Chapter 9
A year later, the project was finally completed and the company held a press conference to celebrate it.
It took place in a hotel in the center of Oslo with many well–known people from the industry and lots of reporters attending. After the opening speech, I was invited to the stage to speak. Standing there, under the bright lights, I felt all the attention fall on me.
The lights reflected off the wine glasses and I became the center of the whole room. People looked at me with admiration and loud applause filled my ears. I held the microphone tightly, feeling deeply moved inside.
When I first found out about James’s feelings, I went through several hours of emotional pain.
While I was unconscious in the hospital, many memories flashed through my mind like scenes from a movie. His extra care for Wendy, his soft attitude toward her and how he chose to save her first without hesitation during the accident.
All of these moments felt like sharp knives cutting into me and I could hardly breathe.
Then, I remembered the good times we shared when we held hands and walked together. through life. James had been gentle, caring and dependable. I once believed we would stay together forever and that he was the only person I would ever love.
That was why I felt so crushed and couldn’t accept what had happened. I used to think. love should be perfect and I couldn’t accept that ours had such a deep flaw. Especially one that caused me real pain.
Even now, I sometimes dream of the child we lost. When I wake up at night, my face is wet with tears. But thankfully, I still had the strength to leave, even though it broke my heart. I knew that if I didn’t leave, I would be betraying myself.
Luckily, it wasn’t too late. My life could still move forward and shine. Feeling warmth in my eyes, I gave a bright smile.
“Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for your support and help this past year. I’ll always remember it and keep working hard.”
As I stepped off the stage, I saw a familiar face. James was sitting in the corner of the room, still wearing that old woolen coat. After the press conference, my assistant came to
- me.
“Miss Adams, a man just gave me this.”
She handed me a thick folder.
I opened it and found many letters inside. In the early days of our relationship, James liked to write me love letters and he kept doing it for a long time. Looking through them, I
noticed that there were both old and new ones.
The most recent letter had only one sentence.
[The spring breeze ahead is warm. I hope you stay healthy every year. Even if we are no
16:41 Fri, 20 Jun
longer walking the same path, I still think of you sometimes.]
I smiled and handed the folder back to my assistant.
“It’s not needed. Please help me throw it away.”
Two years later, while I was on vacation after completing a big order, I received a message from Wendy.
Wendy said she had left the Worthington family and wanted to say sorry to me. She told me life on her own had been hard and that she had once wanted to enjoy James’s warmth
which had hurt me.
[After you left, James was lost for a long time. I can see he really loves you.]
It was what Wendy wrote.
I only replied with one simple sentence.
[Happy New Year.]
At that moment, I was on my New Year’s holiday in Munich,reading a book at a peaceful
ranch.
All the things that happened before no longer mattered to me. Now, I just focused on myself. Looking out at the beautiful view, I felt peaceful and truly happy.
(The End)
