The Chapter When Love was Gone

At City Hall, it only took a few questions before the staff slid two divorce decrees across the counter.

Winter stared at the covers, her vision blurring.

Something she had held onto for ten years had popped like a soap bubble in less than one.

The marriage that felt like a dream was officially over.

Cassian was moved by the tears in her eyes so much that he couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze. He pulled her into a gentle hug.

"Winter, once the company gets through this rough patch, we’ll definitely remarry. Just wait for me, all right?"

For the first time, she didn’t give him the answer he wanted. She buried her face in his shoulder and whispered, "No."

But his phone rang before he could hear her.

He glanced at the screen and quickly declined the call—but not before she caught the caller’s name. My Princess.

A prince belonged with a princess. She… she was just a Cinderella without the magic.

She turned her face away to force her tears back and lift her head to calm the storm within.

Cassian slipped on the suit jacket draped over his arm and ordered a taxi for her.

"Go home and wait for me. I have to run by the office."

After saying that, he gave the driver a string of instructions to drop her off close to the entrance so she wouldn’t have to walk far and to drive slowly so she wouldn’t get carsick.

He spent ten whole minutes making sure every detail was right before getting into his own car.

Winter kept her head bowed, catching her tears before they could fall. Her throat ached as she swallowed them down before she spoke to the driver.

"Let’s go."

She didn’t care where Cassian was going… until the roads began to overlap.

At a fork, she found herself quietly telling the driver to follow him.

She wasn’t prepared for where he stopped. City Hall, again.

From the backseat of the taxi, she watched Cassian stride up to Yvonne with arms wide open. Then, he pulled her close in a full embrace.

The wedding ring that had once matched Winter’s was gone from his hand. A bright red tie replaced the one he had worn earlier, all to make himself completely belong to Yvonne Harris alone.

She had known he had divorced her to marry Yvonne, but she hadn’t expected it to be the same day.

The ink on the divorce papers had barely dried and the next moment, he and Yvonne had already obtained their marriage certificate.

Seriously, Cassian couldn’t wait even one day?

The clerk’s office had been cleared just for them. In less than five minutes, they walked out holding a fresh marriage certificate.

Cassian took out a bouquet as if from thin air, then bent and scooped Yvonne up in his arms, carrying her bridal-style to the car.

This was how he loved someone. It was the first time Winter had ever seen that light in his eyes.

Her fingers tightened around the divorce certificate in her lap as she rolled up the window.

"Drive."

As the car pulled away from City Hall, she kept her gaze fixed on the blur outside, her eyes heavy with tears that refused to fall.

She didn’t go home. Instead, she headed straight to the office.

The moment she stepped inside, Yohan, one of the senior staff, spotted her and came over with a grin.

"Winter, I thought you were off today. What brings you in?"

Winter offered a faint smile. "I’m here to hand in my resignation."

Since Cassian's divorce with Yvonne, she had come back to work, though her role as Yohan’s assistant was more honorary than anything, so there was never much for her to do.

His smile faltered upon hearing her reason. "Why resign? Does Cassian know about this? He’s not going to agree to this."

Her eyes welled up. She first slid a signed contract and uploaded the digital version to the company system.

"You’re my direct supervisor. I only need your approval."

Yohan could clearly guess she knew something, but was not daring to ask.

He tried to talk her out of it, but she didn’t budge. In the end, he pulled out his phone and dialed Cassian.

The line rang and rang. When Cassian finally picked up, all he said was, "Whatever it is, you decide."

His expression turned awkward as he hung up.

A dull ache spread in Winter’s chest, but she forced a graceful smile.

"Don’t feel bad. I already talked about this to him and he’s fine with it. I just need a break. Planning to take a trip, clear my head. I’ll be back before you know it."

Yohan felt slightly relieved upon hearing she was planning to take a trip.

He told himself that only a handful of people knew the truth and there was no way it could have reached her ears. So, he didn't even think twice before agreeing.

She said her goodbyes, but still didn’t want to return home.

On the way home, she walked the entire way, as if she wanted to take in the entire city where the man he loved was.

She ended up by the river. Sitting down on a bench, she realized she had been here before—with him.

Back then, the land across the water was nothing but weeds and dirt, with rumors that luxury villas would be built on it.

Back then, Cassian had been wearing an old, faded shirt, picking at a flimsy takeout box. When she had taken his hand, the tips of his ears went red and he had covered his shyness with words.

"When this place is developed, I’m buying you the sunniest villa there."

At that time, she had just laughed and called him a liar.

Now, the promise had come true, just not for her.

The villa where Yvonne lived was exactly as he had described, flooded with golden light.

A breeze brushed her cheek, snapping her out of the memory.

She looked down and found her face was already wet with tears.

Her chest ached. She pressed a hand to it, head bowed, breathing heavily. But the tears kept coming, harder now.

Her phone suddenly rang. She swallowed the sobs threatening to escape and answered.