Goodbye to You All

The next day was the day before Jessica was set to leave for Paris. It was also the day before Jack and Abby's wedding.

That evening, at Abby's request, the four of them gathered for a simple family dinner.

The dishes were all her favorites—seafood and spicy food.

Jessica couldn't eat any of it.

Her illness had made it impossible, reducing her options to plain bread. But even if she weren't sick, she still wouldn't have been able to eat these dishes. Spicy food made her stomach ache. Seafood made her break out in hives.

Yet no one seemed to remember that.

All they remembered were Abby's preferences.

Across the table, Abby clung to Jack's arm, smiling sweetly at him. Their parents sat side by side, looking on with beaming faces.

And Jessica? She had called the waiter over to add an extra chair, turning a four-person table into a table for five.

It was clear she didn't belong here.

But it didn't matter.

This was the last meal. After tonight, she would never see them again.

Abby lifted her glass, her expression touched with what looked like guilt.

"Jess, you don't blame me, do you?" she asked. "But I really, really love Jack. You're so outstanding—you'll definitely find someone even better. So… can you let me have him?"

Jessica smiled. She raised her own glass, filled with nothing but plain water.

"It's fine. You two are perfect for each other. Wishing you a happy marriage."

Yes, perfect. A cheater and a faker— they were meant to be.

Jack's grip on his wine glass tightened. Something about this didn't sit right with him. Why was she taking it so lightly?

"Jess, you'll come to the wedding tomorrow, won't you?"

Jessica's lips curled faintly. "Of course. It'll be a wedding to remember."

Just then, her phone rang. It was Kelly.

She picked up. "Hi, Kelly."

"Jess, have you talked things through with Jack? We're leaving first thing in the morning."

"Don't worry, Kelly. I'll be on time."

She ended the call quickly, wary of letting the conversation drag on.

Jack had caught a few words. His brow furrowed. "What did Kelly say? What's happening tomorrow?"

Jessica waved him off casually. "Nothing, just something about a work contract."

She no longer saw the need to explain anything to him. After all, what was he to her now?

The others finished their meal in high spirits, chatting and laughing.

Jessica ate in silence, each bite tasteless.

That night, back home, she double-checked her luggage. Everything was in place.

She went to bed early.

The next morning, before the sun had risen, she was already up.

She took a slip of paper, wrote two simple words—I'm leaving—and left it behind.

Then she blocked Jack. Blocked Abby. Blocked every last one of them—on her phone, on Telegram, and on every possible means of contact.

Dragging her suitcase behind her, she hailed a taxi to the airport, where she met up with the junior assistant assigned to this company trip.

Goodbye. Goodbye forever.