You Wanted Her, So I Left
Instead of standing beside me, cheering me on, my boyfriend, Leo Robbins, had been thousands of miles away, soaking in the sun in Bali with his childhood sweetheart, Sara Ramsey.
A bouquet of flowers and a neatly folded envelope containing a cash gift had arrived in his place.
Even when I argued, he would simply answer, "It’s just graduation, Lucy. But I have an important meeting with my client in Bali. So, please, you should understand."
Understand? That word tasted bitter. I had spent years understanding him, but not anymore.
I decided to leave him in 30 days.
"Congratulations, you are accepted to study fine art with us. See you in Melbourne in a month."
I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. My mind wandered to my graduation day.
Instead of standing beside me, cheering me on, my boyfriend, Leo Robbins, had been thousands of miles away, soaking in the sun in Bali.
A bouquet of flowers and a neatly folded envelope containing a cash gift had arrived in his place.
Even when I argued, he would simply answer, "It’s just graduation, Lucy. But I have an important meeting with my client in Bali. So, please, you should understand."
Understand? That word tasted bitter. I had spent years understanding him, but not anymore.
Last night, I saw Sara’s post on Instagram if she was still having fun with Leo and others in Bali.
Even though it was not only the two, but on the third slide of photos, there was a scene where Sara was sitting on Leo’s lap, her arms draped around his shoulders, her lips pressed against his.
It was not just a kiss between friends—it was deeper, messier.
As if the devil possessed him, Leo’s hands gripped her waist possessively.
Was this supposed to be a meeting with the client?
I had always known about Sara Ramsey. She had been his childhood sweetheart, always lingering on the edges of our relationship.
Every time I questioned it; they laughed it off. “We’re just friends, Lucy.” And I, foolishly, had always believed them all these three years.
But not anymore.
I decided I would never ever tell him about my acceptance. He did not deserve to know.
After all, only my mother had been there for my graduation, watching with teary eyes as I stepped onto the stage. Only she deserved to know my decision.
As I placed my phone down, I turned toward my mother, who was setting a plate of warm cookies on the table.
"You still remember the Donovan family, right?" she asked casually, pushing the plate toward me.
I reached for a cookie, hesitating for a second. "Yeah, of course."
"Good. They’ll take care of you in Melbourne," she said with a pleased smile.
I blinked. "Wait, what?"
"You’re not living alone, Lucy," she stated firmly. "I can only be at ease if you stay with them. Besides, you’ve known Ryan since you were little. No need to be shy."
Here we go again. My mother had always found ways to bring up Ryan Donovan, as if fate had written our names side by side in the stars.
"Mom, I was planning to rent a small studio apartment. It’s only for a year…."
"No, no, that won’t do." She waved me off. "The Donovans are good people, and Ryan is a fine young man. Think of it as a chance to get to know your future husband before marriage."
"Mom!" I nearly choked on my cookie.
She chuckled, enjoying my reaction. "What? It makes sense, doesn’t it? You were accepted into a university in Melbourne, where Ryan just happens to be. Isn’t this like the universe telling you that you’re meant to be?"
I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Fine, but don’t bring this up again if it turns out Ryan and I aren’t compatible."
"Alright, alright," she said, but I could see the amusement dancing in her eyes.
My mother still did not know if I had my own boyfriend, since Leo asked me to keep our relationship secret while I was in college, promising that once I graduated, he would make it official.
But he had not even bothered to show up that day.
What was the point of making a promise if he had no intention of keeping it?
In the evening, I went home, not expecting to see Leo and Sara had already been in the middle of our living room, laughing as if they were the most loving couple in the world.
Leo’s arm was casually wrapped around her waist, too intimate.
Even though Sara was packing her own suitcase, ignoring Leo's touch, that sight made my stomach twist.
“Lucy, finally you’re back,” Leo’s voice was bright, as if he had done nothing wrong.
He quickly let go of Sara, stepping toward me with a practiced ease, as if I had not just caught them looking far too comfortable together.
Sara, ever so innocent, smiled at me. “I stopped by for a while to drop off souvenirs. We packed them in one suitcase to save space. You don’t mind, right, Lucy?”
Her tone was light, as if she was not standing in my home, touching my boyfriend, acting as if this was normal.
I met her gaze, expressionless. “Yeah, whatever.”
Leo barely reacted to my cold tone. “You must be tired,” he said smoothly. “Go to sleep first. I’ll help Sara for a while.”
Sara quickly added, “Yes, don’t worry. I’ll leave after we’re done.” Her voice carried a soft, guilty note, as if she was the considerate one, as if she was doing me a favor.
I let out a quiet breath, keeping my face unreadable. “Take your time,” I said, my voice colder than before.
Then, without another glance, I turned and walked into the bedroom, shutting the door behind me.
But the walls were thin.
I could still hear their voices, their giggles, their whispered exchanges.
Sara’s soft laughter floated through the air. “Don’t tickle me, it’s already late. I should finish quickly so I don’t disturb Lucy.”
Leo chuckled. “Alright, alright. Just don’t take my underwear as a souvenir.”
“Leo!” she squealed, playfully scolding him.
They kept talking, their voices light, completely at ease with each other. No boundaries, no hesitation—just two people who had long since stopped pretending they were not something more.
The time Sara left, I had already gone to bed.
After that, I heard the door creak open. The mattress dipped as Leo climbed in beside me.
"Lucy," he murmured, his hands running down my facn, tracing every inch of me. "I bought you many souvenirs—do you want to see them?"
There was a time when I would have melted at his touch, turned to him, and let my love overshadow my doubts.
But that time, I moved away, my body rigid.
Leo hesitated. "What's wrong?" He let out a lazy chuckle. "Did girl period attack you or something?"
I did not speak, simply grabbed my phone from the nightstand, unlocked it, and turned the screen toward him.
The color drained from his face.
He let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Lucy, come on. That was just a game of truth or dare. You know how they are."
He leaned in, his voice dropping into that familiar, honeyed tone. “Don’t be mad, baby. You know you’re the only one I….”
I did not let him finish. Without a word, I threw off the covers and stood abruptly, stepping away from the bed.
“I’ll sleep in another room,” I said coldly.
But to my surprise, he did not chase after me.
“What am I actually expecting?” I muttered to myself in agony.
Leo was not the type to put in effort unless it benefited him. He probably thought I was just in a bad mood, that I would get over it by morning.
Deep down, I already knew the truth, but I always made an excuse that he would change.
Well, it did not matter anymore. In thirty days, I would be gone from his world forever anyway.
Chapter 2
In the morning, the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Sara and Leo in the kitchen, playing house like a perfect little couple.
As if last night was not enough to make my blood boil, Sara had the audacity to return to our home.
Sara even stood by the stove, flipping eggs with practiced ease, while Leo leaned against the counter beside her, close enough that their shoulders brushed.
He laughed at something she said, his eyes warm and relaxed in a way I had not seen in a long time.
The moment she noticed me standing there, she nudged Leo playfully with her body before turning to me with a bright smile.
“Lucy, are you awake?” she greeted, her tone sweet and casual, as if nothing was out of place. “Sorry, I was in a hurry last night and accidentally left my bag. I only meant to grab it, but since Leo was hungry, I made him some sunny-side up. Do you want some too?”
She made it sound so harmless, so considerate—like she was just a thoughtful friend looking out for my boyfriend. But I knew better.
She had never been sensitive to my presence, not even back in university.
Sara had always found her way into Leo’s car whenever he picked me up from class, sitting in the passenger seat while I took the back.
She always needed his help for one thing or another, and I never complained. I had told myself I did not want to be the controlling, insecure girlfriend, so I let it slide every time.
But maybe that was my mistake. Maybe my kindness made Sara think she had the right to overstep.
Leo finally looked at me, his face lighting up as if the situation was normal. He walked over and took my hand in his, his grip warm and firm.
“You should try it,” he coaxed. “Sara’s sunny-side up tastes like it’s made by a chef.”
I let myself be led to the dining table, nodding at everything as if I were on autopilot.
In the end, we sat down to have breakfast together. Leo took the middle seat, while Sara and I sat across from each other.
As expected, Sara filled the silence with her usual chatter. She laughed with Leo, telling him stories and reminiscing about their Bali vacation in a way that made me feel like an outsider.
Occasionally, she threw a comment my way, as if to acknowledge my presence, but it only made the imbalance clearer.
I was the third person there.
As the conversation continued, I cut in. “Since Sara was kind enough to cook, I’ll wash the dishes.”
I stood up immediately, grabbing my plate and heading to the sink before anyone could stop me.
Leo, ever the doting boyfriend, got up as well. “Sure, let me help you,” he offered, gathering the dishes and placing them beside me.
Sara stretched her arms lazily. “I’ll freshen up in the bathroom then,” she announced, excusing herself as if she truly belonged here.
The moment she disappeared, I took my chance.
Keeping my voice calm, I murmured, “Can you take me to the U.S. embassy later? My passport expires in a week.”
Leo, completely oblivious, nodded without hesitation. “Sure! We can go after this.”
He placed his hands on my waist from behind, pulling me into a warm hug as if he had all the time in the world for me at that moment.
However, as Leo and I had just started chatting casually, a sudden scream echoed from the direction of the bathroom.
Leo did not hesitate. He bolted from my side, completely forgetting I even existed.
I stood frozen. The warmth of his embrace still lingered on my skin, but the person who had held me just moments ago was already gone.
A few moments later, he emerged, carrying Sara in his arms. Her expression was pitiful, but I caught the fleeting smirk she shot my way when Leo was not looking.
“Sara’s foot is sprained and really swollen,” he said hurriedly while grabbing his car keys from the counter. “I’ll take you to the embassy after I make sure she’s okay.”
Then, without waiting for my answer, he left, leaving only silence.
I stood there for a long moment, staring at the empty space where he had been. But I was not surprised.
This was not the first time Leo had disappointed me.
From the very beginning of our relationship in college, Sara had always come first.
However, I thought after he had invited me to live with him and he started working at his family’s company, he would have less time for her and focused on us.
But reality was crueler than my naïve hopes.
Whenever I voiced my unhappiness, he would simply wave it away, as if my feelings were an inconvenience. Instead, he would send money to the card he gave to me as an apology.
"I’m sorry. Use this to lighten your mood. Go shopping, hang out with your friends," he would say, as if I were a pet to be pacified with treats.
The problem was, I was not that kind of person.
I did not want shopping sprees. I did not want material things. I just wanted a partner who cared.
But Leo had never truly considered my feelings.
Taking a deep breath, I left for the U.S. embassy alone.
Sitting in the waiting area, I filled out my identification renewal forms, my pen moving mechanically across the paper. But as I reached the section that asked for my name, I paused.
A thought struck me, sudden and overwhelming. ‘In twenty-nine days, I would be leaving for Melbourne for a fresh start. So, why not erase everything?’
My fingers tightened around the pen.
And then, with quiet determination, I signed another form—requesting the deletion of my current ID and the registration of a new name.
Chapter 3
When I returned to the apartment, the place was quiet. Leo still was not back.
“As I expected,” I muttered under my breath.
He must still be with Sara at the ER, whether out of genuine concern or because Sara had found a way to keep him there, making sure Leo had no reason to come back to me.
I sighed, too exhausted to care anymore. I dropped onto the couch, intending to read for a while, but something caught my eye.
Leo’s phone.
It was lying on the coffee table, abandoned in his rush to take Sara to the hospital.
I scoffed. He never went anywhere without his phone, yet he had forgotten it that day. That only meant one thing—Sara was more important than whatever calls or messages he was expecting.
I leaned back, flipping open my book, but the constant buzzing of his phone was impossible to ignore.
Annoyed, I reached for it, my fingers hovering over the screen. Dozens of unread messages flooded in, one after another.
I was not planning to check, just to silence the notifications—until I saw the sender.
It was his friends’ group chat, the same group from the Bali trip.
My chest tightened as I unlocked the phone with ease. The password was still the same—our anniversary date.
"We have nothing to hide," Leo had once told me with a lazy smile when I had hesitated to check his phone before. I nodded back then, trusting him without question.
But my innocence ended that day. I was not going to live under his lies anymore.
I scrolled through the chat, my eyes darting across the messages. And then, I saw it.
[Damn, bro, Bali was lit. Can’t believe Leo almost didn’t come because of that clingy girlfriend.]
[LMAO, just imagine him having to say the client meeting so that he can have a vacation with friends.]
[Leo, man, you’re a legend. Also, you should get her an award. ‘Most Gullible Girlfriend.’]
I could not believe, even Sara, who should be on the ER, also commented, [Nah, ‘Most Pathetic Girlfriend.’]
[I think you should be the one getting an award, Sara. Truth or Dare is your idea, right?]
Sara answered it again, [Well, he is my childhood sweetheart. What’s a little fun between us, right?]
[Careful, babe. Lucy might kill you out of nowhere.]
[Nah, bro, even if she finds out, she’ll just cry, maybe sulk for a few days, and then forgive Leo like she always does. He has trained her well.]
[Damn, that’s kinda sad.]
I was suffocating as they all laughed at me.
What was more hurt was they had always assumed I would stay with Leo, that I would cry and forgive him like I always had.
Not only were the messages in the group chat vile, but the photos they shared were just as infuriating.
Sara was glued to Leo in almost every single picture—laughing, leaning into him, resting her head on his shoulder as if she belonged there.
In one, she had a marker in hand, drawing playful scribbles on Leo’s face while he slept. His friends had taken the picture and flooded the chat with laughter, all of them cheering on Sara and Leo’s perfect relationship.
Meanwhile, I—the real girlfriend—was nothing more than a joke to them.
And Leo? He never once defended me.
Not long after, my own phone vibrated.
A message notification appeared on the screen. [Hey, are you still doing freelance photography? I’d love to hire you for an event.]
I blinked.
Photography had always been my passion. I had majored in fine art, and during college, I had taken on freelance projects to broaden my experience.
But in the past few months, I was preparing for graduation, so I had taken a break.
I hesitated, then checked my other messages. To my surprise, there were several more inquiries waiting for me.
A sudden resolve settled in my chest.
I would throw myself into work. If Leo had his distractions, I would have mine.
***
A full week passed, and I barely saw Leo at all.
Not because I was avoiding him, but because I was too busy to care. My days were filled with one event after another, my camera becoming both my shield and my escape.
I did not wait for Leo to come home. I did not check if he ate or slept or if he was still spending all his time with Sara. It did not matter anymore.
But that night, as I returned from another long shoot, I found him waiting for me.
Leo was sitting in front of the apartment entrance, his arms crossed as if he had been there for a while.
The moment I opened the door, his eyes locked onto mine.
"Have you done avoiding me?" he sneered.
I barely spared him a glance as I stepped inside and kicked off my shoes. "I’m not avoiding you."
"Then why do you disappear in the morning and come home when I’m already asleep?"
"Because I’m busy," I replied casually, walking past him.
But before I could reach my room, Leo grabbed my wrist.
"Fine. If you're still mad because I couldn’t take you a week ago, then just say it," he snapped. "But Sara was in the hospital, and both of her parents weren’t home. What was I supposed to do? Ignore her?"
I turned to him, my expression unreadable. "I don’t know, Leo. Everyone has their priorities. Mine was my passport. If I had waited for you, it would have expired, right?" My voice was cold, detached.
His grip tightened. "You always have time to argue with me, but don’t you know I was exhausted too? I had to go to work and take care of Sara.
“The least you could do is welcome me home, make me breakfast, or prepare something for me before I leave. Is that so hard?"
I stilled. It turned out he had invited me to live with him, not so we could be together, but so he could have someone waiting at home while he spent his days out with Sara.
I raised my voice for the first time. "Didn’t I tell you I’m busy too?"
Leo exhaled harshly and let go of my hand, clearly irritated. "Fine. No need to talk about what happened anymore. Just get ready tomorrow—we’re going to Sara’s birthday party."
I snorted, crossing my arms. "After just getting out of the hospital, she’s throwing a birthday party? Amazing."
"It’s also her recovery party," Leo corrected as if that made it better. "Lucy, you just hate Sara, don’t you? You’re always like this whenever it comes to her."
I scoffed. "I don’t hate her—I just don’t like her. There’s a difference." I turned away. "Go by yourself. I have my own plans tomorrow."
I walked into my room, slamming the door shut behind me.
But the irony of the situation slapped me in the face the next morning.
Because when I arrived at my client's event, I realized my client was Sara.
It turned out she had booked me through her butler, which meant I had unknowingly accepted a job for her birthday party.
And so, there I was, camera in hand, forced to capture the moment as Sara draped herself over Leo in front of all their friends.
She fed him the first piece of cake, pressing a kiss to his cheek as she giggled sweetly.
But his friends sneered in my direction, whispering among themselves.
"Isn’t that Leo’s girlfriend?"
"Wow, so professional. Watching your boyfriend get kissed by another girl and still taking pictures."
Chapter 4
Leo barely acknowledged my presence, his cold shoulder a clear sign that he was still irritated with me for choosing work over attending his precious Sara’s birthday party with him.
It was almost laughable—how he could be angry at me when he was the one who had made me feel so unwanted all along.
But of course, Sara had to play her role.
"Leo, Lucy didn’t come because she had work. You should understand her," she said with a perfectly practiced tone of sympathy, as if she truly cared about our relationship.
Then she turned to me with that sweet smile. "Luckily, it turns out she’s working here, taking pictures for my event. So how about you two take a picture together, just like the other guests?"
My fingers tightened around my camera.
She was putting on a show, pretending to bring us closer, but I knew what she was really doing. She wanted to humiliate me.
At that moment, I stood there in my plain t-shirt and jeans, my practical outfit making it painfully obvious that I did not belong among the glittering guests.
Meanwhile, Sara was radiant in her designer dress, perfectly styled, as if she were a princess hosting her grand ball. Leo, in his sharp suit, looked every bit the man meant to stand beside her.
Before I could refuse, Sara reached for my camera with a giggle.
"Come on, just one picture," she insisted.
I stepped next to Leo stiffly, and the moment Sara raised the camera, the whispers began.
"Leo must be embarrassed to be dating Lucy."
"Of course, he prefers Sara."
"Did you see the Bali post yesterday? Damn, he kissed her so passionately."
"Well, I’d do the same if I had a girl as beautiful and kind as Sara."
Soft laughter rippled through the crowd, their cruel words like tiny needles piercing into my skin.
Leo said nothing. Not a single word in my defense.
I reached forward and took my camera back from Sara, my expression unreadable. "It’s your event, Sara. You should be the center of attention.
“Let me know if you need anything else for me to shoot." My voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.
Sara tilted her head slightly as if trying to read me, but before she could say anything, the grand doors of the venue opened.
Leo’s parents had arrived.
They walked in with effortless grace, immediately heading toward Sara’s parents, greeting them warmly like old friends.
Sara’s eyes gleamed.
She turned to me, smiling sweetly. "Then take a picture of me and Leo with our parents, okay?"
Leo did not even hesitate—he stepped beside Sara, wrapping an arm around her waist like it was second nature. Their parents stood beside them, all of them looking like the perfect family.
I lifted my camera.
Through the lens, I saw everything—the way Sara leaned into Leo, the way he allowed it, the way their parents beamed as if they fully approved of their relationship.
And then I realized… they had always been like that since then. While I was the outsider.
Afterward, Sara sauntered over to me and pulled out a proof of half payment on her mobile phone with a knowing smile.
"Anyway, the full payment will be made according to the agreement after I see the results of the photos," she said smoothly, her voice light, but there was something sharp beneath it.
Then, as if she had just remembered something, she added, "Oh yeah, initially, I only hired you until the main event was over, but since Leo’s parents arrived, we’re having another celebration. Stay a little longer, okay?
“Don’t worry, I will add bonus payment for it."
Her eyes sparkled with amusement, as if she knew something I did not.
I simply nodded and turned my focus back to my camera.
But because I kept following Sara to capture candid shots, I inevitably overheard their parents' conversation.
And that was when I felt my heart shatter.
They had already discussed Leo and Sara’s marriage. Not only that, but they confidently announced that Sara’s birthday party became their engagement day.
My grip on the camera tightened, my hands shaking slightly as I clicked the shutter. I forced myself to remain professional, but inside, everything was crumbling.
While the crowd erupted in cheers. Some guests clapped excitedly, while others shouted with glee, "Kiss! Kiss!"
I turned toward the voice and recognized one of Leo and Sara’s friends from their Bali trip. The same people who had mocked me behind my back, who had celebrated Sara as if she was already Leo’s wife.
Sara, ever the perfect actress, blushed and laughed lightly. "Guys, don’t be like that. Our parents are here."
But Leo, his arm still wrapped around her waist, leaned in closer. His voice was teasing as he said, "Why not, babe?"
The guests cheered louder, some covering their eyes playfully, while others banged their glasses on the table in encouragement. Their parents just laughed, delighted by how perfect their children were together.
And then, it happened.
Sara, with a shy giggle, leaned in and in front of everyone, Leo kissed Sara. Not a quick peck, not something that could be dismissed as friendly. But deep,intimate.
And everyone cheered.
To congratulate them, everyone raised their wine glass for a toast, so did I.
I walked over to the towering pyramid of wine glasses stacked on the table. But instead of taking one from the top like everyone else, I reached for one in the middle.
The moment I pulled it out, the entire structure collapsed.
Glass shattered against the floor, shards scattering in every direction. Gasps rippled through the crowd.
I did not flinch. I simply raised my glass high and, with a small, knowing smile, said, "Congratulations."
Then, without hesitation, I downed the entire drink in one gulp, turned on my heel, and walked out of the event.
***
At home, Leo exploded.
"What the hell was that, Lucy?" he shouted, his face red with fury. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing you were at that party? You humiliated me in front of many people!”
I laughed coldly. "Oh? But kissing your so-called childhood friend in front of me wasn’t embarrassing, right?"
Leo exhaled harshly, running a hand through his hair. "It was an act, Lucy! Our parents are close, and they do business together. We had to put on a show for them."
I scoffed. "An act?" I folded my arms, tilting my head at him. "Then explain something to me, Leo."
His jaw tightened. "What?"
I met his eyes, my voice sharp. "Then why did you lie about the Bali trip?"
Chapter 5
"You want to bring this up again?" Leo snapped, his frustration spilling over. "Fine. If it's bothering you so much, I’ll ask Sara to delete her post. Happy now?"
I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. He still did not get it.
"It’s not about the post, Leo," I said, my voice calm despite the storm raging inside me. "I’m asking why you lied. It’s not about you meeting Sara, kissing her, or even kissing with her…."
"Oh, I see," Leo cut me off, smirking as if he had just solved a puzzle. "You’re jealous. That’s what this is all about, huh?"
He folded his arms, nodding to himself. "I just realized why you've been avoiding me for the past week. You’re jealous of Sara."
In the past, I had always avoided fighting with him. I had told myself to be understanding, to not be the overly clingy girlfriend who made a big deal out of things.
But ever since he broke his promise on my graduation day, something inside me had started to crack.
Until finally, it was breaking completely.
"What if I am jealous?" I shot back, my voice sharp, my chest tight with anger and heartbreak. "Are you finally going to do something about it? Are you going to stay away from Sara?”
“No, right? I know you never met your so-called client in Bali?" My voice cracked, but I did not stop. "You lied. You used work as an excuse so you could have fun with your friends, so you could be with Sara.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them.
"So, I think it’s better for us to break up," I whispered, barely recognizing my own voice. "Besides, our parents don’t even know about us. And now, you’re going to be married to your dream girl soon."
Leo’s face paled. Panic flashed in his eyes as he took a desperate step forward.
"No! Lucy, please." He grabbed my shoulders, his grip firm, his voice breaking. "I can’t live without you. Don’t leave me, okay?"
"I know you’re confused right now, but I promise you," he pleaded, his hands trembling against my skin. "Sara and I only did this for our parents. The one I love is you. Only you."
"I’m sorry," he continued, his voice softer now, almost breaking. "I’m sorry for not coming to your graduation. I’m sorry I couldn’t go with you to the US embassy. I’m sorry for everything, Lucy. I know I disappointed you, but from now on, you’ll be my priority. I promise."
‘Another empty promise,’ I sneered in my heart. But then I thought, why was I even so angry?
In twenty days, I would be gone and Leo would no longer be a part of my life. So, why waste my energy on him then?
In the end, I did what I had always done, forgave him. But this time, I only pretended to.
Leo let out a breath of relief, his arms wrapping around me in a warm embrace, as if all was well again.
"Then tonight, will we sleep together again?" he asked, his eyes hopeful.
I immediately pulled away. "No."
Without another word, I turned and walked into my room, shutting the door behind me.
Outside, Leo chuckled softly and said outside my room, "Okay, okay, that’s fine. Take your time to clear your mind, baby."
The next morning, I made breakfast and packed a lunch for him, playing the role he always wanted me to play.
Leo beamed when he saw the food on the table. "Thank you. If this is how it is, everything will be good for both of us."
I smiled back at him. A perfect, empty smile.
I did it for five days straight, pretending to be his doting girlfriend, but I quietly packed my stuff.
I also came to my friend’s wedding alone.
Once I came to the bride room, I told her about my plan. She cried and hugged me.
“Don’t cry on your happy day, okay?” I said while holding back my tears.
She nodded and said, “Let’s hangout when you have time, for the last time before you go to Melbourne.”
“Sure.”
However, as I saw my friend and her husband walk in an aisle, a strange feeling settled in my chest.
A twinge of jealousy.
Leo and I could be the one standing at an altar if he came to my graduation. But he broke it.
I shook my head, trying to focus on the celebration again and erasing my own feelings.
After the dinner party, I was ready to go home.
But Sara suddenly called me, "Lucy, Leo’s completely drunk at our friend’s party. Would you pick him up?"
I went. Not because I cared, but because this would be the last time I played the role of the understanding girlfriend.
When I just arrived in front of their box, I could hear their conversation from outside.
“So, what will happen to Lucy if you get married, Leo?” his friend asked.
"Lucy," He laughed lazily. "I only need her to be by my side and obey me. Isn’t it fun to have a puppy in your house?"
Chapter 6
His friends burst into laughter.
"Right, Sara is the best if you want a wife."
"So, when’s the wedding?"
I stood frozen outside the box.
Leo had never seen me as his partner, as someone precious. To him, I was nothing more than something convenient. A presence he could summon when needed and discard when it suited him.
I refused to step inside. I decided to not care about him anymore.
But, just as I got home, I saw Sara’s post. It was the party they enjoyed that night.
On another slide, Leo and her did a love shot. There was a photo where Leo leaned on Sara's shoulder because he was too drunk too.
Furious, I not only packed my things, but also stripped away every trace of myself from the apartment. I would be gone in two weeks after all.
For the next few days, I ignored him.
During the day, I threw myself into photography. At night, I focused on editing. I kept myself busy, drowning in the rhythm of routine that did not include Leo.
Whether he came home or not, whether he was still out with Sara, whether he noticed my growing distance—I did not care.
A week before I was set to leave, my room was nearly empty.
If Leo had any sensitivity left, he should have noticed the way the apartment was slowly being stripped of my presence.
But I doubted he did.
That evening, I grabbed my bag, ready to deliver the photos file to my client and also hangout with my friend.
Just as I reached for the doorknob, Leo walked in, a plastic bag filled with beer dangling from his hand.
For the first time since I heard Leo’s statement in the bar, we were standing face-to-face again.
Leo's eyes darkened as he took in the sight of me. He let out a short, bitter laugh. "We finally intersect. Even though we live in the same house, we never meet this full week. Not even one day."
I remained silent, uninterested in playing his games.
"Haven’t we forgiven each other a week ago? You even made me breakfast like you usually did, but what happened the days after? You act as if you had gone this full week," His voice was laced with sarcasm. "How long are you going to avoid me actually, Lucy?"
"I’m busy," I said flatly, adjusting my bag over my shoulder.
Then I turned to leave, but before I could take a step, Leo grabbed my wrist and yanked me back.
I gasped as he pushed me against the wall, his grip firm, his presence suffocating.
"Lucy," he murmured, his breath reeking of alcohol. "If you keep acting like this… I will end up marrying Sara for real."
I turned my head to the side, avoiding his heated breath.
My wrist throbbed in his grasp, but I refused to show pain. Instead, I answered him coldly, "Then do it, I don’t care."
Leo’s eyes darkened further. He let out a harsh snort, his expression twisting with frustration.
"Don't care?" he growled. "Since when have you stopped caring about me, huh? The fact that you're avoiding me only proves that you do, because you're jealous.
"Oh, right, I haven't shown my love for you nearly enough. So let me make it up to you now, so that you'll never dare to avoid me again over something so trivial."
The plastic bag slipped from his grip, beer cans rolling across the floor.
Before I could react, he seized both of my wrists, pinning them against the wall above my head.
"Leo, let go. You are drunk right now!" My voice was firm, but he was not listening.
His left hand reached for my chin, forcing me to look at him. His fingers dug into my skin as he leaned in, claiming my lips in a possessive, bruising kiss.
I struggled, kicking against him, twisting in his grasp. But my strength was nothing compared to his.
For the first time in all the years we had been together, Leo was rough with me.
"Leo, it hurts," I sobbed, my voice trembling. "Was the promise not to hurt me also a lie?"
Something in him shattered.
His body tensed, realization dawning in his drunken haze.
His grip loosened. His breathing turned erratic and his eyes wide as if finally seeing what he was doing.
"Lucy, I…."
But I did not let him finish. The moment I was free, I shoved him away and rushed out of the apartment.
I just realized how disheveled I looked when I caught my reflection in the elevator mirror.
“Shameless person,” I muttered under my breath, scowling.
Luckily, my mood lightened after meeting my friend. The warmth of her laughter and the comfort of normal conversation soothed me, grounding me back in reality.
I was so glad to hear how happy she was after the honeymoon, but I was not jealous of her anymore, since I knew what mattered that time.
But the happiness was short-lived, since one of the clients I should meet that day was Sara.
I could not keep her final photo rolls forever, so I made my way to meet her.
The moment we met, she said with an easy smile, flipping through the photographs, “The photos are good. You really are talented.
“Oh, I’ve already transferred the payment and the bonus also.”
“Thanks.” I turned, already eager to leave, but her next words made me freeze.
“By the way… Since you didn't pick him up that night, I am the one who brought him home. But not your home, my home. We enjoyed that night, Lucy.”
I narrowed my eyes slightly, but before I could respond, she sighed dramatically, shaking her head.
“That night, when he stayed over at my house, he mistook me for you,” she continued, her voice soft with mock sympathy. “He was… a bit out of control. It seemed like he really needed you.”
My entire body went rigid.
Sara tilted her head, watching me carefully. “So, I’m sorry, Lucy. But, well… an accident happened between us that night. I hope Leo has explained it to you?”
I felt my heartbeat slow, each thump heavy and hollow in my chest.
So, it had finally come to this.
Sara took my silence as an invitation to continue, “I know our marriage is only happening because of our families, and I know that you’re the one he really loves. But, Lucy… I did see how much he enjoyed me that night.
“In the morning, he even laughed it off, saying that it was the most incredible night he had ever spent.”
My breath hitched, but I remained still.
Sara leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “So… why don’t you just give up already? Your relationship is falling apart anyway.”
I swallowed the bitter taste rising in my throat, but she was not done.
She smiled sweetly, as if she had not just ripped my world apart.
“Oh, also…” Her eyes gleamed with something cruel. “I’d like to hire you as my wedding photographer. It would be a bit awkward if you were still dating him by then, don’t you think?”
Chapter 7
Finally, Sara revealed her true intentions.
"You’ve loved him since the beginning, haven’t you?" I asked, my voice steady.
Sara met my gaze with absolute confidence.
"Well," she said lightly, "I’ve always considered him a friend, especially since we grew up together. But after these past few days, I think… I might feel something more than that."
I scoffed internally.
"Love is never wrong, right?" she continued, tilting her head as if she were the victim of an unfortunate situation. "Besides, even though you’re still dating, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll actually marry him. So, why not just give in now and let me have him?"
I snorted.
There it was.
Finally, Sara was being honest.
"Well," I said, my lips curling into a smirk, "I plan to. Just take him."
After all, I was just throwing trash where it belonged.
Trash like Leo should be with someone like Sarah.
Her confident smile faltered for a second, but I did not give her time to recover.
"But sorry," I added smoothly, tilting my head. "I have the right to choose my clients, too. So, please find another photographer for your big day."
I did not wait for her reaction. I simply turned around and walked away, leaving her there.
***
After what Leo had done to me that morning, I had hesitated to return to the apartment. I also blocked his number.
What was more, Sara’s words only confirmed what I already knew, so I did not plan to stay there anymore.
It had already seven days left before leaving anyway.
Besides, most of my belongings had already been packed and sent ahead. Only a few essentials remained.
So, that night, I made the decision to go back to my mother’s house.
When she opened the door and saw me standing there with my bags, she looked surprised but quickly smiled.
"I missed you," I said softly, hugging her. "Can I stay with you before I leave for Melbourne?"
My mother’s arms tightened around me immediately. "Of course, dear. You will always be my little girl."
Her warmth and gentle voice was something I had forgotten I needed.
Since college, I had insisted I was an adult, that I could live on my own. But in the end, I still found my way back to my mother.
The next morning over breakfast, I finally told her everything.
“I will have a new identity, Mom. I will also take your last name. Is it okay?”
She listened quietly, her eyes soft. Then, without hesitation, she smiled and nodded.
"If this is what you’ve thought through, I won’t question it," she said.
“Thanks.”
***
Three days later, my mother suddenly had to leave for a business trip.
"It just so happens that you’re home," she said, sipping her coffee. "Can you stay and watch the house while I’m gone? The maid will be here, but I need someone to help feed the puppies."
My mother had two tiny, energetic puppies, both spoiled beyond words.
I laughed. "Of course, Mom."
She nodded in satisfaction before adding, "There’s one more thing… I need your help with relocating your father’s grave."
I looked up in surprise.
"The cemetery is going to be renovated, so I thought it’d be better to move him to a bigger plot in the city center."
I fell silent, thinking.
Originally, I had planned to live in Melbourne for only a year. But that time, maybe I would settle down there.
"Should we move him to Melbourne, then?" I asked hesitantly.
My mother reached out and squeezed my hand gently.
"No, dear," she said softly. "This is where he was born. He’d be happier staying here. If you ever miss him, just take your time to visit home, okay?"
I nodded slowly, understanding.
"Okay, Mom."
After dropping my mother off at the airport, I drove straight to my father’s burial site.
I carefully collected his urn, the framed photos, and all the small trinkets placed in his burial box.
Then, since I had my mother’s car, I decided to stop by the apartment to grab the last few things I had left behind.
Most of my belongings were already packed and sent away, but I still had a few items to pick up.
Also, I wanted to show my father where I had lived during college, so I brought his urn with me.
But as soon as I opened the door, I ran into them. Leo and Sara.
The moment Leo saw me, he stepped forward and asked me in curiosity, “Lucy, where have you been staying for the past few days? Your room is completely empty. What does that mean?”
I shrugged, my tone casual. “Oh, I heard from Sara that you two have already set a wedding date. So, isn’t it time for me to move?”
Leo’s head snapped toward Sara in confusion.
Sara immediately lowered her gaze, playing the innocent act. “Sorry, Leo. My butler was planning to rent her as our wedding photographer, so maybe that’s how Lucy found out.”
Then she turned to me, putting on her best apologetic face. “But I already explained to Lucy that our marriage is just an act.”
I smirked. So, this was how she lied to Leo?
Truly, a perfect couple—because they were both so skilled at deception.
Leo exhaled sharply and turned back to me. "Lucy, I’ve explained this already. Everything is just an act. Why don’t you understand?"
"Oh, I understand perfectly," I replied. "That’s why I made it easier for you to act.”
I tilted my head slightly, feigning innocence. “If your parents come here and see you still living with me, wouldn’t that cause all sorts of problems?"
Leo ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Lucy, my parents will never come here. I would never allow them to. What will it take for you to believe me?”
His desperation was almost entertaining at this point.
“Right now, Sara and I are thinking of a way to get out of this arranged marriage,” Leo continued, trying to sound convincing. “Can you just calm down for now?”
Sara took the opportunity to step in, her voice sweet and laced with just the right amount of distress.
"That’s right, Lucy. In fact, we've even been thinking of going abroad with you," she said, eyes glistening with artificial sincerity. "That way, you can marry Leo in secret—without his parents knowing.”
I blinked.
"We?"
Leo answered quickly, as if he had it all planned. “Yes, the three of us will go together. So in that way, my parents will think I married Sara, but actually, it’ll be you.”
I could not hold back the laughter that bubbled up in my throat.
A dark, humorless chuckle escaped me.
“The three of us go together?” I said, voice dripping with mockery. “How funny.”
Sara, sensing that her usual approach was not working, suddenly became dramatic.
She rushed toward me, dropping to her knees as she clutched my hand in a desperate plea.
"Lucy, if it’s just the two of you, then what about me?" she whimpered. “My parents will be furious with me. I have nowhere else to go.”
As she spoke, she deliberately shook my arm, her grip tight.
I yanked my hand back, trying to free myself, but in the process, the urn I was holding slipped.
Chapter 8
Time seemed to slow as the porcelain vase crashed onto the floor, shattering into dozens of jagged pieces. The ashes inside scattered across the ground.
For a moment, the world went silent.
Then, Sara let out a dramatic shriek as she fell backward, straight onto the shards of broken glass.
"Argh!"
A few pieces embedded themselves into her wrist, a thin trail of blood trickling down her skin.
I barely had time to react before a sharp sting shot through my foot. Looking down, I saw that some of the shards had flown toward me as well.
But what disappointed me more was that the remains of my father’s urn, his ashes at that moment scattered across the floor like dust.
Before I could move, Leo rushed straight to Sara.
His arms wrapped around her as he frantically checked her injuries. "Sara! Are you okay? Stay with me!"
And then, Leo turned to me, his face twisted in rage.
"Why the hell did you bring something so dangerous? Look what you did! Did you hurt Sara on purpose, Lucy?!"
I froze.
Did he really just say dangerous goods?
But it was my father’s urn.
Leo didn’t even ask what happened. He didn’t look at me, didn’t care that Sara had shaken me hard enough to make it slip from my hands.
He immediately blamed me.
Then, Sara whimpered weakly, curling into Leo’s arms. Her breath hitched, then her eyes rolled back before she fainted.
“Sara? Sara!” He shook her slightly before lifting her into his arms. Without sparing me another glance, he bolted for the door.
But just before he stepped out, he shot me a final glare.
"If anything happens to Sara," he hissed, "you will know the consequences, Lucy!"
I stood there frozen, my father’s ashes scattered across the cold, unforgiving floor, but Leo did not care at all.
He did not care that I was injured too, that shards of glass had pierced my skin.
But Sara, the one who had deliberately fallen onto the broken glass for attention, was the only one he saw.
A hollow, empty feeling spread through my chest as I slowly crouched down. My fingers trembled as I reached for the shattered remains of the urn, trying to gather the pieces as gently as possible.
Tears blurred my vision, hot and unrelenting. My throat tightened as I whispered, "I’m sorry, Dad."
I did not even know what hurt more. That I had broken my father’s urn, or that Leo had betrayed me yet again.
Even after all these years, after everything I had seen and endured, why did it still hurt to watch him choose Sara over me?
Why was there still a part of me that felt disappointed?
As I gathered the remains of my father’s urn, a cruel realization hit me.
I had been gone for days. And yet, Leo had never once tried to find me.
I was only in my mother’s home, he should have known the place. But he did not dare to come to meet me.
Since the beginning, I always knew he was never intended to formalize our relationship. That was why he asked me to hide it from my mother.
But the fool me believed him. I believed he would propose to me in the correct way on my graduation day.
In the past day, I had realized too if it had always been me.
I had always been the one to reach out first. I had always been the one to call, to check in, to try to fix what was already broken.
But this time, I was done.
With trembling hands, I took the urn and the ashes I gathered, inhaled shakily, and stood up.
I gathered the rest of my things, loaded everything into the car, and made my final trip to move my father’s grave.
The next day, I went to the U.S. Embassy to take my approved visa, my passport, my new ID.
As I stepped out of the building, the weight that had suffocated me for years seemed to lift, even if just a little.
But then why did my heart still ache?
I told myself I was fine, but the moment night fell, the emptiness swallowed me whole. The years I had wasted on Leo, it all crashed down on me at once.
So, for the first time in my life, I went to a club.
I had spent years acting like the good girl and perfect girlfriend, but in the end, none of it had mattered.
Leo had left me behind so many times.
Tonight, I was the one leaving him behind.
At first, I was cautious. Whenever a man approached me, I instinctively moved away, keeping my distance.
But as the hours passed and the alcohol burned its way down my throat, I let myself loosen up.
For once, I stopped thinking and worrying about right or wrong.
As I swayed to the music, someone moved closer to me. A tall man with dark eyes and an easy smirk. He did not touch me, just watched, waiting to see if I would acknowledge him.
"Are you new here?" he finally asked.
I turned my head slightly, meeting his gaze. "Why do you ask?"
"You’re looking around too much," he said with a small chuckle. "People who come here often don’t do that."
"Maybe I just like to observe," I replied, tilting my head.
He smirked. "Or maybe you’re trying to forget something."
I let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Aren’t we all?"
His eyes flickered with understanding. He extended a hand. "Then how about we forget together?"
I hesitated at first. But then, I took his hand without thinking.
But even in my intoxicated state, I still had enough control to know my limits.
When my head became too heavy and the room spun faster than I could handle, I stepped away.
The last thing I remembered was the stranger asking if I needed a ride.
The next morning, I woke up in an unfamiliar bed.
Chapter 9
I sat up slowly, gripping my temples, trying to piece together the night before.
My dress was still on, though slightly wrinkled, and my heels lay discarded near the door.
It seemed I was the one who booked this room last night. So, it was fine.
But since my head was pounding, I dragged myself to a nearby restaurant to get something warm.
Since it was already lunch time as I got there, the restaurant was so crowded of people.
A bowl of steaming hangover soup was placed in front of me, and I slowly stirred it.
Then, as I lifted the spoon to my lips, I heard someone calling me.
"Lucy," he said, his voice laced with something unreadable. "What are you doing here?"
I scoffed, not bothering to look up. "Eating. What does it look like?"
He ignored my sarcasm. "You don’t look well," he noted, his eyes scanning me. "Are you sick?"
"Why do you care?" I muttered, stirring my soup.
Leo sighed and sat next to me. "Lucy, I….”
"Go back to your colleagues, Leo," I cut him off. "You don’t have to pretend to care about me here. I know everyone already knows you will marry Sara, so don’t make this careless act."
His jaw tensed, but before he could argue, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. My vision blurred, and I barely registered my spoon slipping from my fingers.
The last thing I saw was Leo’s panicked expression before everything went dark.
That time, I woke up in a familiar place, our apartment.
A cool, damp towel rested on my forehead, and the faint scent of Leo’s cologne filled the air.
Slowly, I turned my head, only to find Leo sitting beside me, his brows furrowed in concern.
"You're awake," he murmured, reaching out to adjust the towel.
I blinked, confused. "What?"
"You fainted at the restaurant," he said softly. "You had a fever, so I brought you home."
I frowned, trying to push myself up, but Leo gently placed a hand on my shoulder. "Don’t move too much. Just rest, okay?"
I wanted to argue. I should have argued. But the warmth of the blanket around me, the tenderness in his touch, and the exhaustion weighing down my body made it impossible.
He had taken care of me all day.
Made me drink warm water. Kept cooling my forehead with a damp cloth. Adjusted the blanket whenever I shifted.
And as much as I hated myself for it, I felt safe again.
I watched as Leo quietly prepared a bowl of porridge, blowing on the spoon before holding it up to my lips.
"Here, eat a little," he coaxed.
I hesitated but eventually took a bite.
He smiled, as if relieved.
And at that moment, I felt it again.
That dangerous, lingering feeling that had kept me tied to him for so long.
That feeling of being loved.
But which was the real Leo?
The one who held me gently, who looked at me like I was his whole world, or the one who had always left me for Sara?
A part of me wanted to believe in this version of him.
Because this was the Leo I had fallen in love with in the first place.
"Lucy, you’re burning up," Leo said, his voice filled with worry.
I sat on the campus bench, shivering despite the warmth of the afternoon sun. "I told you, it’s just a small cold."
"Small cold, you say?" he muttered, kneeling in front of me. Without hesitation, he pulled off his hoodie and slipped it over my shoulders.
I laughed weakly. "What about you? Won’t you be cold?"
Leo smirked. "You really think I’d let my girlfriend freeze before me?"
Back then, I was his priority.
He used to pick me up after class, always leaning against his car with a lazy grin, waiting for me.
We used to go on dates where time did not seem to exist—spending hours in cafés, walking aimlessly around the city, stealing kisses when no one was looking.
There was a time when it felt like we were the only ones in the world.
I snapped back to the present as Leo brushed a strand of hair away from my face.
"You should get some sleep," he murmured. "I’ll be here when you wake up."
Since my body was still so weak, I closed my eyes.
But deep down, I was not sure if I was falling asleep, or falling for him all over again.
In the morning, I found myself lying next to Leo.
His arm had become my pillow at some point in the night, and I had curled up against him without realizing it.
As if sensing I had awoken, Leo stirred. His eyes fluttered open, and when he saw me, he let out a quiet gasp.
"Lucy," he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep. His hand instinctively reached for my forehead, checking my temperature.
When he felt that the fever was gone, he exhaled in relief before pulling me into a tight hug.
"Thank god," he whispered into my hair. "You scared me yesterday."
I searched his eyes, wanting to believe him once more, if he still loved me.
But before I could respond, his phone rang.
The name on the screen made my stomach turn.
Sara.
I clenched my jaw.
"Leo," I said slowly, looking up at him. "Can you stay with me and ignore her call?"
I watched him carefully, waiting for his answer.
But he did not hesitate as he answered, “Sorry, Lucy, I should answer it. She probably needs me in the hospital.”
Then he grabbed his jacket and rushed toward the door while answering her call.
There it was, his true nature.
"I must have gone crazy because I was sick yesterday," I muttered to myself.
Then, a small, humorless smile curled on my lips. "Well, at least there’s nothing left to regret about leaving him."
I sat up and reached for my bag, pulling out a piece of paper.
And with steady hands, I wrote the final words I would ever say to him.
I placed the letter neatly on the nightstand, right next to the bank card Leo had once given me.
In the afternoon, I headed toward the airport.
I met my mother, who had just returned from her business trip, there.
"You parked the car?" she asked.
I nodded. "Yes, it’s valet, Mom."
"Good," she said, then reached out to adjust the collar of my coat, as if I were still a little girl heading off to school. "Take care of yourself. Don’t forget to call me regularly, okay?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded, pulling her into a tight hug. Until the very last day in the U.S., the only one who stayed with me was her.
As I stepped back, I saw the tears welling in her eyes. It was the same look she had on my graduation day.
But that time, I did not cry because Leo was not there. Instead, I felt relieved.
Because I had finally erased him from my life.
From now on, I will chase my own sun...
