A week had crawled by like a shadow at dusk—slow, heavy, suffocating. Mirabel hadn't stepped out of her room. She barely spoke. Her meals remained untouched, her phone left unanswered. The once-bright spark in her eyes had dimmed to an aching flicker.
Vicky called her constantly, but she never picked up. Each silence cut deeper than the last. In his own prison of guilt and regret, he slammed fists into walls until his knuckles bled—punishing himself for a moment he wished he could erase.
Mirabel sat cross-legged on her bed, her diary resting on her, the pages bore the ink of heartbreak: raw, jagged, and unfiltered.
"I guess you can't rewrite what's already written in your destiny. I used to think the things I went through were just temporary—phases I had to survive. Somewhere inside me, hidden deep, was this little spark… this foolish belief that maybe, just maybe, there was light at the end of the tunnel.
And the light did come.
But maybe… it was never meant for me.
Maybe my tunnel was always meant to stay dark.
So now, I have to let go. Start again. Somewhere new. Alone—not broken, but rebuilding. Finding myself. Doing what I want. What I need."
She closed the diary gently, her hand lingering on the cover as if sealing a piece of her soul inside. A packed suitcase waited silently by the door.
As she stood, scanning the familiar corners of her room one last time, a quiet knock came.
Nanny stepped in, her face drawn with worry. "Are you really sure about this, my dear?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mirabel didn't speak—just gave a slow, tear-streaked nod.
Nanny wrapped her in a tight embrace. It was the kind of hug that said everything words couldn't—grief, love, pride, and pain all rolled into one.
"Thank you for everything, Nanny," Mirabel whispered. "You've seen me at my worst and never gave up on me. You've been more than a Nanny. You've been a mother."
Nanny held her tighter. "And you've been like a daughter to me. I'll always be here, my child. Wherever your path leads, you'll never walk it alone—not in my heart."
Tears glistened in both their eyes as they stood there, suspended in a goodbye that neither of them truly wanted—but both understood had to happen.
Mirabel wiped a tear from her cheek and walked with Nanny to the sitting room, where a heavy silence blanketed the space. She sat quietly, her eyes fixed on the door as she waited for Annabelle. Minutes later, Annabelle arrived—her presence calm, collected, yet full of concern.
Without a word, she crossed the room and sat beside her. Gently, she reached for Mirabel's hands, squeezing them.
"Mirabel, you don't have to do this," Annabelle said softly.
"I do, Belle," Mirabel replied, her voice low but certain. "I need a fresh start… away from everything that reminds me of what I lost. I can't breathe here anymore."
"But—"
"Belle," Mirabel interrupted gently. "We've talked about this. You promised you'd support me."
Annabelle swallowed her words, then nodded, pulling Mirabel into a quiet, heartfelt hug.
Moments later, Mirabel pulled out her phone and stared at the screen. Her heart raced as she dialed. It rang once. Twice.
Vicky answered immediately. "Mirabel, I—"
"Be at the office in ten minutes," she cut in.
"Mirabel, please—just listen to me—"
Click.
She ended the call. A tear slid down her cheek as she stared at the now-dark screen. "It could've been different," she whispered.
Annabelle reached out and wiped the tear from her face. "It's okay… be strong."
Together, they walked out of the house—Mirabel's suitcase rolling behind her, heavy with more than just clothes. Her heart, too, was packed and ready to go.
At The Journals, the staff stood gathered at the entrance, their faces clouded with confusion and concern. Whispers buzzed through the air as they waited.
Rose lingered in a corner, shame etched into her features. Lucy, on the other hand, stood a few feet back, her smirk almost impossible to hide—pleased that her secret wish had played out: Vicky and Mirabel were no longer together.
Soon, Vicky arrived with Jake, his expression grim and unreadable.
"Vicky, are you okay? What's going on?" Dianne asked as he walked in.
He didn't respond. His eyes darted across the room, searching—until they landed on her.
Mirabel stepped in, flanked by Annabelle, her suitcase firmly in hand. Their eyes locked, the space between them thick with emotion. Vicky's heart sank. Mirabel's lips parted slightly, but she forced herself to look away. Annabelle subtly tugged at her arm, helping her regain composure.
"Ma'am…" Dianne asked cautiously. "Are you going somewhere?"
Mirabel stepped forward, offering a tight, fragile smile.
"Yes, Dianne," she said, voice clear despite the grief behind it. "I called you all here to say goodbye."
Gasps filled the room.
"Goodbye?" Jimmy repeated in disbelief.
"Yes. I'm leaving… and I don't plan on coming back."
"What are you saying, Ma'am?" Ethan blurted out, his voice trembling. "This company can't function without you."
"Please don't say all this…" Jessica added softly, her eyes misty.
Vicky took a tentative step forward. "Mirabel, please—"
She lifted a hand, stopping him mid-sentence. Her eyes held no anger—just deep, quiet sorrow.
In the crowd, Lucy stood with her arms crossed, a faint, satisfied smirk tugging at her lips. Her eyes gleamed with victory.
Mirabel looked around at her team—her family. Her voice, though steady, carried the weight of heartbreak.
"I know this is hard to accept, but my decision is final. Even if a part of me still wants to stay… I can't." She paused, swallowing the lump in her throat. "It's been a tough journey. We've climbed mountains together, survived storms, and built something truly incredible. And I want you to continue—without me. Don't slow down. Don't lose faith. Keep working, keep believing… and this company will soar. Even if I'm not here physically, my heart and soul will always be part of this place."
"No, Ma'am… please," Dianne said, stepping forward, tears welling in her eyes. "Don't leave. We need you here."
"Don't make this harder than it already is, Dianne…" Mirabel said gently, her voice trembling but firm. "I need you to be the strongest right now. From this moment on, you are officially the leader of this team. Annabelle will supervise, but the pack moves with your lead."
"B-but ma'am…" Dianne stammered, tears spilling freely now.
Mirabel placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You've got this. I believe in you."
One by one, she moved through the room, sharing final embraces with her team—her second family. Quiet words, teary smiles, long-held hugs. Then, she turned to Vicky.
Their eyes met. His were bloodshot, filled with anguish.
"It could've been different, Vicky," she whispered, her voice fragile. "Maybe we just weren't meant to be."
"Mirabel, please…" he stepped closer, desperate, "we can fix this. Just give me a chance to explain—"
"There's nothing left to fix," she said, turning away. "It's over. It's been a pleasure… working with you."
She took a step toward the door—when Rose's voice broke through the silence.
"Mirabel, wait… please don't go."
Mirabel turned around, cold and sharp. "What now, Rose? Haven't you done enough?"
Rose's face crumbled with guilt. Her voice shook. "I know why you left the wedding. And you deserve to know the truth. Vicky didn't do anything that night…"
A stunned silence gripped the room.
"What are you saying, Rose?" Vicky asked quietly.
Rose swallowed, tears brimming in her eyes. "Nothing happened between us. I lied, Mirabel. I wanted to hurt you both… and I did. Vicky was drunk, and I took advantage of that moment. I staged everything. We didn't sleep together. I'm so sorry."
Rose turned to him, then back to Mirabel. "I lied. I just… I wanted to ruin your relationship. I was angry. Jealous. Vicky was drunk that night—nothing happened. I swear."
Gasps filled the room. Lucy's face twisted in rage and disbelief.
Mirabel stood frozen, trembling. The silence around her was deafening. Tears welled in her eyes again—but this time, they weren't from heartbreak alone. Confusion. Pain. Relief. Betrayal. All tangled together.
She looked at Vicky, then at Rose, then back at Vicky.
Then she turned and walked toward the door, silently.
Annabelle quickly followed.
The rest of the team stood in stunned silence.