As Robert rushed Chloe into the hospital, a strange anxiety gripped him, and his eyelid twitched uncontrollably. A sense of panic surged through his chest, and his heartbeat was drumming loudly in his ears.

He couldn't explain why he suddenly felt so uneasy and chalked it up to overthinking. He was hurrying back and forth with Chloe in his arms, leaving no time to consider it further.

Only after the doctor examined Chloe's ankle and fell silent did Robert finally find a moment to check his phone. Two new messages from Enola awaited him. He opened them quickly and froze in shock.

One was a money transfer, and the other was a short farewell. The words hit him like a bolt of lightning, leaving his mind completely blank. His eyes fixated on a few key phrases that stood out like burning scars.

Money for raising her? She was leaving? What did she mean by paying him back for raising her? An

Chloe thought Robert had been acting strangely recently.

Ever since they'd started dating, arguments or disagreements had been nonexistent between them—no matter how excessive her demands were, Robert would do his best to fulfill them. Everyone in Bakersville knew how deeply he adored her.

But lately, Chloe had felt something was off, particularly when Enola was around. A subtle discomfort grew within her, but she didn't dare ask him directly about it.

Before Chloe could question him, Robert had already stepped away to make a phone call. She strained her ears, barely able to catch fragments of his conversation—he seemed to be asking someone urgently to track down Enola's whereabouts.

A wave of unease and anxiety surged within Chloe. She sensed that things were slipping out of her control, but there was no one she could turn to for help.

Robert himself was equally agitated, plagued b

The day Enola was leaving was also the anniversary of her parents' passing. Robert kept his promise and accompanied her to the cemetery.

Four years had passed since her last visit. Her eyes stung as she stood before their graves, and she couldn't find the right words to say for a long moment.

After a while, she finally spoke, softly recounting her life abroad over the years. As she reached the end, she let out a small smile. "Mom, Dad, don't worry about me. I'm doing well now, and I've found where I belong.

"He's a wonderful person. He takes good care of me when I'm sick, stays by my side when I'm scared, and encourages me when I feel lost. We're getting married soon…"

She spoke gently as she reminisced about the past while Robert stood a short distance away. The word "marriage" echoed in his ears, stirring an unfamiliar unease that only grew stronger.

The more she spoke, the more restless he felt. The anxiety gnawed at him until, finally, he couldn't hold it in any longer. "That's enough!"

Enola froze. She stood up and turned to face him. Though she already knew the answer, she still asked, "What's enough? Robbie, do you want to say something to my parents? Go ahead, then. I've said enough."

Her response left him momentarily speechless. Even Robert himself wasn't sure why his reaction had been so intense.

Perhaps he was feeling annoyed because she used to be different. In the past, she would talk just as much whenever they came to visit. But back then, eight out of ten things she said were about him. Now, everything she spoke of was about someone else.

It was just a fake marriage—where had she conjured up so many memories from? The growing panic pressed down on him, but he forced it back.

"I'll wait for you in the car." He turned and walked away without another word.

Not long after, Enola's phone rang. As soon as she answered, Parker's gentle voice came through, "Ennie, have you finished visiting your parents?"

"Yes," she said softly. "I plan to fly back today."

Parker hummed in acknowledgment before saying warmly, "What time is your flight? Send me the details, and I'll pick you up.

"Also, the wedding preparations are almost done. Don't forget to tell Robert. He should come to our wedding, too."

"I will."

After hanging up, Enola remained silent as she made her way down the hill.

Robert sat in the car as he smoked in silence. His sharply defined features looked hazy in the swirling smoke. There was an unexpected loneliness about him.

The moment he saw Enola approach, he crushed the cigarette against the ashtray, ready to speak. 

However, she beat him to it. "Robbie, I'm getting married tomorrow. I've already booked my flight back to Melcian. I asked before if you'd be my officiant. Have you decided whether you'll be doing it?"

When Robert heard her bring up the wedding again, the anger he had just suppressed surged back to the surface. He was about to snap when his phone rang. It was Chloe calling.

His expression shifted slightly as he listened to whatever she was saying on the other end. A few seconds later, he hung up and looked back at Enola.

"Chlo sprained her ankle while shopping. I need to take her to the hospital, and it's not on the way home. You'll have to find your own ride back."

Before starting the car, he glanced at her one last time. "And I hope this will be the last time I hear about those things."

With that, he drove off without looking back. 

Enola watched as the car sped away and let out a quiet sigh. He was getting his wish, as this really was the last time. She was leaving today, and she wouldn't be coming back.

The cemetery was remote, and there were no taxis available. She had no choice but to walk the entire way home. By the time she finally reached the villa, four hours had passed.

A sharp, stinging pain throbbed from the soles of her feet. She glanced down and saw there were raw and bleeding blisters.

Even so, there was no time to care. The long walk had already eaten up too much of her day. She hurried upstairs, grabbed her suitcase that was packed and ready, and made her way toward the door.

Before leaving, she placed her wedding invitation on the table, transferred a sum of money to Robert, and sent him a final message.

"Robbie, this is the money I've saved up to pay back to you for raising me. Thank you for taking care of me all these years. The wedding invitation is on the table. You can come if you want to. I'm leaving now. Goodbye."

After hitting send, she raised her hand and hailed a taxi. The car sped toward the airport, quickly merging into the rush of traffic. Before long, she disappeared into the city, leaving no trace behind.

As Robert rushed Chloe into the hospital, a strange anxiety gripped him, and his eyelid twitched uncontrollably. A sense of panic surged through his chest, and his heartbeat was drumming loudly in his ears.

He couldn't explain why he suddenly felt so uneasy and chalked it up to overthinking. He was hurrying back and forth with Chloe in his arms, leaving no time to consider it further.

Only after the doctor examined Chloe's ankle and fell silent did Robert finally find a moment to check his phone. Two new messages from Enola awaited him. He opened them quickly and froze in shock.

One was a money transfer, and the other was a short farewell. The words hit him like a bolt of lightning, leaving his mind completely blank. His eyes fixated on a few key phrases that stood out like burning scars.

Money for raising her? She was leaving? What did she mean by paying him back for raising her? And where exactly had she gone?

A thousand questions raced through his mind, and an impulse to find E

Chapter 10