He Promised Next Life So I Left Today

Chapter 4

My departure was scheduled for the day of my 26th birthday.

I'd finished all my handover work at the company, and the overseas office had already taken care of my work permit.

Julian came to see me with the fully restored bracelet.

He slid it across the table.

"I found the best restorer there is. It couldn't be restored to exactly how it was before, but it still looks beautiful."

I didn't reach for it. "Why didn't you have Sienna come apologize to me herself?"

"She hasn't been sleeping well these past few days. She bursts into tears whenever anyone brings up what happened that day."

Julian paused before adding, "It's not that she doesn't feel guilty. She's just too scared to face you."

"Julian, all I want is one apology. You can spend tens of millions on a diamond ring for her. You can sign over your company shares to her. So why is it so damn hard to make her take responsibility for one mistake?"

He stared at me, exhaustion creeping into his eyes.

"Summer, you know she can't handle much. You're more mature than her. Tougher, too."

"Oh, so because I'm tougher, I'm supposed to take all the heat?"

"That's not what I meant."

He wrapped his hand around mine, the gesture as natural to him as it had always been.

"Let me spend your birthday with you tonight, okay? I canceled every other plan I had. We'll go to that restaurant you love. Just the two of us."

His palm was warm. I didn't pull my hand away right away.

For a foolish few seconds, I even let myself believe he might actually keep his word this time.

At least then, our 6 years together wouldn't end with our last meal being such a miserable disaster.

"7 p.m. tonight," I said, holding his gaze. "Don't be late."

He leaned down and kissed my fingertips.

"I won't. And this year's birthday wish? I'll make sure it comes true for you."

As it turned out, I had no intention of showing up to that dinner.

Instead, I dragged my suitcase to the airport and settled into the departure lounge.

At 6:58 p.m., my phone pinged.

Julian had sent me a photo of a restaurant table.

26 candles stood in the center of the cake, and right beside it was the brooch I'd been raving about for ages.

"I'm here. Stuck in traffic?"

I stared at the photo for what felt like forever.

That stupid little spark of hope lingering in the back of my mind flared up again.

What if he really was going to wait there for me this time, and Sienna didn't call him away?

Should I turn around and go back, just to hear whatever last-minute excuse he had?

At exactly 8 p.m., another text appeared on my screen.

Julian: Something came up with Sienna. She woke up and couldn't find me. She had another panic attack. I have to go over there first. I'm so sorry. I'll make it up to you twice over tomorrow, okay? Be good and wait for me.

I stared at those words, "be good", and suddenly let out a laugh.

He always left me right where I was, giving me gentle orders to keep waiting.

In my last life, I waited for him to come home.

In this life, I waited for him to clean up Sienna's messes.

I'd probably be waiting in the next life too, just so he could keep that empty promise of, "I'll never let you down in the next life."

But who had that much time to spend waiting in line?

I didn't reply.

The airport announcement reminded passengers to board.

I pulled the SIM card from my phone and tossed it into the trash can beside me.

I picked up my luggage and walked through the boarding gate.

This time, the flight I was on would never come back to him.