Beyond His Reach

After I left, someone at the door noticed the cake.

"Edward, Vanessa was here. She didn't hear what we just said, did she?"

"So what if she did?" Edward replied indifferently. "It's not like she'll actually get mad. Give her a couple of days, and she'll come crawling back to me anyway."

Their voices faded into the distance. There was only silence in my heart.

After knowing him for ten years, I thought I had a place in his heart. Now that I had heard what he truly thought about me, I felt that I had wasted ten years of my life.

How pitiful of me.

I shook my head and went straight to the institute that very night.

"Sir, I've decided to restart the operation."

The mentor, already past fifty, looked stunned. "Vanessa, are you sure? What about your boyfriend?"

"We broke up," I replied without hesitation. "From now on, I have nothing tying me down. I'm the best candidate, so please let me do it."

When my mentor heard this, his lips trembled, and tears filled his eyes.

This classified project began ten years ago.

Over those ten years, my mentor had sent off my seniors one by one. I would never forget the sight of him dragging his exhausted body forward, his face filled with grief.

For the past decade, I had never slackened, whether in professional training or physical conditioning.

I had been waiting for the perfect moment. Now, it was finally my turn.

Seeing the determination in my eyes, my mentor ultimately agreed. Then, I signed the confidentiality agreement.

Once I left, no one would know how long I would be gone. It could be at least three years, or it could be forever. Either way, I would not regret it.

By the time I got home from the institute, it was nearly midnight. As I saw clothes scattered on the messy living room floor, my heart sank.

I stood still at the entryway, hearing the moaning sounds coming from the bedroom, yet my emotions remained calm.

Soon, I began to clean up.

My existence had to be completely erased, leaving no trace behind.

I burned all the photos and packed up the computers. Everything else was cleared out, except the bedroom.

Though I didn't want to, I had to deal with it quickly.

I waited patiently for them to finish inside, then let out a long breath.

'Edward, you'll soon get your wish,' I thought.

When we first got together, Edward had been considerate enough.

His parents did not like me. They thought I was unworthy of him. His mother even hired an etiquette tutor to train me, believing I was nothing but an embarrassment.

Back then, I obediently studied for three months for Edward's sake.

Three months of hellish training were nothing to me. Even if they tried to nitpick, they couldn't find fault, so we could only tolerate each other.

Now, none of that matters anymore.

I touched my face and pushed the door open, walking straight in.

In that split second, a scream rang out. The two people inside scrambled to cover themselves.

Seeing it was me, Edward snapped, "Vanessa, don't you know how to knock?"

"I didn't know I had to knock to enter my own bedroom. Maybe I should ask my etiquette tutor. It seems like I'm getting a bit rusty."

Hearing this, Edward laughed. "Are you jealous because of this?"

"You're not worth my jealousy," I said calmly. "Edward, we're breaking up. Take your woman with you and get out of my house."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

The woman beside him snuggled into his arms and shot me a smug look. "Edward, she's so fierce. I'm scared."

Edward parted his lips slightly. "Get out."

I turned and walked out. From inside came the woman's laugh. "She's like a dog!"

The next second, Edward grabbed her by the arm and threw her out.