ot return t

sent the separation documents she had

puter and carefully examined e

She stacked them together, fastened the pages,

n, it felt as though something deep

ice. At noon sharp, the package would reach the presid

h clothes.

d to one travel case. It was the same one she had brought when she fi

gered on her face had disappeared. Although sleep had escaped her, she seemed strangely lighter. Freedom was

tepped beyond the gates wit

ng to the flowers nearby. Catching sight of her,

d with a faint expression tha

sation, pointing out tiny adjustments around the house, such as moving decorations or r

courier, Melanie drove off without

nce, Shawn had only just wrapped up a

eyes shut, grabbing a b

back unexpectedly to contain the fallout. Fatigue pressed aga

ood, and a persistent discomfor

attention had made his st

hrough nonstop work, irregular schedules, and constan

t years to preparing mild meals he could handle. Soups, broths, s

ake until dawn, she always left hot

international affairs and government dutie

before his secretary, Allen White

ed from Mrs. Becker,"

essed his fingers against his temp

the desk and turned to go,

ld

gh exhaustion. "Call Melanie and ask her t

ed. "And contact the hospital. Tell them to

words from the previous night echoed

rows. He knew he had barely p

dded, "Buy something expensive too

e. Surely, she would understand th

ef. Operation? Melanie's

. President... Mrs. Bec

, the desk phone rang

g for Allen to leave, he answered and crossed tow

while still stunned. "He must be under too much p

l rings. He then phoned the villa, where Donna informed him Melanie had gone away on business. Allen frowne

Allen arranged for a light seafood soup along wit

, the clock had already reached ten.

tie, tossing his blazer carel

ressive, broken only by th

house that immediately put him on edge. Even during his longest overseas trips, Mela

No fruit sat on the counter. The re

ie. Her profile remained unchanged: plain username, familiar

raction dated b

why he refused to answer. Pleas begging him to come home. A final heartbreaking q

cal condition, and he had dismissed

t her mother was stable then. T

ticed almost every mess

out tiny successes in her day, reminders to wear warmer clothes while

f a single indifferent reply. Som

unication was pointless since they

side, he poured water into

re you returning? I'll take yo

over, he erased t

stay away? When a

ed ag

tion won. "Why

essed

ssed with

dialed her number. The call ended after thre

and jewelry remained perfectly arranged. Makeup and skincare still

some of the tens

anie went," he ordere

s ignoring every call and messa

end before replying, "I only

ctly?" Sha

n records and found no recent bookings und

surrounding her mother affected her more than expected.

t Shawn had done crossed every line imaginable. Treating her that w

aloud to the President woul

lly suggested, "Perhaps you should wai

d humorless. "I'm assigning

sponse. The lin

ned Shawn'

log

defiance had clea

ively, and now she no long

on his screen only in

nted to ig

ne

and phone gripped firmly in one hand, he

until you reali

hrew the phone onto the mattress