Gu Liang moved faster than Emma had expected.
That night, when she deliberately came home late to avoid the awkwardness of watching him pack, she opened the door to a space that was too clean—eerily empty.
Everything that belonged to Gu Liang was gone. The corner of the sofa where he always sat, the display stand for his award-winning perfume First Light, the succulents he tended on the balcony, even the iris-patterned mug he used in the kitchen—every trace of him had been erased.
The familiar scent of white tea and iris, once capable of stirring her emotions, had faded to near nothing. In its place was the cold, lifeless smell of an unoccupied house. Emma inhaled deeply, catching only a faint whisper of fragrance lingering in the curtain folds—like a sigh—before it vanished.
He was gone. Completely. As if he'd never lived there.
Emma stood in the center of the living room, staring at the now unfamiliar space. She had gotten what she wanted—a home without Gu Liang, a space entirely her own. So why did this freedom taste so bitter?
She walked to the guest room and opened the door. It too had been cleared. The bed was made, the desk spotless, not a single hair left behind. Only the floor by the window was slightly lighter in color, marking where his easel had stood for so long.
That space had once held his presence—his scent, his quiet work, the blend of turpentine and white tea.
Emma slammed the door shut, trying to shake off the memories. She poured herself a full glass of whiskey and downed it in one go. The burn scorched her throat, but did nothing to warm her increasingly cold heart.
In the days that followed, Emma tried to fill the void with the life she once craved.
She drifted through bars and clubs, always surrounded by beautiful Omegas with alluring pheromones. They fawned over her, eyes full of admiration and desire. She basked in the attention, trying to reclaim the carefree Alpha she used to be.
"Emma-jie, one more drink?" purred an Omega with syrupy peach-scented pheromones, draping his soft arms around her neck.
Emma smiled and drank from his hand, but her gaze was distant. The peach scent was too sweet—cloying. Not like…
She shook her head violently, trying to banish the memory of white tea.
"Boss Emma, there's a new club in the west district. Great Omegas. Want to check it out?" a business partner leaned in, winking.
"Sure." Emma forced a casual smile, raising her glass. "Let's drink till we drop."
She partied hard, drank even harder, trying to drown herself in noise and alcohol. But every night, when she returned to that cold, empty apartment, the loneliness crashed over her like a tidal wave.
She began to lose sleep. Lying in bed, her nose seemed haunted by the scent that was no longer there. Sometimes, she'd walk into the guest room and lie on the bed, like a lunatic, hoping to find some lingering trace of him.
The physiological bond from the mark tormented her. Though temporary marks fade over time, until they're gone, an Alpha remains instinctively attached to the Omega. And when that Omega deliberately keeps their distance, the bond becomes even more agitated.
She started snapping at people. At work, she was harsher than ever. Minor mistakes triggered explosive anger. Her pheromones became erratic—sometimes aggressive, sometimes steeped in a frustration she couldn't even name.
"Boss Emma… are you feeling okay? Your pheromones…" her new Beta assistant asked timidly after she slammed a folder over a formatting error.
Emma froze, staring at the assistant's frightened face. She realized how far she'd slipped.
"Leave," she said, waving tiredly.
The assistant fled.
Emma slumped in her chair, rubbing her aching temples. She knew she was falling apart. She thought breaking up would be liberation. Instead, it was a deeper pit.
She tried calling Gu Liang. Not to reconcile—maybe just to hear his voice. To know he was okay.
The line rang once. Then a robotic voice: "The number you dialed has been disconnected."
Cold. Final.
She opened WeChat, found his familiar avatar, and sent a message.
Emma:Did you… find a place to stay?
Message sent. Then a red exclamation mark popped up.
Message sent but rejected by recipient.
He had blocked her.
Emma stared at the red mark. Her heart clenched like a fist had gripped it. Breathing became difficult.
Gu Liang had erased her from his world. No trace. No hesitation.
His resolve hurt more than any revenge.
She finally understood: the Gu Liang who once loved her with his whole heart… was gone. Not because she broke up with him. But because she had destroyed every feeling he had for her.
Her so-called boredom, her pursuit of freedom—now looked pathetic in the face of his cold departure.
She had her freedom. But its cost was heavier than she ever imagined.
—
Meanwhile, across the city in a luxury apartment.
Gu Liang stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the traffic below. The view was stunning, the decor lavish—nothing like the warm, lived-in home he once shared with Emma.
He held a glass of red wine, swirling it slowly. On the computer screen: Emma's company stock fluctuations and project updates.
His phone lay dark on the desk. He had changed his number. Deleted his old accounts.
A sharp-looking Beta woman entered, holding a folder. "Mr. Gu, here's the latest equity structure for NewSprout Biotech, and the offshore acquisitions of scattered shares."
Gu Liang took the folder, scanning it quickly, eyes focused and cold.
"Also, the Ai Group has completed funding for Prometheus. They're holding a press conference tomorrow to announce Phase Two," she added.
Gu Liang's lips curled into a faint, icy smile.
"Good," he said, finishing his wine.
"Notify the media. First Heart Capital will hold a press conference at the same time—announcing our investment in Corei Pharmaceuticals and the launch of a competing drug targeting the same pathway."
Corei Pharmaceuticals—the direct rival to Ai Group's Prometheus.
The assistant's eyes gleamed with understanding. "Yes, Mr. Gu."
After she left, Gu Liang turned back to the night sky.
Emma, the freedom you feel now… is my first gift to you.
Soon, you'll receive the second.
I hope you enjoy it.