Quentin Sterling conveyed Vanessa’s wish to Miles Sterling.

When Miles Sterling learned that Vanessa didn’t want to meet him, he felt a bit disappointed, but it was as if he had already expected it.

Quentin Sterling returned to the company to handle the backlog of work from the past few days, while Miles Sterling stayed at the hospital, keeping an eye on Vanessa’s daily recovery.

Most of the time, it was Vanessa’s caregiver who accompanied her, and Miles would only sneak into her room to see her after she fell asleep.

By then, it was often the quiet of late night.

Miles Sterling walked softly into the hospital room and sat in the chair beside the bed.

Watching Vanessa sleep peacefully, he traced the IV line on her hand and glanced up at the medicine bottle above.

It seemed to have just been replaced, with more than half the bottle still full.

Miles Sterling gently lifted the edge of the blanket, covering Vanessa’s hand that was cold from the infusion.

Her fingers trembled slightly; Vanessa, who was sleepless, slowly opened her eyes.

Their eyes met but neither said a word.

Vanessa had actually known for a while that Miles was still at the hospital these past days.

Because the caregiver would often, inadvertently, reveal that there was a gentleman outside the ward who was very concerned about her condition.

After a moment of silence, Miles Sterling stood, stepped back a few paces, and softly apologized, "I’m sorry... for waking you."

Vanessa stared at Miles Sterling indifferently for a long while, her dry lips slightly parted, and with a soft, hoarse voice, she said, "Are you doing this now to make amends with me?"

Miles Sterling hesitated, opened his mouth as if to speak, then finally said, "Sort of... but not entirely."

Vanessa looked at him and said, "I’ve let go of the past, so if you’re really trying to make amends for something, I don’t need it."

Miles Sterling looked down at Vanessa and said, "I understand. Once you’re discharged, I’ll leave."

With that, Miles Sterling turned and left the room.

For the following days, the two of them didn’t communicate again.

A week later, on the day Vanessa was discharged, Miles Sterling disappeared.

Vanessa didn’t inquire about Miles Sterling’s whereabouts and once again picked up her backpack.

The news of Gwen Grant’s death quietly faded away.

After Vanessa was hospitalized, the police did come to take statements.

She only recounted what she had seen and experienced and did not ask about Gwen Grant.

She just assumed Gwen Grant might have been arrested.

Miles Sterling returned to Fosburg, still thinking about Vanessa.

Wendy Jennings began trying to find a new partner for Miles Sterling, hoping he could start a family soon.

Miles Sterling neither agreed nor refused; he simply chose to avoid and ignore it.

He now felt that perhaps he could let Vanessa pursue the life she wanted, but he wasn’t ready to start anew himself.

Recently, more and more fragments of memories have been resurfacing in his mind.

Some were beautiful, others painful and oppressive.

Sometimes he doubts whether the man in his memories, who seemed like a crazed demon, was really his former self.

Half a year later.

Vanessa settled in a strange city, requiring about a two-hour flight from Rivia.

She’s still writing her stories in comics, but she no longer isolates herself.

She started her own art studio, which is open for exhibiting some of her paintings and also hosts art classes for children.

She believes that the world of children is much purer than that of adults.

On a sunny afternoon, Vanessa was teaching a class to kids.

A little boy suddenly stood up and said, "Teacher, there’s a strange man outside walking back and forth. He looks like a thief. Should we call the police?"