er 14
Alexander stepped out of the hotel, his spirit shattered. Without a word, he sealed off the banquet hall, locking everyone inside to suffer until Emily chose to forgive them.
He got into his car and drove without direction. Outside, snowflakes drifted down softly, each landing like a fresh sting to his heart. Emily’s desperate
voice echoed in his mind.
u save our child?”
“Alex, why didn’t you
“In this marriage, don’t I even have the right to have a child?”
Pain twisted through his chest, sharper with every memory. He never imagined it could spiral so far out of control.
Overwhelmed, he slammed on the brakes, stopping dead in the middle of the road. His fists pounded the steering wheel in frustration
The sudden stop nearly caused a crash. The driver behind him blared the horn, but Alexander didn’t react. When the driver got out to confront him, one icy glare from Alexander was enough to send him scrambling back to his car.
Traffic cops arrived, but there wasn’t much they could do. They kept other cars away, watching the man trapped in his own storm.
Time dragged on. Snow piled high on the roof of the car. Alexander sat motionless, unaware he’d slipped into unconsciousness.
Meanwhile, Emily had fled Eldergrove. After four connecting flights, she finally touched down in Pinevale–a small, remote town she’d visited before. She knew Alexander wouldn’t look for her here.
After ten years by his side, she trusted her instincts. He wouldn’t start the search where she was expected to be.
Here, maybe she could find peace–at least for a little while.
She hoped Sophia would keep Alexander’s heart anchored so he’d stop chasing her, so they could finally be free of each other.
Emily bought a modest villa and decorated it quietly, making it her own. She set aside a room for her brother, carefully placing his ashes inside.
Stocking the kitchen, she filled the fridge to the brim. For the first time in years, a flicker of hope lifted her spirits,
From the moment she’d been pulled into the Harrington family, she’d lost herself. Everything she was had revolved around Alexander.
She law the first few years without him would be hard. Her background, her past–all tied to the name “Emily Harper“-were gone along with her old
life.
Once settled, she ran her fingers over the smooth wood of her violin the only thing she’d taken from the Skyloft Towers penthouse, a piece Alexander
had crafted himself.
Not out of sentimentality, but because it felt familiar.
She began to play. The notes were heavy at first, laden with sorrow and loss. But gradually, the melody softened, lifting into something light and graceful -each note singing of hope and new beginnings
As the final chord faded, her heart felt lighter.
Suddenly–clap, clap, clap.
Applause broke the silence. Emily glanced toward the garden wall and saw a tall, handsome man with sharp features and warm eyes, smiling with genuine
admiration.
“Beautiful,” he said in perfect Mandarin. “The most soulful piece I’ve ever heard.” With effortless charm, he introduced himself. “I’m Joshua Brown, your neighbor. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Emily gave a faint, cautious smile. “Thank you.”
Jay’s prin didn’t falter. “Sorry to intrude. I’ll leave you to it. Until next time.”
She nodded and closed the window.
For now, she wasn’t interested in making friends
