Back at the villa, Sienna immediately dialed Professor Gorman’s number.

“Professor, how have you been? That offer for the studio you mentioned… are you still looking for people?”

Sienna leaned against the window, watching the silent stream of traffic below, her clenched fist betraying the tremor of her anxiety.

She half-expected him to reject her outright.

On the other end of the line, the old professor let out a gruff huff.

“You little brat. I practically begged you back then, and you wouldn't listen. Now you remember to call me!”

Sienna was about to apologize.

But the professor seemed to sense her unease. “Alright, alright. I’m putting your name down now. In two weeks, I’ll have someone come pick you up.”

A bitter smile touched Sienna’s lips.

“Thank you, Professor.”

Two more weeks, and she would leave this city she had called home for five years.

After graduation, Kaelan had wanted a devoted partner to support his dreams, so she had turned down her professor’s invitation, spending three years taking care of him.

Thankfully, Professor Gorman didn’t hold her youthful foolishness against her. He was still inviting her to his studio abroad, where she could finally pursue the dreams she had put on hold.

It took Sienna an hour to pack her things.

Everything in the room that belonged to her was gone.

Her gaze fell on the glass jar on the nightstand. Inside were one thousand and one origami stars, each one folded by her own hand, a secret message written on each. It was his birthday gift the year she graduated.

Kaelan had always cherished that jar. He would touch it every night before he slept.

Sienna hesitated, wondering if she should take it. It was a gift, after all. His to keep.

Suddenly, the front door of the villa swung open.

Bianca and a slightly drunk Kaelan were locked in a deep, passionate kiss.

Bianca’s eyes flickered past him and met Sienna’s.

She let out a small shriek and burrowed into Kaelan’s chest, trembling.

Kaelan squinted, his expression souring, annoyed that Sienna had interrupted him.

“You’re still here.”

Sienna’s eyes dropped, catching Kaelan’s flicker of unease.

If she weren’t here right now, they would already be in the bedroom.

Sienna cleared her throat, swallowing the lump that had formed there.

“I just finished packing.”

Kaelan’s tone was accusatory. “You scared her.”

Bianca’s eyes were suddenly red and swollen, tears streaming down her face.

“It’s my fault… I shouldn’t have come at this time… Sienna, I didn’t mean to steal Kael from you, please don’t look at me like that… I’m scared…”

Kaelan pulled Bianca tighter, his brow furrowed in anger.

“Sienna! I told you, if you have a problem, take it up with me. It’s my fault we didn’t work out, but you know life is unpredictable. It’s not her fault I fell in love with her.”

“If I find out you’ve been bullying her again, I won’t give a damn about our past.”