An Ocean Between Hearts

By six, Amelia had whipped up a six-dish dinner with soup—Chad Felton's favorites, of course.

By seven, she'd prepped his bath, complete with rose petals and candles.

By eight, his slippers were perfectly lined up by the door.

At nine, Chad finally strolled in. Amelia stepped up, taking his suit jacket. "Eat first or bathe?" she asked, setting the slippers in front of him and hanging the jacket.

"Bathe," he muttered, eyes glued to his phone.

By six, Amelia had whipped up a six-dish dinner with soup—Chad Felton's favorites, of course.

By seven, she'd prepped his bath, complete with rose petals and candles.

By eight, his slippers were perfectly lined up by the door.

At nine, Chad finally strolled in. Amelia stepped up, taking his suit jacket. "Eat first or bathe?" she asked, setting the slippers in front of him and hanging the jacket.

"Bathe," he muttered, eyes glued to his phone.

Thirty minutes later, he came out in his robe, towel in hand. Amelia passed him his pajamas without a word and rushed to reheat the dinner she'd kept waiting.

Chad, used to her quiet service, barely looked her way. In a good mood tonight, he stayed fixated on his phone, a faint smile playing on his lips as he typed.

Amelia's eyes flicked to his screen, catching the name 'Irina.' Her expression wavered for a split second, but she quickly looked away and kept moving.

Her own phone buzzed. It was Miranda. With a sigh, she picked up.

"Amelia, are you really divorcing Chad?"

She stared out the window, where a single night-blooming flower glowed softly under the lamplight. After a pause, she answered, "You've always known why I stayed. That contract's done now. Irina's back, divorced, and Chad... he doesn't need me anymore."

Miranda let out a heavy sigh, her voice laced with regret. "You've been through so much these past years. I hoped your dedication would win his heart, but... never mind. With Irina back, I guess I don't have to worry about him anymore. Five years ago, you gave up studying abroad for Chad. If you're still interested, I can help set it up again."

Amelia's gaze stayed on the flower as it fully bloomed, her thoughts quiet. Five years of her life—gone. It was time to move on.

"Thanks," she said. "Please make the arrangements. I'm ready to leave."

By the time the call ended, the flower outside had already started to wilt—briefly beautiful, now fading fast. Just like her five years with Chad.

Her family had struggled financially, but the Feltons' support had given her the chance to stay in school and excel, eventually earning the school's only foreign exchange scholarship.

Grateful, she'd gone to the Felton estate to thank them in person—a gesture most would've skipped. Miranda had planned to politely dismiss her, but after a long, thoughtful look, she'd said something that changed everything.

"If you really want to repay us, I have a favor to ask."

From Miranda, Amelia learned