Chapter 3

I go to the art gallery on the west side of the city.

Luna looks surprised to see me. "Sia? What are you doing here? Hugo, he—"

"He's busy." I cut her off. My eyes scan the paintings on the wall.

"I heard your exhibition is opening. I came to take a look."

She's the same as ever—always in that plain white dress. Sunlight pours through the glass roof and turns her into something unreal.

"Sia, you and Hugo… are you… okay all these years?""

"Better than okay." I lift my hand, making sure she sees the huge diamond on my ring finger.

The one Hugo forced onto my hand this morning before he left.

"He's just so worried about me. I throw a little tantrum, and he spends hours making it up to me. So annoying."

"He insisted this ring suits me. Such a tacky taste man. Bad taste."

Luna's eyes flick over the ring and a deeper smile curves her mouth. "Hugo's always been careful with people he cares about."

She tilts her head slightly. "Just like back then… because my heart condition was bad, Hugo moved me to Harbor Manor to recuperate and even bought anther separate new house for you two as your home."

"You must have been so disappointed then," she adds slowly.

A chill skates across my fingertips.

She keeps going, her voice full of fake apology.

"Hugo was just worried about me living too far from the hospital. He said the manor was quieter, better for my recovery."

"So sorry for the trouble, Sia."

"I know you loved that manor," she continues, "But you're living there now. I guess that makes up for it?"

"Back then, he came to see me every day. He said I was the only one who could make him forget his worries."

"Then I got better and went abroad to study." She looks at me. "If I hadn't, maybe I'd still be living in the manor."

She looks up at me, waiting for me to break.

Am I supposed to collapse? Of course I should. How could I not?

But the collapse happened long ago.

Back then, I was drowning in grief over my mother's death. I was recovering from my artificial heart surgery. I didn't have the energy to notice anything else.

Then Luna celebrated her recovery with a party at the manor. She posted a Moments update—deleted quickly but she had explicitly tagged me.

The location was Harbor Manor. In the corner of the photo, I saw Hugo's silhouette. All his friends were there.

I drove straight to the manor.

Through the iron gate, I could see lights. People moved and laughter leaked through.

I heard someone joking: "Luna, Hugo's kept you so well hidden in this manor for two years. what, not planning on finding a boyfriend?"

A soft, teasing laugh followed.

Then I heard Hugo murmur something indistinct. And a servant called out, "Mrs. Vance, your tea."

Mrs. Vance.

No one in that room corrected her.

I stood there in the dark. And suddenly I understood.

Those nights when he said he had business trips, or late meetings—he spent them here, with another woman called "Mrs. Vance", living in what was supposed to be our home.

I stood there for a long time. Then I drove home.

I waited for him to come back at dawn, I put a divorce agreement in front of him.

No drama. Just the paper.

"Hugo. Let's get a divorce."

It was the first time I meant it.

He looked panicked. "What happened? What are you talking about?"

I laughed bitterly and made up a childish and petty lie. "This villa isn't grand enough. I want to live in Harbor Manor. If not, divorce."

He stared at me for a long time.

I took out my phone and applied for the divorce online in front of him.

In a sense, I think waiting was a very agonizing process.

On the last day of the divorce cooling‑off period, he put the keys to Harbor Manor in my hand.

"Sia," he said. "This is your home now."

Back then, I thought he had chosen me.

I gave him one more chance.

But really, he only gave me the manor because she was leaving. Becausa she has to pursu her dreams. The place she had lived was just something he could throw my way.

"Sia?" Luna's question pulls me back to the present.

Luna is looking at me. Her eyes look curious.

My heart lurches.

My phone screen lights up by itself. It's the app connected to my artificial heart. The heart rate graph spikes and dips.

Alerts flash: "Abnormal emotional fluctuation detected. Please calm down immediately and avoid sustained stimulation."

I pause, dark the screen.

"Really," I hear my own dry voice. "I never knew there was a whole story behind it."

"Sia, you look so terrible… I heard from Hugo that you have an artificial heart. You can't handle strong emotions. Should I call him to come get you?"

"No!" My voice comes out too loud. A few people in the gallery turn to look.

Luna reaches for my arm. "Sia, don't get so worked up…"

Her face is full of worry.

Then she leans close to my ear.

"You should take care of yourself. After all, your heart is still beating in my chest. "

"Healthy, and warm."