuff?”

I made up an excuse.

“Just some old things from the office I don’t need anymore, so I brought them home.”

Vincent nodded, his eyes scanning the now-empty room. He looked confused.

“I’ve only been gone a week. Why does it feel like so much is missing?”

I took the box to the bedroom and replied calmly.

“I just cleared out some junk I didn’t need.”

Vincent was about to say something else, but Serafina cut him off. Her voice was soft, but with a hint of provocation.

“Eleanor, Vincent must be exhausted after our trip. And thank you for letting him take me to the Amalfi Coast. You made my dream come true.”

“How about this? Let me take you two to dinner as a thank you for taking care of me. I'm afraid I’ll be needing your help for a while longer. I hope you don’t mind, Eleanor.”

I looked at the smugness in Serafina’s eyes and guessed she was getting impatient.

After all, ever since I received that ultrasound photo, I hadn’t had a single outburst. I hadn’t even confronted Vincent about it.

But I had no desire to play these pointless games with her anymore. In five days, I would be out of Vincent’s life for good. Right now, I just wanted to wrap things up and leave peacefully.

When I didn’t answer, Serafina’s eyes immediately welled up with tears.

“Brother Vincent, is Eleanor upset? I know you two are about to get married, but I…”

Hearing this, Vincent’s brow furrowed, and he shot me a disapproving look.

“Serafina genuinely wants to thank us. Who are you putting on a face for? It’s just dinner. It’s not like she’s going to poison you. We’re going!”

I hadn't said a single word, but in his mind, I was already the unreasonable bad guy.

In the end, Vincent dragged me there.

We were in a private room at Alinea when the waiter came to take our order.

I had just opened the menu when I heard Vincent tell the waiter.

“No spicy food, and no cilantro in any of the dishes.”

After the food arrived, Vincent thoughtfully served Serafina, placing portions onto her plate.

Then, he pushed a large platter of king crab legs toward me.

“Serafina can’t have shellfish right now. This is for you.”

Looking at the crab, I instantly lost my appetite. I put down my silver fork and knife.

“I’m allergic to shellfish.”

How ironic.

After five years together, Vincent Moretti didn’t know his own fiancée was allergic to shellfish, but he knew every single one of Serafina's dietary restrictions, right down to her dislike of cilantro.

For a moment, Vincent looked blank.

When he looked at me again, his gray eyes held a rare hint of guilt. He ordered a few other dishes.

But I didn't touch another bite. I just quietly sipped my sparkling water.

After dinner, as we were walking down the restaurant steps, my phone rang. It was my mentor again.

“Eleanor, the project director asked me to confirm one last time. Are you sure you want to follow the highest level of security protocol? The first phase involves national security and could last a year or two. You will have no contact with the outside world.”

My gaze fell on Vincent and Serafina walking ahead of me.

They were side-by-side. As they went down the stairs, Vincent carefully held Serafina by the waist.

My voice was calm, without a ripple of emotion.

“I’m sure.”

My mentor sounded relieved.

“Good. I was worried you wouldn't be able to leave your fiancé.”

I looked away from them and turned toward the other side of the parking lot.

“The wedding is off.”

“I’m ready to leave.”

Just as I said it, a confused voice came from behind me.

“Who’s leaving?”