"Julian, by the time you read this letter, I should have already left Atheria. I’m sorry that I can’t be your girlfriend, nor can I be your wife. These extravagant notions, I had given up on a long, long time ago. I’m already grateful that you can say you love me, that you give me the opportunity to stand by your side. The remaining happy moments, I’ll imagine them myself, pretending I’ve lived a happy life."

"But forgive me. I don’t want to be a woman who holds you back. I don’t want you to be troubled or even give up everything for me. I know you are a filial son, asking you to go against your parents to choose me already indicates that I’m not suitable for you."

"I’ve complained countless times that life is unfair. If I were a wealthy heiress, the two of us would be perfect! But I’m not, and this is what they call destined but not destined to be together!"

"Some helplessness and regrets are necessary parts of life. Forget about me! I shouldn’t have appeared in your life, and now, I’m going back to live in a place where I belong. Don’t look for me; I’ll find a suitable man to live with, have some kids with him, and lead a very ordinary life."

"Leaving in this way is my fault. So, the punishment you give me is to let me bear the consequences myself! If you insist on forcing me to live with you, I will take more extreme measures to ensure you never find me. Julian, I wish you happiness."

Julian Keaton read through line by line, tears blurred his vision, drops fell onto the letter, smudging the words.

His heart felt as if it was undergoing severe torture, unbearably painful.

That awful woman!

She left just a letter and walked away?

Ha!

If he finds her and keeps her by him, she’ll resort to extreme measures?

What measures?

Death, perhaps?

She truly is... resolute!

How is this his punishment for her? It’s clearly her punishment for him!

Julian Keaton was so angry his teeth ached. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

He was even more angry at himself.

How couldn’t he see Cecilia Lynch was just finding an excuse to send him away, giving herself time to escape?

If he had agreed to give her a status when she asked, would she not have left?

If he had consciously given her a status earlier, would she not have left?

He thought she easily forgave him, giving him another chance to start anew.

But in reality, what she offered was just heavier pain?

How could she do this?

When did she learn to be so cruel?

Julian Keaton was madly asking acquaintances to investigate street surveillance, determined to find out where Cecilia Lynch was.

But Cecilia Lynch had worked odd jobs for years, wandering the streets, almost knowing every small road in Atheria.

She could even avoid cameras, leaving no traces of her whereabouts.

"Find her for me!" Julian Keaton shouted into the phone, "Find her!"

Pressing the hang-up button, Julian Keaton immediately called Evelyn Morgan.

Right now, she was his only hope.

Even though he knew, Cecilia Lynch, that resolute woman, once deciding to leave, would never let anyone know her whereabouts.

But he still held onto a glimmer of hope.

That possibly, their friendship was deep enough for Cecilia Lynch to reveal her location?

Evelyn Morgan was sitting on the rooftop, gazing at stars, the lavish lights still so enchanting, yet she couldn’t muster any strength.

Sitting in the chair Caden Lockwood had sat in, it felt as if he was still beside her, she could still sense his arrogant yet cold aura.