Rian's flight landed late at night. He had been exhausted from meetings and travel, but something gnawed at him—a feeling he couldn't shake, a quiet unease he had ignored all day.
As he unlocked the apartment door, the silence hit him first. Too quiet. Too empty. Chi-Chi's toys lay scattered on the floor, untouched. The air smelled faintly of her perfume, but there was no sign of Mimi.
Then he saw it—on the kitchen counter, resting like a quiet accusation. The divorce papers. And next to them… a folded letter in her unmistakable handwriting.
His hands shook as he picked it up.
Rian, I can't hide anymore. I can't live with the lies, the fear, the rules that keep us apart. I love you—more than you know. But I can't risk losing Chi-Chi, or myself, by staying silent. I'm leaving for a while, until I can figure out how to live without hiding the truth from you. Please… read this, and understand that this isn't the end. It's just… the beginning of honesty. – Mimi
Rian's chest tightened. His golden eyes blurred as anger, fear, and something he couldn't name churned inside him. He read the words over and over, each time feeling the distance between them widen like a canyon.
"Leaving…?" he whispered, voice raw. "She just… left…"
The reality hit him like a punch. She hadn't waited for him, hadn't risked confronting him—but instead, she had vanished, leaving him only the papers and her confession.
He sank into the nearest chair, the letter trembling in his hands. His mind raced, imagining her walking through unfamiliar streets with Chi-Chi, the boy he cared for more than he wanted to admit. His anger flared—not at her, not completely, but at the helplessness, the fear, the frustration of being shut out from something he should have been part of.
Rian's fingers clenched the letter until the edges crumpled. His golden eyes burned with emotion. He wanted to run, to find her, to demand answers, to hold her, to shake her… all at once.
And somewhere deep down, beneath the anger and the panic, there was something quieter, more fragile—a fear he couldn't voice. That maybe… she wasn't coming back.
He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to think, to plan. He wouldn't let her run from the truth. He wouldn't let her carry the burden alone. No matter what it took, he would find her. He would bring her back.
Because this… this wasn't just about a contract, or rules, or obligations. This was about them. About Chi-Chi. About the impossible, undeniable truth that bound their hearts together.
And Rian would fight for it—fight for her—until the last possible second.
The letter burned in his hands, but beneath the ache, beneath the anger, he smiled slightly, almost bitterly. She had forced his hand. She had made her choice. And now… he would make his.