Chapter6 Departure

Amanda returns to the villa.

Without resting, she begins packing her things. She didn’t bring much when she first moved in three years ago, and even though she has a habit of buying small items, she’s never displayed them—Riley doesn’t like clutter, after all.

By the time she’s done, all she has are her clothes, a few keepsakes only she cares about, and some small personal items she’d kept carefully tucked away.

While sorting through everything, she finds a few boxes of incense.

The boxes are dusty, faded from the sun, and barely carry any scent anymore.

Seeing them, Amanda remembers a small, silly thing she once did for Riley.

After that banquet, Amanda started paying close attention to Riley. 

Once she became his secretary, she learned that Riley struggled with sleep, often waking in the middle of the night. 

Determined to help, she searched for ways to improve his rest.

One day, a specialist suggested trying aromatherapy, so Amanda took it to heart. She went out of her way to learn how to make incense, carefully blending scents she thought might help Riley sleep, and gave it to him as a thank-you gift.

But over time, she realized he never used the incense she’d made, likely throwing it out right away. She stopped doing things like that for him after that.

There were plenty more of those little “foolish” gestures.

Like the time she noticed a coffee shop near the company that Riley usually visited. Amanda eventually learned his schedule, how he ordered, and the exact coffee he preferred. 

Although she was not much of a coffee person, she started ordering the same drink on her own, hoping to get used to his favorite taste. 

Later, when the shop pulled that coffee from menu, she went as far as asking the owner to sell her the recipe. Afterward, she would make it herself at the office just so Riley could enjoy his favorite drink.

The handwritten coffee recipe sits right alongside the boxes of incense.

These items hold fragments of her past, but just like the faded boxes, the memories seem far less rosy than they once were. Amanda tosses them all into the trash—these will be cleaned up next time the janitor comes.

She sits in the same chair as before, and sends him a message about her resignation and request for a divorce. Amanda is desperate to get rid of this relationship.

At least Riley was never stingy when it came to money, she smiles with relief. Soon, she’ll be free—and well-off. Without a single backward glance, she gets into her car and drives away.

“Riley, what’s wrong?” Faye asks, noticing his smile curdles like sour milk. His face flushes with anger as he reads a new message. Seeing this side of him, Faye feels a sudden dread. “That woman just now…”

“Shut up!” Riley snaps, then quickly catches himself, realizing he’s speaking to Faye.

“It’s nothing,” he mutters. “I have something to take care of. I’ll ask Rex and Shawn to look after you.” Without another word, he leaves the hospital, ignoring Faye’s reaction.

Faye’s face twists as she angrily dials a number, then steps out of bed to get dressed.

Meanwhile, Riley’s mind races, already reconsidering his earlier decisions.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone, where Amanda’s contact sits under the basic label “A Secretary.” She’s always the one calling him, so he’s never even noticed the contact name before.

Seeing Amanda’s message, his finger hesitates over the screen. I should change it to her name later, he thinks.

He presses “Call”.

Riley fully expects her to pick up. Last time was just a surprise, he assures himself. This is his second time calling her, after all—a considerable gesture, in his view.

Amanda certainly isn’t serious about resigning or divorcing, Riley thinks. After all, she didn’t seem angry when she left the hospital. 

Now that she’s starting to understand his relationship with Faye—and even congratulated him on taking control of the company—she’s likely just trying to get his attention, perhaps urging him to spend more time with her. 

He’s willing to compromise; after all, he’s grown accustomed to having Amanda by his side, taking care of everything. Besides, it would be nearly impossible to find someone else so perfectly suited to his tastes.

While he is thinking about these things, the phone keeps ringing, until the music finally stops—it goes to voicemail.

Riley’s face closes up; all the muscles tighten and his mouth turns into a narrow, unforgiving line. It seem like his blue eyes fade to gray, becoming a bit like Amanda’s. A nippy gust whips around his ears, spraying the scent of grass on his face.

Returning to the hospital’s underground garage, he gets into his car and heads to the villa without a second thought.