Laura's decision was final. She wasn't blaming Kevin—she simply couldn't stay without telling him first. As his eyes grew dark with pain, her heart twisted with regret. She steadied herself and continued, her voice barely steady: "After tonight, we won't see each other for a while. Work demands everything from me right now." The weight of her words hung between them, a chasm neither could cross. Their contract had always been transactional, cold, possessive in its grip—but this goodbye felt different. Darker. More permanent than either of them had anticipated.