Time flowed like a quiet river.
After the divorce, Amanda never reappeared in my life.
Little by little, she faded from my thoughts.
Meanwhile, my relationship with Sophie blossomed effortlessly.
She was an incredible woman—never rushing me, never demanding commitment. Instead, she stayed by my side, offering warmth and companionship in the most subtle, natural ways.
For the first time in a long while, I felt a deep sense of peace.
We traveled together, exploring places I had never been, soaking in landscapes I had never seen.
We indulged in the simple joy of love, savoring every fleeting moment.
Just as we were setting our sights on our next destination, Amanda sat alone in her office, absently flipping through the documents in her hands.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a glow across her face, yet it failed to soften the tension in her brows.
A knock at the door.
"Ms. Johnson," her secretary said in a low voice. "We've found a few candidates who meet your criteria."
"Bring them in."
Amanda didn't even look up.
The secretary stepped inside, placed the documents on the desk, and stood silently to the side.
Everyone in the office knew how unpredictable their boss could be.
The last assistant had been dismissed without warning—and blacklisted. A cautionary tale that left the entire staff walking on eggshells.
Amanda skimmed through the files, but her gaze was unfocused. The words on the page barely registered.
With a sigh, she reached for a cigarette and lit it.
She used to hate smoking.
Somewhere along the way, she had picked up the habit herself.
It was the only thing that numbed the ache inside her.
After the divorce, she found herself drowning in emptiness. The initial despair had been unbearable, but she never once tried to contact Lucas.
Instead, she began searching for men who bore a resemblance to him—men of similar age, similar features.
Her acquaintances assumed she was simply clinging to the past, desperately trying to fill the void.
Yet, even when she found someone who matched, she never allowed herself to get too close.
It wasn't about companionship.
It was just a way to kill time.
She started staying up later and later, and even when she was awake, she seemed disconnected from reality.
Her smoking habit worsened—from one pack a day to two.
Her friends tried to talk some sense into her, but their words never reached her.
A thought took root in the back of her mind, dark and relentless—if she died, would Lucas come back, even if just to see her one last time?
Her friends, growing desperate, suggested reaching out to Lucas.
But Amanda shook her head.
She knew, better than anyone, that she had no right.
This was her own doing.
If only she had made different choices back then, things wouldn't have ended up like this.