Chapter 9
The decision was made. Whether they’d regret it or not couldn’t change her mind to leave.
“I’ve arranged for Ken to take you to the pick–up point the day after tomorrow,” Uncle Johnson finally said.
Calista nodded, knowing there was meaningless in arguing.
As she left the study, she found Ken waiting by the door, his face troubled. “Why did you throw away everything I ever gave you?”
Calista’s heart skipped a beat. He’d found the letters and gifts at the dump.
Once, she’d treasured every moment of their relationship. Whether it was a doodled note or
an expensive watch, she’d preserved them all carefully.
She remembered when their housekeeper had thrown away her collection of letters without asking. That night, she’d rushed out in tears, searching frantically until she’d recovered every discarded piece. Ken had been so angry he’d fired the housekeeper on the
spot.
Now, Calista’s voice was empty. “They were taking up space. I needed to clear them out.”
She paused. “They’re useless now anyway.”
Ken searched her face intently, desperate to catch any flicker of emotion. But her
expression remained perfectly blank. What she’d once treated as precious treasures, she
now dismissed as worthless.
The realization made his chest tighten inexplicably. He wanted to say something–anything–but the words wouldn’t come.
Then Viola appeared. “Ken, don’t be so harsh with her. She’s just trying to get your attention again.”
Ken’s tension eased at Viola’s words, his expression hardening into disapproval. “Calista,
“Giving Up My First Love For Secret Research Second Chance at Happiness:
Tapter
you’re only making me more disgusted with this behavior.”
You misunderstand,” Calista replied calmly. She walked to the kitchen, retrieved a match, and set the box of memories ablaze.
Eight years of shared memory turned to ash in an instant.
“Calista, what are you doing?” Ken instinctively moved to extinguish the flames, but Viola
held him back.
Calista met his panicked gaze with her cold ones. “What you don’t want to see–burn it, and
it’s done.”
As the box crumbled to ashes in the yard, Ken felt as if something was being torn from his.
heart.
Perhaps out of spite, Ken spent the next few days flaunting his affection for Viola in front of
Calista.
But she remained silent, barely gave them any expression.
When Viola asked for her opinion on their new house’s design, she offered practical suggestions without hesitation.
Her indifference frustrated Ken more than any reaction could have. He could feel she was leaving his world, becoming a stranger.
The night before the satellite base transfer, Ken knocked on her door–something he’d never done before.“I’m driving the new researchers to the base tomorrow. I’ll bring you back something interesting.”
Calista smiled faintly. “Okay.”
Early the next morning, she loaded her bags into the car, ready to leave everything behind.
