Chapter 4

This was my first time meeting Mia in person. She was indeed young and beautiful.

I could not help but notice the wedding ring she was fiddling with on her finger. I was not sure if she was doing that on purpose.

Caleb said, “Serena, today is also Mia’s birthday.

“She wanted to celebrate with us. You don’t mind, right?”

I was about to say that I did not mind when the door suddenly swung open.

Caleb’s friends walked in with a cake while singing a birthday song.

“Happy birthday, Mia!” they said as they popped the confetti.

They then noticed me and Caleb. One of them asked curiously, “Caleb, who’s this?”

Caleb looked bewildered. “Why are you guys here?”

“We came to support you, Caleb. You’re celebrating your girlfriend’s birthday and proposing to her, right?”

As soon as they said that, Caleb’s face turned pale. He glanced at me uncertainly.

“Serena, please don’t misunderstand. They must have gotten it wrong...”

I waved my hand to say that it was fine. Caleb just stood there. He was unsure of what to do.

Mia was teary-eyed. She said softly, “Sorry, it’s my fault. I invited Caleb’s friends.

“I didn’t know they’d prepare a surprise for me.”

When Caleb saw her sobbing, he felt bad. He said comfortingly, “It’s okay, Mia. It’s not your fault. I was planning to invite them anyway.”

Then, he looked at me guiltily and pulled me to the outdoor area of the restaurant.

Just as I was about to say something, the sky outside the restaurant lit up.

Drones filled the sky and arranged themselves into a flashing birthday message.

When Caleb saw it, the color drained from his face.

The message read: Wishing Caleb and Mia happiness forever.

At that moment, I felt like I was the outsider in their love story.

A sense of exhaustion washed over me. I grabbed my bag and turned to leave.

Caleb chased after me and grabbed my hand.

He insisted that nothing was going on between him and Mia.

To his surprise, I said calmly, “I know. It’s fine.”

Caleb froze. All the excuses he had prepared were left unsaid.

This was the outcome he had only hoped for, yet it filled him with an inexplicable panic.

When we reached the first floor of the mall, he gently tugged my sleeve.

“Babe, you’re really not mad?”

“I’m not.”

“I heard there’s an exhibition on the eleventh floor. You wanted to see it, right?

“I’ll go with you. Let’s treat it as a birthday apology, okay?”

I glanced at my phone. My boss sent me a message to remind me about tonight’s flight.

Thinking this would be his last request before we parted, I did not feel like refusing him and decided to let this exhibition mark the end of our five years together.

The elevator ascended slowly as we stood there in silence.

Mia kept calling him. She also texted me nonstop.

When we reached the floor and the elevator doors opened, Caleb did not step out as I had expected.

He stood there with his lips pressed together. He looked guilty and apologetic as he said, “Serena, my friends said the other elevator broke down.

“Mia has claustrophobia. She’s really shaken up.

“I’ll go check on her and make sure she’s okay. I’ll come back right after. Is that alright?”

I forced a smile and said, “Sure.”

With that, Caleb rushed off without hesitation.

I walked alone to Hall 11 on the eleventh floor. The staff informed me that the exhibition had closed early.

I smiled. It felt like this was meant to happen.

Half an hour later, I saw Mia’s post. It showed her and Caleb stargazing.

I liked the post without any emotion. Then, I blocked her account.

Two hours later, I was at the airport with my luggage.

I backed up Mia’s Twitter and Instagram posts and sent them to Caleb’s email.

After that, I sent him a text. [It’s over between us.]

Then, I deleted all my accounts and boarded the flight.