Chapter 6
476words
When the initial shock passed, I felt an unusual sense of tranquility.
I walked past Lorelei, ignored Karen completely, and went straight to the display cabinet. One by one, I collected my magical items and placed them in my space ring.
Fortunately, my father had recently transferred another estate in the suburbs to my name. I'd already been planning to move and had taken some of my less frequently used belongings there.
We'd both been too busy lately for me to mention it to Karen.
I'd planned to tell him during our conversation tonight.
Well, now explanations seemed pointless.
I finished gathering my belongings.
Throughout this process, Karen stood to the side, staring at me in shock.
When he realized I was emptying the cabinet, he suddenly lunged forward and grabbed my wrist. "Alicia, I was wrong! I was wrong! Please, can we not end things…"
His formal use of my name stunned me. Throughout our three years together, he'd rarely called me "Alicia," preferring the intimate "Lisia."
He'd always claimed he wasn't like those smooth-talking vampires who only said pretty things—he would prove his love through actions.
Heh… I laughed bitterly inside. So this was how he "proved" his love through actions?
Seeing me pause, Karen's face lit up with hope. "I promise I'll never contact her again, really. Trust me one more time. It's you I love."
Slap!
I shook off his grip and backhanded him across the face, my disgust overwhelming.
"Karen," I said quietly, "you truly disgust me."
Without another glance at his stunned face, I walked out of the manor and didn't look back.
As for the house, he could keep it—payment for saving my life. From now on, we were even.
I dropped my belongings at my new home but couldn't bear to stay there. Instead, I called for a car and had the driver cruise aimlessly through the city.
The city sprawled vast around us, its nightscape alive with neon lights and colorful illuminations dancing across the skyscrapers.
I rolled down the window, letting the cold night air wash over my face.
To say I didn't care about our three-year relationship would be self-deception.
I truly believed we would be one of the lucky ones, walking hand in hand until the end of immortality.
But fate had slapped me across the face without mercy.
Three years…
Staring out the window, I reflected on our time together. Perhaps it wasn't the most passionate romance, but we had our moments of magic and a gentle, enduring tenderness.
Loving Karen had become my habit.
But from this moment on, that chapter was closed.
I closed my eyes. Right now, I didn't want to think about anything—I just needed a strong drink.
By tomorrow morning… I would begin my new normal.
