Chapter 3

The next morning, Claire, still half-asleep, reached out for James, but all she found was just cold emptiness beside her.

James never came home last night.

Claire paused, then let out a bitter little laugh. She told herself it wasn't easy to let go of seven years, but she would. She had to.

She tried to ignore the sting in her nose, got up, and went through her usual routine. She washed up, then sat in front of the mirror to put on a fierce, seductive makeup look.

Her face looked radiant and gorgeous in the mirror, but no matter how much makeup she wore, the bloodshot in her eyes just couldn't be covered up.

She covered the mirror, refusing to look at herself any longer, then grabbed her phone and dialed. "Renovation company? I need you to come over right now and tear my place apart, top to bottom."

When the renovation crew arrived, they stared in shock at all the high-end smart devices filling the house. "Are you really sure you want us to demolish all of this?" one of them asked, still in disbelief.

Claire took in the whole house, her eyes scanning every corner.

The front door had a custom smart lock James designed just for her, totally unique, the only one like it anywhere.

James had even recorded his own voice for the smart home system, so even when he was away, Claire would still hear him around the house.

They'd picked out all the furniture together, even the bedding. Every part of this place was soaked in memories from their seven years.

Claire closed her eyes, then opened them again, her gaze unwavering. "Tear it all down."

The whole place was left in ruins, just like what was left of their love.

Claire couldn't stand being in that house for another second. She made a beeline for the nearest five-star hotel, determined to check into the presidential suite.

But the front desk told her the only presidential suite was already reserved for the entire year.

Claire thought that was strange; this suite was usually vacant year-round.

Every anniversary, she and James would book the presidential suite here, and they always got it without a problem.

Just thinking about James made her shake her head, trying to force him out of her mind. She made herself stop dwelling on the past and picked a room at random on the same floor as the presidential suite.

The glass elevator in the lobby slowly ascended. Claire leaned against the wall, her eyes empty as she stared out through the glass.

The private elevator for the presidential suite was also on the move. It seemed someone had just left the suite and was now descending in the exclusive elevator.

The two elevators crossed paths for a split second; one rising, one descending.

And in that fleeting moment, Claire caught a glimpse of the people inside the exclusive elevator, James and Lily.

Lily tipped her head up, standing on her toes to kiss James, while his hands clamped tightly around her waist, his face completely swept up in passion.

They were lost in their embrace, oblivious to everything around them. And of course, they never noticed Claire watching from the other elevator.

Claire shot upright, her hands pressed desperately against the glass, staring in disbelief at the scene unfolding before her.

She'd already guessed something was going on between them, but seeing it for herself hit totally different.

How could James have the nerve to bring Lily here? To this hotel, this suite, the place packed with all their sweetest memories.

Their first kiss was here, their first New Year's Eve, their first anniversary. Every milestone, every memory, all of it happened in this place.

Claire bit down hard on her molars, clamping her teeth together so tight she thought they might crack, just to keep the sob from escaping.

The elevators only crossed for a few seconds, but to Claire, those moments felt like an eternity.

When the elevator finally chimed, Claire stepped out in a daze, like she'd just lived through a lifetime.

She staggered down the hall, leaning against the wall for support. As she passed the presidential suite, she caught a glimpse of a room attendant tidying up inside.

The room attendant was stripping the sheets, muttering under her breath, "Who would've thought Mr. Keaton, always so composed, could be this wild?

"He trashed the whole place in just one night. And he booked the suite for a whole year. Cleaning up after him every day is going to be exhausting."

Claire couldn't help but sneak a look inside. Signs of passion were scattered everywhere, and the smell hit her straight in the face. She instantly slapped her hand over her mouth and nose, trying to block it out.

But the smell still forced its way in, every whiff a brutal reminder of what James and Lily had done here last night.

Claire's stomach twisted violently, her body convulsing as she fought to keep everything down. She pressed her lips together, but her body refused to listen. Her stomach was determined to purge itself, no matter how hard she tried to hold it back.

It wasn't until the room attendant's shocked scream echoed through the hallway that Claire, mortified, realized she'd actually thrown up.

Claire doubled over, clutching her stomach, retching so violently it felt like she was trying to puke out her heartbreak, her pain, and every memory she'd ever had with James.