Chapter 2

Anna worked fast, clearing away any traces of her in that apartment within the day.

No one would be able to tell that anyone had ever lived there if the real estate agent brought other clients to check the place out.

It's just like how she hadn't left her mark on Neil's life after all these years.

"Ms. Starka, are you sure you're selling? This feels so rushed, and you've spent a lot of money buying the place and the renovations…"

"Yes, I am," Anna replied as she signed the agency agreement, her voice calm. "The sooner it's off my hands, the better."

She had bought the place with high hopes, but she had no reason to keep it now that she was leaving.

The research center required her to delegate all standing tasks and assignments before leaving; she had to stay at headquarters for another two weeks to finish the job.

The day Neil and Josie returned, it rained heavily in Jormund.

Anna was working in the lab when her phone screen lit up with a message from Neil: [Just landed.]

In the past, that would have made her drop everything and rush over, no matter how late or how bad the weather was outside. Even if she was nursing a nasty cold and fever, she would persevere and drive over to pick him up, even if she passed out while waiting for him.

That did happen one time, and Neil simply returned to the lab in a cab.

When he found out later, he simply said, "You don't have to come if you're sick."

No hint of concern—just instruction, and it broke her heart as it left her feeling like she had committed a crime.

Anna turned off her phone screen and continued working.

-

The next day, the research crew celebrated Neil and Josie's triumphant return.

Anna didn't want to attend the dinner, but the deputy chief personally asked, and she couldn't find a suitable reason to refuse.

Still, she arrived late and chose a corner seat—the dinner was halfway finished, but everyone was still fawning over Neil.

And beside him was naturally Josie, sitting as close to him as possible while vividly recounting amusing moments from the summit, drawing laughter from the table.

Neil simply sat quietly, showing no sign of annoyance with the ruckus despite being acutely socially withdrawn.

Even when Josie got excited at times and grabbed his arm, shaking it, he would only frown and not withdraw from her touch.

"Oh, and don't get me started about last night," Josie suddenly said, her gaze darting straight at Anna in her quiet corner. "The flight was delayed, and then it started pouring out of nowhere! Neil and I had to wait ages to get a taxi, and our luggage was soaked. Anna, aren't you supposed to pick us up as usual? Why didn't you show up?"

Everyone turned sharply to Anna right then; their eyes wide with curiosity.

Anna put down her fork, picked up a tissue to wipe her mouth.

Then, looking up to meet Josie's seemingly innocent questioning stare, she replied, "That's not my job."

Josie's smile froze, while Neil finally turned to him.

He looked expressionless, but Anna didn't miss the fleeting look of surprise in his eyes.

Yeah, he was probably used to her dropping everything for him and showing up all the time.

Like the air you breathe, one never notices that it is ever present, only the discomfort when it's gone.

And with that, dinner ended quietly but with a distinctly tense vibe.

As everyone left, Neil stopped Anna at the end of the corridor.

"What's wrong?" he asked, but his tone was flat as ever.

Anna stopped and looked at him, with the corridor light casting a soft shadow over his chiseled visage.

She had once felt that just being able to look at him like this for the rest of her life would be a blessing.

"What are you talking about?" She asked nonetheless.

"Josie was just asking a question…"

Neil trailed off and paused, as if organizing his thoughts. "Her expertise is helpful at the summit, while you're my personal assistant. You should be handling the trivial stuff…"

Anna knew he thought she was throwing a tantrum because of Josie, which was why he didn't shy from embarrassing her publicly.

"Neil Irons."

Her voice was soft, but it was the first time she had called him by his full name and it made him pause again.

He looked at her, seemingly surprised that she had interrupted him.

And Anna met his gaze, feeling a dull ache rising in her heart.

"This is not me pouting. And it's not because of whoever you went to the summit with."

She then took a deep breath, and uttered the words that she had practiced in her mind countless times, "And let's call off our engagement."