Chapter 6

Five days before the countdown, I handed in my resignation letter to the university.

Back then, I had chosen to follow Vincent, turning down the opportunity to continue my studies at an Ivy League institution. Instead, I joined him in Chicago, taking up a position as a teaching assistant in the Physics Department at this university.

My colleagues were shocked when I submitted my resignation.

"Dr. Hayes, why are you resigning all of a sudden?"

"Just a few days ago, you handed out engagement candies. Are you planning to become a full-time Mrs. Moretti? Vincent’s a lucky man," one colleague teased.

I smiled faintly, holding the box of personal belongings in my arms.

"No, the wedding’s off."

When I got home and opened the door to the apartment, I saw Vincent and Serafina sitting on the living room couch. I hadn’t seen either of them in a week.

Vincent noticed the box in my arms and instinctively asked, "What’s with all that stuff?"

I casually shrugged. "Just some old things I don’t need in the office anymore, so I brought them back."

Vincent nodded, his eyes scanning the room, which now looked noticeably emptier. He frowned slightly. "I’ve only been away a week, but it feels like a lot of things are missing from the apartment."

I carried the box into the bedroom and replied calmly, "I just cleared out some junk I didn’t need anymore."

Vincent seemed to want to say something else, but Serafina interrupted him. Her voice was soft, with a faint hint of provocation.

"Eleanor, Vincent worked so hard taking me on a trip these past few days. I should really thank you for agreeing to let him take me to the Amalfi Coast. It was a dream come true for me."

"How about this—I’ll treat you both to dinner as a thank-you for taking care of me. I might still need your help for a while longer, Eleanor, so I hope you won’t hold it against me."

Serafina’s eyes gleamed with a smug satisfaction, but I could tell she was growing restless. After all, ever since I received that ultrasound photo, I hadn’t reacted in any dramatic way. I hadn’t even confronted Vincent about it.

But I wasn’t interested in engaging in any pointless battles with her. In five days, I would be gone from Vincent’s life for good. All I wanted now was to settle everything and leave quietly.

When I didn’t respond, Serafina’s eyes began to well up with tears.

"Vincent, is Eleanor upset? I mean, you’re about to get married, and yet I..."

Before she could finish, Vincent’s brows furrowed, and he shot me a displeased look, his tone accusatory.

"Serafina genuinely wants to thank us. Who are you giving attitude to? It’s just dinner—it won’t kill you. You’re coming!"

Before I could say a word, Vincent had already cast me as the unreasonable villain. In the end, I was dragged along.

The dinner was held in a private room on the top floor of the Alinea restaurant. When the waiter came to take our orders, I had barely opened the menu when Vincent spoke up.

"No spicy dishes, and no cilantro in anything."

Once the dishes arrived, Vincent carefully served food onto Serafina’s plate. Then, he pushed a large platter of king crab legs toward me.

"Serafina can’t eat seafood right now. I ordered this especially for you."

Looking at the plate of crab legs, I suddenly lost all appetite. I set down the silver knife and fork in my hands.

"I’m allergic to shellfish."

How ridiculous.

Five years together, and Vincent Moretti didn’t know his fiancée was allergic to seafood. Yet he remembered every detail of Serafina’s dietary preferences—even something as trivial as her dislike for cilantro.

For a moment, Vincent’s expression was blank. When he looked at me again, there was a rare flicker of guilt in his gray eyes. He quickly ordered a few other dishes for me.

But I didn’t touch a single bite for the rest of the meal, sipping silently on my soda water instead.

After dinner, as we descended the restaurant’s staircase, my phone buzzed with a call from my professor.

"Eleanor, the project lead wanted me to confirm with you one more time: Are you absolutely certain you want to adhere to the highest confidentiality protocols? The first phase of the project involves national security and could last one to two years. You won’t be able to have any contact with the outside world during that time."

My gaze drifted to Vincent and Serafina walking ahead of me. They strolled side by side. As they descended the steps, Vincent protectively held Serafina by the waist.

My voice was calm and steady, devoid of any emotion. "I’m certain."

My professor let out a sigh of relief. "Good. I was worried you’d have second thoughts about leaving your fiancé behind."

I turned away, heading toward the opposite side of the parking lot.

"The wedding’s off."

"I’m ready to leave."

As soon as the words left my mouth, a puzzled voice called out behind me.

"Who’s leaving?"