His Heart Beat for Her, So I Left Chapter 03
Serena’s POV
Most of the pictures were of Cecilia in profile or with her back to the camera. Jacob, who was holding the phone, would occasionally show just a hand or half of his smiling face. Every photo held the quiet pining of his younger years.
Then Cecilia transferred to the overseas pack. Jacob had written a very long, heartfelt entry in his notes app and saved a screenshot of it in his photo album.
I read every word. Tears spilled down the screen..
[I ached to tell her she was the only love of my life.]
[You’re the only one I ever want to take pictures with.]
[I long to see you in a mating gown.]
[Cecilia, I love you.]
Even after Cecilia started posting photos from abroad, he still saved every single one without fail.
Then I saw the most recent one. It wasn’t Cecilia.
It was me.
I was wearing my mating gown, smiling sweetly at Jacob in the sunlight.
The caption read: [Cecilia, it was as if I was finally seeing you in a mating gown.]
I stared blankly at that line. My heart was ripped open and crushed to pulp. The pain spread all the way to my nerve endings, until even my soul trembled.
Why?
What had I done to endure such agony? Was loving him the mistake? Or was I wrong to stay by his side, building a life with him from the ground up?
I had given him the best years of my life. I received no real love in return. Instead, I’d become a complete farce.
I stormed out of the bedroom and burst into his study—the room he never let me enter—and swept every book off the shelves.
Hidden behind the bookcase were the birthday gifts he had prepared for Cecilia but had never sent. One for each year, from age zero to twenty-eight. Each one was wrapped in an elegant gift box with a beautiful ribbon. Every gift came with a handwritten letter.
How romantic.
I laughed and cried at the same time, stomping wildly on those gifts like I had lost my mind. Absurd jealousy twisted in my chest.
So this cold, lifeless Jacob could still be stirred for someone else.
The study door opened. Jacob walked in, and for the first time, he looked truly flustered. He pulled me into his arms and lifted me away from the broken glass on the floor.
Every step toward him felt like walking on broken glass. I had given everything I had and endured so much pain.
“Jacob, I can’t go on like this…”
“We’re done.”
Jacob crouched down and carefully picked the glass shards out of the soles of my feet with tweezers. He didn’t say a word.
“I mean it. We’re done,” I said.
He didn’t respond. He just reached for the iodine and bandages.
I struck him hard across the face. The first aid kit fell to the floor with a sharp crash that broke the silence.
Jacob pressed his tongue against his cheek and finally stopped avoiding me.
“Does it have to be this way?”
“We’re done.” My voice was firm.
“Serena, quit being so childish.” He sounded like he was scolding a child. ” We’ve been together for ten years. Every detail for the mating ceremony is set. Why call it off now? Just be reasonable. You’re almost thirty. You really want to throw that away?”
I gripped the hem of my dress tightly. ” I can’t get past betrayal.”
Jacob suddenly laughed. “How have I betrayed you? Did you catch me kissing her? Or find us together?”
“Cheating emotionally is still cheating!” I grabbed his collar, my voice hoarse. “Don’t play the innocent victim!”
“I’m calling both our families. The ceremony is off.”
The smile slowly faded from his lips until it was gone completely. Jacob pulled out his phone and tossed it into my lap.
“Go ahead, call them. My parents, yours—everyone’s in there. Let’s hear what they say. Let’s see who’s really the one who can’t afford to walk away after ten years. Who needs this ceremony more. Does love really matter that much?”
I called every number, one by one. After four calls, the answer was always the same.
“Just meet each other halfway.”
“Serena, your youth doesn’t last forever. It’s time to settle down.”
Jacob leaned back against the sofa, unable to hide a smug smile.
“You’re still going to be my wife, my Luna. What more could you ask for, Serena?”
I bit down on the soft flesh inside my mouth until it bled. My eyes swept across the room, taking in all the mating decorations. All these festive decorations felt like a cruel mockery.
This was never happiness. It was a cage built just for me.
I picked up the bandages and wrapped my injured foot. Then I put on my shoes and went back to the bedroom to pack my things.
Jacob still looked completely indifferent. “Run off if you want. Just don’t miss the ceremony.”
I put my documents and bank cards into my bag and didn’t waste another word on him.
I was leaving. And I was never coming back.
No one could stop me.
I went to the airport. I didn’t choose a destination—I just booked the next available flight.
I was finally tired of crying. And tired of seeing the truth.
With a heart that had been shattered a thousand times, I set out to find a place of peace—a place without Jacob, without Cecilia, and without this ridiculous mate bond.
