Chapter 4

"A breakup agreement, a resignation letter, and a…"

Brent lost it completely.

In seven years, it was the first time I'd ever seen him come apart like this.

He canceled every remaining shot, ignored Rachel crying "Brent, Brent" behind him, gripped my wrist hard, and dragged me back home.

"Savannah, say it plainly. What do you mean, a new life?"

"We're supposed to be getting married!"

He pushed me down onto the couch, eyes red as he glared at me.

I calmly pulled my hand free. "The wedding's off."

My composure must have gotten to him, because for the first time he broke down and gave in completely.

He crouched in front of me, lowered his voice, and apologized over and over.

"Savvy, I was wrong. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let Rachel come, shouldn't have said those awful things."

"Don't leave me. I'm begging you."

He took a velvet box out of the safe in the bedroom.

He opened it. Inside was a brilliant starry necklace, its center diamond throwing off blinding light under the lamp.

"Savvy, do you remember? I bought this with my bonus."

"You said it looked like the stars in the sky. You said I was your light."

His hands trembled as he fastened the necklace around my neck.

"This is where my career began. It's everything to me, and I'm giving it to you now."

"Don't leave me, okay?"

The cold diamond lay against my skin, and I almost wavered.

I lifted my hand, wanting to touch his face.

Right then, his phone started ringing like mad.

He glanced at the caller ID, and his face changed.

On the other end, his assistant's frantic voice came through the speaker.

"Mr. Gilbert, it's bad. Ms. Fox collapsed at the studio. They're saying acute asthma. They're trying to save her!"

Brent's body went rigid.

He grabbed the car keys off the coffee table and started for the door.

I caught his arm without thinking.

"Brent."

My voice was faint, carrying one last plea.

"Today. Just today. Stay and be with me. Can you?"

He looked at me, his eyes full of pain and struggle.

In the end he still wrenched his arm free, hard enough to send me stumbling back a step.

"Savvy, there's a life at stake!"

Then he ran out the door without a backward glance.

I stood alone in the empty living room, listening to his footsteps fade beyond the door.

Half an hour later, his assistant sent me a photo.

Probably to set my mind "at ease."

In the photo, Brent's tall back was posted at the door of the ER, anxious and alone.

But my eyes fixed on his neck.

It was bare.

The good-luck pendant I'd given him was gone.

It was made from the certificate for the first asteroid I ever discovered and named, scaled down to exact proportions, the only one of its kind in the world.

I'd told him it was my star, that from now on it would keep him company for me.

He'd held me then and said it was the most precious gift he'd ever received.

Now that gift was gone.

A cold, absurd, terrible guess rose up in me.

I opened Rachel's messaging profile at once. Her feed was set so only I could see it.

The newest post was from five minutes ago.

【He said this was his light, that he's lending it to me for now, to light the way ahead for me. Thank you, Brent.】

【I hope I can have my own star someday

The photo was my pendant, resting quietly in the palm of her hand.】

In that moment the world crashed down around my ears.

Every hesitation, every reluctance, every soft spot turned to ash.

I didn't waver anymore. I opened the family group chat and sent the message I'd drafted long before:

【Brent and I are calling off the wedding over irreconcilable differences. From here on we have nothing to do with each other. I wish him the best.】