Chapter 5

Countdown: one day.

These past two days, Hector hadn't appeared.

He'd been with Layla the whole time, probably to appease her.

But every night, he'd share some trivial things with me.

Entertainment gossip, stray cats he saw on the roadside, funny posts on social media.

We were like an ordinary couple separated by distance, casually chatting about boring daily matters.

But in five years of marriage, Hector and I had never shared anything about our daily lives.

I didn't understand why he was suddenly doing this, and I didn't want to understand.

In these three days, I'd been busy moving, packing my things bit by bit and shipping them to Ashclaw pack.

I'd also negotiated rental contracts with a real estate agency to rent out all one hundred properties under my name.

These actions eventually alerted him. That night, he called and asked me: "Connor said you're moving things?"

I answered casually: "Yeah, didn't you say we were going to the western suburbs? I like it there."

Hector paused, then said to me: "If we set off fireworks hiding in the western suburbs, it should be fine."

I shook my head with a joking tone: "No need. Be careful or you'll get arrested."

The man relaxed a bit. "Then tomorrow night, just wait for me directly in the western suburbs."

I hummed in acknowledgment. A message popped up on my phone—flight ticket purchase successful.

But Hector seemed to suddenly sense something and repeated: "You must wait for me."

I promised him: "Okay."

But the next night, he still didn't come.

Connor apologetically told me that Hector had a meeting and would be a bit late.

But on social media, Layla was admiring flowers in the park in the western suburbs, and Hector was right there with her.

I glanced at the time. My flight would take off in four hours.

I probably wouldn't have the chance to tell him this news in person.

Countdown: three hours.

I lay on the bed. The witch was beside me preparing the ritual needed to dissolve the mate bond.

Soon, the ritual began.

Something seemed to be pulled from my body. Covered in cold sweat, while feeling the pain, I thought of Hector's promise to me yesterday and couldn't help laughing.

If he knew this was the last time I'd wait for him to fulfill his promise, would he immediately come back to see me?

On the ceiling, the villa's luxurious chandelier cast light down on me. I looked at this room—this was his compensation for hurting me the hundredth time.

Leaving here had meaning too.

Countdown ended. The witch completed her ritual as promised.

The witch revealed a smile:

"Congratulations, Nora. The mate bond has been dissolved."

I closed my eyes and felt the invisible shackle inside me finally shatter.

That vague pull, the pain, the uncontrollable sense of belonging—all dissipated.

At this point, my marriage was completely over.

I picked up my suitcase, ready to leave.

The highway to the airport was a bit congested.

I sat in the car and happened to look over to see Hector hurriedly driving toward the western suburbs.

I lowered my head, realizing this brief passing would be forever.

But Hector suddenly stopped his car and looked in my direction...