Chapter 8
"Carissa, all of this is for you. From now on, I'll support you—just kick back and enjoy the good life at home," Kelvin said with a gentle smile.
Carissa smiled faintly.
They'd just started eating when Kelvin's phone suddenly began buzzing nonstop.
He checked the screen, his eyes growing darker with every message.
"Carissa, keep eating. Something's up at the studio. I've got to go handle it," Kelvin said.
She simply nodded.
But Kelvin didn't come back—not that night, not even the next day.
He just shot over one message: [The concert's in three days. I'll be rehearsing at the venue until then. Be good and take care of yourself.]
Whether he was actually busy or just shacking up with some other woman, Carissa was honestly too fed up to care anymore.
She tossed out all the matching mugs for couples, the scarf she'd knitted herself, and every holiday gift she'd received over the five years with Kelvin.
She only kept two sets of clothes—the rest were donated.
Looking around at the now-empty villa, Carissa felt like the heavy gloom clouding her heart these past few days was finally starting to lift.
It was almost poetic—the day Carissa chose to leave was Christmas, the anniversary of when she and Kelvin first got together.
Hoping to part on good terms, Carissa texted Kelvin first thing that morning.
[Will you be home for lunch? There's something I want to tell you.]
Kelvin simply responded: [Sure.]
But Carissa sat at the table all the way until two, reheating the food three times already, but still, not a sound from the front door.
Feeling something was off, she pulled up Linda's alt account.
She post: [Who else is lucky enough to still be getting Christmas gifts at 25?]
The post was paired with a photo of Kelvin decked out in a bulky Santa suit, slinging a massive sack filled with luxury gift boxes, and goofing around, trying to make Linda laugh.
Carissa powered off her phone, then silently scraped the cold food into the trash.
Just as she was packing up to leave, Kelvin finally texted her.
[Carissa, I was stuck rehearsing with the stage crew all noon and totally spaced on lunch. Please don't be upset, alright?]
[Tonight's the biggest concert I've ever had. I saved a front-row seat just for you. The show starts at eight. Remember to put on a mask and those sunglasses so none of my fans spot you.]
[Oh, and the company decided on their own to bring in Linda as a surprise guest vocalist, plus they've set up some couple act onstage.]
[It's just for the cameras—not the real deal. Don't let it get to you, and don't take it to heart. I only love you. If it's too much, just slip out half an hour early. When all this is over, I'll take time off and stay home with you. Promise me, Okay?]
After thinking it over, Carissa messaged the steward for her private jet, telling him to hold off her departure for a while.
She flagged down a taxi and made her way straight to the stadium.
Kelvin wasn't kidding—this concert was massive. The sea of glowing light sticks almost turned the whole stadium into daylight.
After waiting for an hour, Kelvin finally made his appearance.
He strode out from the lift platform, dressed in a crisp white turtleneck and black slacks that accentuated his tall, trim figure.
It was like time had never touched him. He looked just as striking and handsome as the day they first met, his whole presence still exuding that same clean, effortless charm.
All around her, Carissa's ears were bombarded by the ear-splitting screams and endless love confessions from fans.
Only now, Carissa's heart didn't so much as flutter for him.
After fifteen songs, it was time for Kelvin's signature fans' wish moment.
A thousand sky lanterns rose into the night sky, while everyone in the stadium quietly closed their eyes together.
Carissa pressed her hands together.
She whispered under her breath, "Kelvin, our fate ends here. Let's part ways, and may we both do well—never to meet again."
An hour later, the surprise segment kicked off.
Kelvin strolled out in a sleek white suit, leading Linda by the hand—she was rocking a matching couples outfit.
The fans' screams tore through the stadium, all of them shouting, "Together! Together!"
After a moment, the crowd hushed, falling into expectant silence.
Kelvin looked at Linda with unmistakable tenderness in his eyes and sang his very first love song, "The Girl I Love."
The tune was soft and haunting. Carissa could feel how much emotion he'd poured into every note.
Funny, Carissa had always thought she'd be the girl who could make him break his rule and sing a love song just for her.
When the song ended, Kelvin went down on one knee, pulled out a huge pink diamond ring, and made a heartfelt proposal to Linda.
As soon as she said, "I do," the two of them held each other close in a tight embrace.
The fans went absolutely wild, screaming at the top of their lungs and chanting for the two to kiss.
Kelvin instinctively glanced toward Carissa's seat in the crowd.
Seeing it empty, he couldn't help but breathe a huge sigh of relief, grinned without a care, and kissed Linda on stage, free of any restraint.
Carissa didn't look back as she made her exit.
But just from the wild cheers erupting inside, she could easily guess what choice he'd made.
'Goodbye, Kelvin,' she said to herself in her heart.
'I've finally let you go for good,' she thought.
Outside the private jet, as soon as Isaac Read saw Carissa, he rushed up to greet her.
He took her suitcase, tears streaming down his face.
"Miss, it's been nine years. You're finally coming home," he choked out.
A rush of emotions swept through Carissa.
Back then, she'd gone against her family and made up her mind to move to Odonset City for college.
After graduation, she refused the cushy job waiting at her family's company, choosing instead to stick around and support Kelvin as he chased the spotlight.
But never in a million years did she think she'd end up slipping away from this place, feeling so defeated and broken-hearted.
"That's right, Isaac. Nine years—it's been way too long. I've really missed you," Carissa said, her voice full of emotion.
She pulled Isaac into a hug, and together they made their way to the jet.
Under the night sky, Odonset City was calm and serene, bathed in a hush that seemed to settle over everything.
From high above, the glittering fireworks were still lighting up the air over the stadium, sparkling in the darkness.