Sienna had never been so utterly humiliated. After they had searched her and found nothing, she collapsed to the floor, defeated.

Her hair was a mess, her makeup was ruined, and her dress hung on her like a tattered rag.

The crowd chattered amongst themselves, but no one dared to speak up for her.

"Looks like she didn't steal the necklace after all. Does that mean she was wrongly accused?"

"Who knows? Maybe she hid it somewhere else."

"Yeah, Quinn said she saw her take it. Would Quinn really lie about something like that?"

Some people's attention even shifted to her body.

"You have to admit, Sienna's body is incredible. No wonder men are all over her."

"Please, she's just a seductress. All she knows is how to lure men in."

"Look at her, playing the victim. She knows how to pull on a man's heartstrings..."

Sienna bit her lip so hard she could taste blood. She pushed herself up, using the wall for support, and glared at every single person in the room.

She never knew people could be so ugly. But now, she saw them all clearly.

She pushed through the crowd and strode to the large screen at the front of the room. She pulled a small device from her earring, her fingers flying across a hidden keyboard. The screen flickered to life, showing a recording of her movements throughout the entire party.

"I did not take Quinn's necklace. Here is the proof."

The security footage clearly showed that Sienna had only gone outside for fresh air. She had never been anywhere near the restroom.

The next clip showed her and Quinn in the same frame. It captured Quinn secretly removing her own necklace, tucking it into her purse, and then screaming that it was gone.

The room erupted in a stunned silence. Quinn's face instantly turned a deep, blotchy red.

She rushed over and grabbed Sienna's hand. "It was just a misunderstanding! I must have remembered wrong. Since you didn't take it, let's just forget this ever happened."

Sienna yanked her hand away in disgust, her eyes blazing.

"A misunderstanding? And we're just supposed to pretend nothing happened?"

"I want you to apologize to me in front of everyone. And I'm calling the police. I want to file a report. The security footage has everything. This is all the evidence they'll need!"

Quinn's face turned pale, then green. "Sienna, don't you dare take this too far!"

Too far? Who was the one who had gone too far? When Quinn had her guards search her, did she not think she was going too far then?

Sienna stared at her coldly, her gaze unwavering, making it clear she would not back down.

As they stood in a standoff, Julian walked up and stood between them, shielding Quinn behind him.

"Sienna, that's enough."

She looked up at his handsome but distant face, feeling a wave of disappointment so profound it was almost physical.

After all these years, it felt like she had never truly known him at all.

She gritted her teeth, refusing to yield. "Today, she has to apologize to me."

Julian's brow furrowed in frustration, a warning glint in his eyes. "I will apologize to you on her behalf. Is that enough?"

"If you keep pushing this, it won't end well for you."

Sienna's lips curved into a bitter smile. She looked at him, laughing, as tears streamed down her face.

Of course. He was the great Julian Vance, and Quinn was the woman he had to protect.

She had suffered such a great humiliation, and yet he wouldn't even let Quinn offer a simple apology, let alone face legal consequences. He couldn't bear for his precious Quinn to suffer even a moment of discomfort.

She laughed through her tears, and without another word, she turned and walked away, her departure resolute and final.

For some reason, watching her retreating back, Julian felt a sharp, unexpected pang in his chest.

It was as if she was walking out of his world for good, never to look back.

It's fine, he told himself. She loves him too much. She proposed to him a hundred times. He'd just have to sweet-talk her for a few days, buy her a few gifts, and everything would go back to the way it was.

Three days before her departure, Julian spent a fortune at an auction, buying a rare, double-sided silk embroidery for Quinn.

That same day, Sienna spent the entire day gathering all their memories—the matching mugs, the scarf she had knitted for him, the movie tickets they had saved—and threw them all in the trash.

Two days before her departure, Julian set off a spectacular display of blue fireworks by the sea, all to bring a smile to Quinn's face.

That same day, Sienna went alone to the old pier by the lake, taking down the small, engraved padlock they had locked there years ago, the one that was supposed to symbolize their unbreakable bond. From now on, there would be no shared heart, no growing old together.

On the day of her departure, Julian still hadn't come home.

He was busy scouring the city for the little donut shop that Quinn used to love, the one from their school days.

Meanwhile, Sienna finished packing her bags and called the agent to finalize the sale of the house.

As she took one last look back at the now-empty house, it was as if she had never been there at all.

Just before boarding, she took out her phone and sent Julian one last text message.

[My 100 proposals represented 100% of my love for you. But you... you slowly, piece by piece, drained that love away. I know now why you were with me. I've learned to let you go. I can finally stop loving you. Goodbye, Julian. Forever.]

Then, she removed the SIM card from her phone and, without a moment's hesitation, walked onto the plane.