Chapter 5
By evening, Asteria saw Primo trending on
the hot search.
“Devoted husband Primo spends 8 million dollars on a vintage moon brooch to make his beloved smile.”
The photo was grainy, but everyone assumed the woman beside Primo was
Asteria.
Asteria let out a bitter laugh, the sound dry
and hollow.
So, the wedding savings had found their way here, and they were spent on this absurdity instead.
In the days that followed, Primo never
once returned home.
Asteria didn’t ask about his whereabouts like she once had, always trying to handle everything for him.
She submitted her resignation, quietly
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saying goodbye to the few colleagues who had become close friends over the years.
In the following days, she began reaching out to others, gently letting them know about her plans to leave for abroad.
Her friends exchanged knowing glances as she shared her decision, sighing in unison.
“We all suspected it, actually.”
One of them pulled up Primo’s Instagram and handed the phone to Asteria.
“Anyone unfamiliar would think that‘ s you in the photo, but we know better. It’s Yesha.”
Only then did Asteria realize that, for quite some time, Primo had been with Yesha.
Primo, who had always been sparing with his social media posts, was now sharing updates several times a day.
They spent carefree days at the amusement park, tried on wedding dresses at a bridal shop, and went to the mountaintop to
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Chapter 5
watch the moon and stars.
Primo’s love for Yesha was no longer a secret; it was clear and open for all to see.
The only thing he kept hidden was Asteria.
Seeing Asteria fall silent, her friends grew worried.
“Asteria, are you alright?”
“You don’t need to waste your tears on someone like him. Primo isn’t worth your love. If he knew the truth about Yesha, he’d regret it deeply.”
Asteria smiled faintly, her gaze drifting to the busy street outside the window.
“I’m fine. I don‘ t care anymore. But there’s one thing I need to ask of you….
In just a few days, she would be gone for good.
Asteria had no more room in her heart for
anger or sorrow over Primo.
So when he finally showed up after days of
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Chapter 5
absence, Asteria didn‘ t flinch.
Primo looked genuinely overwhelmed.
Upon his return, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from his phone, his hands restless. and always moving.
Asteria sat beside him, quietly working on her laptop, transferring files from the surveillance videos to a USB drive.
Midway, Primo’s gaze lifted, sweeping the
room.
“Why does the house feel so bare? Didn‘ t you decorate?”
“You said it yourself; keep it simple.” Asteria wasn‘ t concerned about Primo noticing anything.
Ever since Yesha had come into the picture, Primo seemed to see nothing else.
But this time, he caught sight of the countdown in the living room.
He smiled. “Time flies. In seven days,
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Chapter 51
we’ll be married.”
Asteria stood, tearing off two more pages.
from the calendar.
“Our wedding is in five days.”
The two pages were filled with wishes: “Ride the Ferris wheel together” and “Watch the stars together.”
These were moments Primo had already shared with Yesha.
A sudden jolt ran through him as if something important had slipped through
his fingers.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Asteria’s phone rang, cutting him off.
When she saw it was her mother calling, Asteria took the phone and stepped out onto the balcony.
By the time she returned, Primo was once again lost in conversation with Yesha.
