Lucas Roscente pushed open the familiar door.
The bridal suite was no longer what it used to be.
Isabella Evans had redecorated every inch of it.
Her presence was stamped on every corner.
Lucas's eyes turned icy.
He grabbed a perfume bottle from the vanity.
And hurled it against the wall.
Glass shards scattered everywhere.
The scent saturated the air.
He yanked open the wardrobe.
Dragged out all of Isabella's clothes.
And flung them out the window one by one.
Luxurious garments fluttered down like autumn leaves.
The jewelry box was overturned.
Gems rolled across the floor.
He stepped over the glittering stones.
As if trampling on his own foolish past.
Lucas collapsed onto the edge of the bed.
His fingers brushed over the left side of the sheets.
Her warmth had once lingered there.
His fingertips trembled.
Tears fell silently.
Memories flooded in like a tide.
The figure who always waited in the living room.
No matter how late.
Would leave a light on for him.
A bowl of warm soup always sat on his desk.
She would say,
"Your stomach is sensitive. Eat on time."
When he was hurt,
She was always the first to rush over.
Tending to his wounds with gentle hands.
Eyes red but forcing composure.
"How could you be so careless?"
Even when he stayed out all night for Isabella,
She would still text him.
"Be safe on your way home."
He never replied.
Now he realized—
Every word had carried quiet hope.
Lucas suddenly punched the wall.
His knuckles swelled instantly.
But he felt no pain.
"Sophia..."
His voice was a broken whisper.
Then he remembered one late night.
When she had murmured,
"As long as you're happy."
He had been too preoccupied with Isabella's birthday gift.
To notice the sorrow beneath her words.
Only now did he understand—
It had been her final surrender.
Lucas locked the door.
Drew the heavy curtains.
And imprisoned himself in darkness.
In his phone gallery,
He kept swiping through the only three photos left.
The resolution was poor.
But her warm smile still shone through.
It was from their only trip together.
She stood beneath cherry blossoms.
Turning to smile at him.
But he had cut the outing short.
Because of a call from Isabella.
In the photo,
Her eyes had sparkled like stars.
Now he would never see them again.
A sharp pain twisted in his stomach.
He hadn't eaten in two days.
His lips were chapped.
His face pale.
But the physical agony
Was nothing compared to the torment inside.
Only this suffering
Could dull the bone-deep guilt.
A knock sounded at the door.
Isabella's honeyed voice floated through.
"Lucas, won't you open the door?"
His gaze turned lethal.
"Get lost."
The words were frozen steel.
The fragility that once charmed him
Now reeked of calculated performance.
Those tearful eyes—
How much scheming had they hidden?
He'd been blind for so long.
Remembering how she'd sown discord again and again.
While Sophia endured in silence.
Lucas wanted to tear himself apart.
He curled into the corner.
Clutching his phone.
The screen showed Sophia's smiling face.
"I'm sorry..."
In the darkness,
Only choked sobs remained.