Goodbye, My Once‑Upon‑a‑Time

I glanced past Jonathan and gave a subtle nod to his subordinate, Samuel Ferri, who was trailing behind him.

Only then did I smile and say sweetly, "You're such a smooth talker. I'll punish you by making you stay with me all day."

Jonathan laughed. "How is that a punishment? That's a reward."

He took my hand and led me to the car.

Another vehicle followed us at a careful distance, but Jonathan, focused entirely on pleasing me, never noticed.

…

At the auction, the staff led us to a private box in the center of the second floor.

While standing at the door, I saw the woman who'd been following us enter the room next door.

A trace of mockery flickered across my eyes. I deliberately clung to Jonathan's arm, and he happily wrapped an arm around my waist.

Moments later, the sound of shattering glass came from next door. Satisfied, I pulled him into our box.

Most of the items up for auction were jewelry.

I placed bids on nearly every piece. However, Kelsey insisted on competing with me, and within a few items, she'd snatched away half of them.

I lost interest and dropped my paddle on the table.

Seeing my mood, Jonathan squeezed my fingers and chuckled. "What's the point of coming out if you're not having fun?"

"Samuel, get the manager," he said. "Tell him I'll outbid any offer that hits the floor."

Samuel acknowledged the order and left.

The delight in my eyes pleased Jonathan. He pulled me into his arms and murmured, "As long as you're happy, I don't care what it costs."

His words made me laugh.

Men really were pathetic.

When I loved him, he didn't value it. Now, he was baring his heart, and it was almost laughable.

The manager set things up at our window, and Kelsey continued trying to compete. Thankfully, every item that followed ended up with me, and the gloom weighing on me finally lifted.

The biggest surprise was the final necklace.

Jonathan had personally crafted it for my 21st birthday, and it had been lost years ago during a territorial clash. I no longer loved him, but that necklace carried too many memories.

Kelsey seemed to know its history. She bid aggressively, attempting to price me out of the room. She was convinced Jonathan wouldn't spend that much on me.

After the auction ended, Jonathan and I were led to finalize the purchases.

Halfway there, the manager hurried over and pulled him aside.

After a long while, Jonathan called and told Samuel to send me home first. I stayed in the car instead of leaving right away.

Before long, I saw Jonathan walk out with Kelsey wrapped around his arm.

I couldn't help but laugh. He was quite the multitasker.

At the entrance, Kelsey handed him a box. Jonathan understood immediately, took out the necklace, and fastened it around her neck.

It was the same necklace I'd just won.

The smile on my face froze, and a faint bitterness rose in my chest. Even this last reminder of our memories, he couldn't bring himself to give me.

Once she'd donned the necklace, Kelsey lifted her chin proudly in my direction.

I lost interest and went back to the mansion.

…

Jonathan didn't come home that night, nor for several days after.

Samuel later told me that several shipments had gone wrong, leaving Jonathan overwhelmed, and that he'd had a fierce argument with Kelsey over it.

Hearing that lifted the gloom that had hung over me for days.

Unfortunately, the relief didn't last long because trouble came knocking soon after.

Kelsey showed up with her bags in tow and moved straight into the mansion. No matter how hard Samuel tried, he couldn't stop her.

Jonathan arrived just in time to see her throwing my belongings out. His expression darkened, a storm gathering in his narrowed eyes.

With tears streaking my face, I hid behind him and choked out, "I've already given you John. What more do you want from me? I love him. Is it really wrong if I just want to be near him? What's wrong with loving someone?"