He Broke His Vow, I Vanished Forever

Chapter 4

Elestria's parents died in a car crash a year ago?

Kyran froze exactly where he stood. He did not answer. He hung up the call and dialed his assistant, Kian.

"One year ago, my wife's parents passed away... did you know about this?" he asked.

Kian replied quickly, "Yes, Sir, I knew..."

"Then why did you not tell me?"

"Mr. Valtor, their deaths happened at the very same time you traveled to Finland with Zyrelle. You gave strict orders, unless it was something related to the company, we were not to disturb you."

Back then, Kian had actually tried to speak to him about Elestria's parents, but Kyran had replied, "What could possibly be so important concerning Elestria? Do not bother me."

Those memories from one year ago were still clear. Kyran remembered that year, he had secured a major international deal worth a huge sum of money. And when he returned home. Elestria had come to the airport to meet him. Her face was pale and drained of all color.

She had simply said to him, "Kyran, could you... please come with me to my family's home?"

But his phone had kept ringing and buzzing with messages from Zyrelle reminding him about their other plans now that they were done with their trip to Finland. He simply had no time to spare, so he brushed Elestria aside casually.

"Go on your own. I will go with you another time."

He could no longer remember exactly how she had looked at him that day. All he knew was that after she returned from her family's home, she seemed sad and quiet all the time. She would sit alone in the living room, looking heartbroken and empty.

On the other hand, Kyran was rising fast in business, full of drive and confidence. But every time he came home, the only thing waiting for him was Elestria's sad, empty face.

Finally, he could not stand it anymore. "Why not return to acting? Take on a new role?" He had completely forgotten that it was he who had asked her to leave the film world.

Kyran still remembered that moment clearly, Elestria's pale face and her sorrowful eyes.

Suddenly, she asked him, "Kyran, do you still love me?"

Did he still love her? His chest ached sharply again. He pulled himself back to the present, ended the call with Kian, and pressed a hand into his chest, breathing slowly until the pain eased.

He and Elestria had known each other since they were children. She had stood by him through every hard day and every empty pocket, all the way until he became successful. How could he ever stop loving her?

But in this world, what wealthy man did not want everything, a faithful wife at home, while also seeing other women on the side? Why could she not simply look the other way? This whole leaving-home drama? It was definitely not because of her parents passing away one year ago.

Kyran decided he would not give in this time. Three years together, ten years of marriage, in every fight before, he had been the one to apologize and make peace.

But not this time. He was done doing that.

*****

It was Saturday.

In the past, every weekend, one of them would travel back to her family's village, always to visit his mother, never her parents. Today, Kyran went alone. The helicopter landed smoothly on the wide green lawn of a grand, beautiful home.

Kyran stepped out, tall and confident, as if the place belonged to him.

His mother, arranging flowers, looked up and frowned. "Where is your actress wife? Why did she not come with you?"

Ten years ago, she had been just a simple woman from a small fishing village. Now she wore a fine silk dress and carried herself with pride, like a lady of high society.

Wealth truly changes a person. And it also seemed to make them forget where they came from.

"We had an argument," Kyran replied, his mind elsewhere.

If this had been ten years ago, his mother would have said, "You should be the one to give way. She was a famous actress, marrying into our family was already a great sacrifice for her."

But now, she gave a cold, sharp laugh. "That Elestria has become far too proud. She ought to remember who provides everything she has."

Just then, his sister, Karylle, walked over. "Kyran, why do you not just divorce her? I have never met such a difficult woman in all my life."

There was a time when Karylle had looked up to Elestria more than anyone.

Once, when she was about to be asked to leave school, Elestria had stepped in and helped her stay. Back then, Karylle had always told her, "You are even better than my brother. You are like a real sister to me."

Now, dressed in expensive, stylish clothes, Karylle spoke of Elestria, who had given up everything to be a wife, as if she were worth nothing.

"Karylle is right," his mother agreed, her voice full of dislike. "With your position and wealth, what kind of woman could you not have? There is no need to put up with someone who cannot even give you a child."

Hearing those cruel words, Kyran frowned. "Enough," he said.

Divorce had never once crossed his mind. Not even for a moment. All he had wanted was to teach her a lesson.

He did not stay for a meal. Before flying back to the city, he sent Elestria one short message.

Kyran: When are you coming home?

But by the time he landed in Crown Bay, there was still no reply. Perhaps because he had spent so many years in charge, with everyone around him agreeing with him and praising him, the kind, gentle man he used to be had slowly faded away. He had grown angry and proud.

When Elestria left his message unanswered, he turned off his phone in anger. He did not return to Victoria Peak.

For two whole weeks, his life fell into a simple pattern: the office, the club, and Zyrelle's home at Number 99 Westhaven Cove.

Then one day, as he walked out of a private room, his phone rang. He looked at the screen. The name showing there made him stop in his tracks.

Elestria.