Ethan Yu's eyes darkened. He said nothing, but his fingers tightened ever so slightly as he took out his phone and dialed Hailey Tang's number.
"Sorry, the number you dialed is powered off…"
A mechanical female voice echoed coldly in his ear. Ethan stared at the screen for a moment longer than necessary, then lowered his phone and calmly instructed, "Tell someone to open the door."
"Yes, sir."
The atmosphere instantly shifted. The laughter and idle chatter that had filled the hallway just moments before fell away. One by one, the employees exchanged nervous glances, each of them sensing something was wrong—very wrong.
"President Yu, we'll return to our rooms now," one of the department heads said cautiously.
Ethan nodded. His tone was light, almost too light. "You all worked hard today. Go enjoy yourselves tonight—you deserve it."
"President Yu, you've worked just as hard. Thank you…"
The group dispersed quickly. No one wanted to linger.
Except Lin Xin'er. She hesitated. She didn't want to leave. Her eyes flicked toward Ethan's impassive expression, trying to read something—anything—beneath the calm exterior.
But she wasn't stupid.
She could guess what had happened.
President Yu had gone to the final bid presentation alone. He hadn't brought Hailey. Not because he didn't care, but because… well, because Hailey didn't know how to help. She'd only get in the way. That's what Lin Xin'er believed, anyway. And Hailey? She was a hothead, the type to flip a table just because she felt slighted. No doubt she'd been furious. Furious enough to pack up and leave.
Lin Xin'er smirked to herself as she walked away. She never thought much of Hailey Tang. Not before, and certainly not now.
And just as she expected, a few minutes later the hotel staff arrived, keys in hand. The door clicked open.
The suite was empty.
No luggage, no signs of anyone having stayed there. Not a single item left behind.
Hailey Tang had vanished.
The secretary froze. "Sir… Mrs. Yu is gone!"
Ethan stood still for a moment. He didn't react. Not a twitch, not a frown. As if he'd already known.
"Check if she booked a flight," he ordered calmly, without turning around.
"Yes, sir!"
Ji Chuan moved fast. Within minutes, he returned, face pale. "President Yu, Mrs. Yu booked a flight thirty minutes ago. It's already taken off."
Ethan walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, his figure framed by the golden evening light streaming in from the city skyline. His back remained straight, composed. He didn't flinch, didn't blink.
"Got it," he said. "You can go."
Ji Chuan hesitated. "But sir, Mrs. Yu—"
"No need to worry about her. Focus on the victory party. Make sure everyone who needs to be there is invited. No mistakes."
"Yes, sir…"
Ji Chuan bowed and left, still unable to suppress the confusion in his heart.
Mrs. Yu had left without a word. Packed up and disappeared from a foreign country. And the president… he wasn't even fazed?
Did they really have no relationship left at all? Were they heading for divorce?
But what Ji Chuan didn't know was that Hailey's departure hadn't come as a surprise. In fact, Ethan had expected it.
She had planned to leave as soon as the bid was over. To hand him the divorce papers and disappear from his life. Compared to that cold, emotionless ending, he preferred this—her running away in anger.
It hurt less.
At least he could pretend she left because she was mad.
Ethan let out a breath, and a bitter smile touched his lips. So she left. Maybe that was better. Maybe he didn't have to think about how to deal with her anymore.
Divorce. That's what she wanted.
But even now… even now he couldn't quite cut her out of his thoughts.
On the other side of the world, Hailey Tang sat slumped in her seat as the plane sliced through the clouds.
And regretted everything.
"What the hell was I thinking?!" she muttered, smacking herself lightly on the forehead.
Why did she have to leave in such a dramatic fashion?
She could've waited. Signed the divorce papers. Closed the chapter properly.
But no—she had to blow up like always, storm off in a fury, and now? Now it was going to take forever to finalize anything.
"I'm such an idiot," she muttered to herself.
"Excuse me, are you okay?" a gentle voice came from the seat beside her.
Hailey turned her head, startled. A girl with warm eyes and a kind smile looked at her with concern.
"Oh, I'm fine," Hailey replied instinctively, but then caught sight of the sandwich in the girl's hand. "Actually, I haven't eaten. I think my stomach's acting up."
The girl let out a laugh and immediately offered her sandwich. "I haven't touched it. You can have it."
Hailey hesitated, then accepted it gratefully. "Thank you… You're really kind."
"No worries. Are you from City C, too?"
Hailey paused. "Yeah. You?"
"Same! What a coincidence!"
Hailey managed a small smile. "I'm Hailey Tang. What's your name?"
"Qiao Ning. Qiao as in 'little bridge', Ning as in 'peaceful'."
The name struck her like a bolt of lightning.
Qiao Ning.
Of course she knew her. She remembered her face, her voice, her soft smile.
She even remembered the accident.
That terrible night. That tragic scene.
Qiao Ning had died. Because of her.
Because Hailey had been reckless.
She'd driven straight at Lin Xin'er, blind with rage, and Qiao Ning had stepped in front of her.
To save Lin Xin'er.
The one woman she should've hated most.
Hailey blinked back a sudden sting of tears and held out her hand. "Qiao Ning… It's really nice to meet you."
"You too," Qiao Ning replied warmly. "Are you in New York to study?"
"No, just… passing through. What about you?"
"I was on a one-year exchange. I'm heading back home today."
Hailey's throat tightened. "What a coincidence… really."
They chatted more during the flight. As strange as it was, they got along. Talked about everything. Laughed. Qiao Ning didn't know who Hailey's husband was, and Hailey didn't mention it.
But Hailey learned enough. Qiao Ning had a blended family. A stepbrother. She didn't say his name.
But Hailey knew.
Chi Xiyang.
That arrogant, manipulative man.
The man who had once loved Lin Xin'er, and whom Qiao Ning had loved in silence.
Hailey remembered how it ended.
With a scream. A crash. Blood on the windshield.
In her nightmares, it was always Qiao Ning's face she saw.
"Ah—!" Hailey jerked awake with a gasp.
Qiao Ning looked over in concern. "Hailey? Are you okay? You had a nightmare?"
Hailey could only nod, stunned and shaken.
Why had Qiao Ning saved Lin Xin'er?
Had she loved her? Pitied her?
Or was she just… that good of a person?
Hailey didn't know. She still couldn't understand it. Even now, in this second life.
But before she could dwell on it, Qiao Ning smiled and pointed out the window. "Hey—look. We're about to land. We're home!"
Home.
City C.
Hailey took a deep breath and looked outside. The sky was bright, the skyline familiar. She had no idea what was waiting for her there—but at least it wasn't Ethan.
She wouldn't go back to that house.
She couldn't.
After landing, Hailey and Qiao Ning walked out together, chatted while waiting for their luggage, then exchanged numbers and said goodbye.
"Call me if you ever need anything," Qiao Ning said warmly.
"I will. And same to you."
As Qiao Ning disappeared into a waiting car, Hailey turned, hailed a cab, and climbed inside. "To the Tang residence," she told the driver.
She didn't want to return to Ethan's home.
That place… it didn't belong to her anymore.
She powered on her phone. As she scrolled through her contacts to call her grandfather, her screen lit up—
Incoming Call: Ethan Yu
Her breath caught.
Wasn't it the middle of the night in New York?
Why was he calling her now?
She frowned, then tapped to answer. "Hello?" she said, voice flat.