Chapter 13 Breakup Dinner
Sarah kept her head down, not quite understanding his need to ask what he already knew. “I’m not living here anymore.”
Shane frowned and placed a firm hand on her suitcase.
“Still upset with me? I know–it’s a bit unfair sending you to the branch office.” He reached up and smoothed her hair like he always did. “But our Sarah’s always been so understanding. Help me out a little, won’t you?”
Sarah smiled faintly–cool, distant. “Got it.”
“It’s probably better this way, too. With Nora staying here…” Shane reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “I have a small apartment at Castle Residences. Stay there for a while, okay?”
She paused.
This was just like him–paper over the cracks, dress up the betrayal in the name of kindness.
Doing everything for someone else, but still pretending it was all for her.
What a tragic pair of lovebirds.
She took the keys and held them tightly in her palm.
They felt like a knife, biting into her flesh.
“Got it.”
Her voice was steady, emotionless.
“Sarah.” As she turned to leave, he grabbed her wrist again. “You’re not mad, right?”
His expression returned to the tenderness she knew so well.
Sarah looked at him calmly, a flicker of dry irony glinting in her eyes.
“Be good, okay? Work’s exhausting lately. I really don’t have the energy to deal with all this between you two.”
He tried to pull her into his arms again, but Sarah stepped back.
“I understand.”
She pulled her wrist from his hand and returned to her room to finish packing.
Despite living here for three years, she didn’t have much to take. Most of it belonged to Shane. What she could bring with her were just clothes and personal items.
After finishing, she glanced at the set of keys on the table–the apartment keys Shane had given her that morning.
She paused, then picked up her phone and opened a real estate platform. She dialed a manager named Clark.
“Hello, is this Manager Chen? I’m looking for an apartment.”
A warm male voice came through: “Yes, how can I help you, Miss?”
“Saunders,” Sarah replied quietly. “I’m looking for a short–term rental, around twenty days. One–bedroom if
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Chapter 13 Breakup Dinner
possible, clean and ready to move in by this evening. Do you have anything?”
+8 Pearls
“I do. One place just became available. The previous tenant left a few days ago. It’s a two–bedroom unit–very clean and quiet. The owner lives across the hall but is rarely there. He rents it out since he’s almost never in the city.”
Two bedrooms was a bit much for one person–but she had no better options. And time was short.
“Sounds good. What’s the price range?”
“Since it’s a sublet, it’s not too expensive. I’ll send photos now, and if you like it, you can come see it right away.”
“Great. Thank you.”
After hanging up, she added him on WhatsApp. Once she saw the photos and price, she confirmed immediately.
As she prepared to leave with her suitcase, she paused.
She hadn’t yet found the chance to formally resign–or to tell Shane about ending the relationship.
She couldn’t just disappear. Not after three years of effort and sincerity. Even if she was over him, she needed to take responsibility for what they once had.
Sarah let go of her luggage and walked to the study.
She pulled out a pen and paper, writing two letters by hand: one was her resignation. The other–a personal letter to Shane.
She wouldn’t be going to the branch.
She quit.
In her letter, she proposed a final dinner together–twenty–six days from now, at the restaurant where they first met.
Their last supper.
Their official goodbye.
After that, they would part ways for good.
She left both the letter and her resignation neatly on his desk.
By the time she walked out the door, it was nearly 3 p.m.
Shane returned home a short while later.
On his way to the study, he passed the guest room Sarah had been using.
His steps hesitated.
His hand rested on the doorknob.
When he pushed it open, the room was empty.
Everything that had once been hers–gone.
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Chapter 13 Breakup Dinner
His face remained expressionless as he closed the door and headed toward the study.
Click.
The door opened.
He walked toward the desk.
There, in plain view, sat Sarah’s resignation letter and her final note to him.
His gaze fell over the page.
