His Betrayal, Her Ghostly Promise

arismatic CEO of the empire we built together, and I was the reclusive genius, the u

He wasn't just having an affair with a model and i

n his other phone, scrolling through Kaylee's latest Facebook post. I saw him authorize a massive p

own number. It was a photo of a sonogram r

, one he had laughed off, ech

ver cheat on me, I will disappear from yo

ade a

permanently erase my ide

beautifully wrapped gift box. Insi

was keeping

pte

ins, it is irreversible. Your digital and physical identity will be

m, professional, and devoid of emotion. It was a serv

tering city below. Her reflection stared back from the floor-to-ceiling glass-a woman with sha

a low, steady whisper. "I

We will notify you upon completion. All outstanding payments have been

ne wen

and purple. Then, with a chillingly methodical calmness, she took out her laptop. She booked a one-way fl

biggest news story. It was a press conference for Madden Innovations, the tech

welry, a necklace crafted from a rare, iridescent metal and centered with a diamond that seemed to capture the light of

with practiced sincerity, "is the pinnacle of o

nd shouted questions. The necklace became an instant sensation,

EO, the face of the company. She was the reclusive architectural genius, the heart and moral compass, the unseen force who preferred the qui

series of interviews wi

d. "Did you hear he planted an entire garden of white roses at

orter m

they were younger!" a college student exclaimed,

and romantic narrative. The public consumed these tal

ad been an orphan, a woman who craved stability and loyalty above all else. Her stunning beauty had attracted cou

d. He learned her passions, supported her architectural dreams, and once, during a rock-climbing trip, he had genu

oposed nine times, each attempt more elaborate than the last. The ten

be loyal to you, Darius," she had said, her voice serious and clear. "But I will never tolerate b

, swearing on his life that he would neve

oundation of her world, had shatt

t two, intertwined in the most painful way possible. Darius was having an affai

ip-it was all a lie. A public facade built o

us's adoring face burning in her mind. She walked to her minimalist desk, printed the di

-ago vow was now her reality. Sh

e kind Darius used for his grand presents. She wrapped it carefully

ter, Dariu

ove," he murmured, his voice a low rumble against her ear. "The press conference ran long." He pressed

smudge of pink lipstick on the collar of his white shirt. It wasn'

, completely oblivious to the storm raging inside her. "The most b

I have a gift for you, too, Darius." She handed him t

h genuine delight. "You remembered.

r voice stopping him

ed up,

she instructed, her gaze

look forward to." He took a small sticky note from the desk, wrote 'Do not open for 21 days!', and p

a silent, hollow

y surprised then,