Gloria's birthday banquet was winding down, with guests gradually taking their leave.

She sat in the living room with her eyes closed, resting. Classical music from her favorite show, "The Palace of Everlasting Love", was playing softly from the sound system.

"True love endures through grief and pain and lifts the soul to peace again. What earthly sorrow tears apart, heaven mends within the faithful heart."

Serena couldn't help but frown when she walked in and heard these lyrics. She approached Gloria. "Grandma, where's Chase?"

Gloria didn't open her eyes and coldly responded, "Shouldn't you be with Lucian instead of asking about Chase?"

Serena huffed. "Grandma, you have no idea how impossible Chase has been lately! I just said a few things to him, and he completely overreacted! He even moved out and everything. Now he won't even answer my texts!"

Gloria sighed, clearly not wanting

The next day was Serena's birthday. Unlike Gloria's grand celebration, she only invited some friends for a house party at the villa, planning to party from noon until late into the night.

Around midday, friends started arriving one by one. Chase was still nowhere to be seen. He hadn't even sent a message to anyone else.

The friends who came to celebrate were all in high spirits, treating Serena like the star of the show. However, she sat there looking moody, obsessively checking her phone every few minutes.

It was already past mealtime. Her friends were starting to notice that Serena seemed to be waiting for someone.

Lucian pulled her aside. "Sisi, are you waiting for Chase?"

Serena snapped to attention, embarrassed and furious at being called out.

She jumped to her feet and announced loudly, "Chef, start serving! Band, start playing! The birthday party officially begins now! Bring

Chase returned to the hospital.

Gloria's call came through almost immediately. "Chase, Sisi went too far this time! I just called and gave her a piece of my mind! Please don't take it to heart."

Chase felt no stirring in his heart—he could even comfort her in return. "It's fine, Mrs. Arden Senior. We all know she loves Lucian."

Gloria sighed. "That stubborn fool just won't listen to me. She'll regret this someday."

Chase didn't respond.

Gloria asked again, "My birthday is in a few days. You'll come, won't you?"

Chase replied, "Of course. As we agreed, I'll leave after celebrating your birthday."

Gloria couldn't help but add, "But the day after my birthday is Sisi's birthday. You've spent it with her every year before this..."

Chase said calmly, "Now she has someone else she'd rather spend her birthday with. Even if I wanted to, she wouldn't welcome me anymore. We've both made our decisions, Mrs. Arden Senior. Let it go."

Gloria seemed to realize that he never called Serena by name anymore. She stopped trying to persuade him and chose to hang up instead.

Before she did, Chase heard her sigh that Serena would definitely regret this someday. He wasn't sure whether Serena would regret it, but he would never regret his decision.

After being discharged, Chase continued arranging things for after his departure. The days passed quickly.

The day before Gloria's birthday, he had finished handing over all affairs at the Arden Group.

The next day, Chase went to Gloria's birthday banquet alone. Meanwhile, Serena and Lucian arrived together.

Most of the guests at the banquet were friends and relatives of the Arden family, with a few business associates. They all knew about Chase and Serena's engagement.

Seeing Serena brazenly bring another man to meet the family right in front of Chase drew curious stares from the guests. Chase knew this would be his last day in Beltoni, so he let them look all they wanted, his expression remaining calm.

Serena, however, couldn't stand those strange looks. She rushed over and grabbed the microphone from the emcee. "I'm breaking off my engagement with Chase Hutchinson!"

The smile vanished from Gloria's face. Serena's father, Caleb Arden, looked equally displeased.

Serena said through tears, "I finally got Lucian back! No one is going to tear us apart! Otherwise, I'll just die!"

The crowd gasped while Caleb's face was stormy. "This is outrageous! Today is your grandmother's 70th birthday! Why are you making a scene like this? Do you even care about your grandmother?"

Serena looked aggrieved as she responded, "But Grandma, I'm your only granddaughter. Don't you want me to be happy? 

"Couldn't you give me the gift of ending this engagement that was a mistake from the beginning on your birthday?

Gloria looked toward Chase. "Chase, what do you say?"

Chase spoke quietly but calmly. "It's her decision."

The room erupted in shocked murmurs.

A complex expression flashed across Serena's face for a moment before she said joyfully, "See, Grandma? He agreed as well!"

Gloria stopped Caleb from losing his temper and smiled faintly. "Fine. I'll grant your wish. From today on, your engagement to Chase is null and void."

Serena's first reaction was to look at Chase, but he smiled at her calmly. He considered it as his blessing for her future.

However, she suddenly got angry again. She glared at him fiercely, then turned away to chat with Lucian with a radiant smile.

Following the banquet's schedule, Chase presented his gift, ate a piece of cake, and then turned and left. He got into a car bound for the airport.

Just then, his phone buzzed. Chase looked down to see that he had received several messages from Serena.

"Smart move! I'll let the past few weeks slide.

"You can attend my birthday party tomorrow. What gift did you get me this year?

"Chase, what's with the attitude? I give you an inch, and you take a mile!

"Text me back right now!"

Chase was silent for a moment. Instead of replying, he blocked all of Serena's contact methods. Without looking back, he went through security and boarded a plane to distant lands.

Gloria's birthday banquet was winding down, with guests gradually taking their leave.

She sat in the living room with her eyes closed, resting. Classical music from her favorite show, "The Palace of Everlasting Love", was playing softly from the sound system.

"True love endures through grief and pain and lifts the soul to peace again. What earthly sorrow tears apart, heaven mends within the faithful heart."

Serena couldn't help but frown when she walked in and heard these lyrics. She approached Gloria. "Grandma, where's Chase?"

Gloria didn't open her eyes and coldly responded, "Shouldn't you be with Lucian instead of asking about Chase?"

Serena huffed. "Grandma, you have no idea how impossible Chase has been lately! I just said a few things to him, and he completely overreacted! He even moved out and everything. Now he won't even answer my texts!"

Gloria sighed, clearly not wanting to engage. "Then go find Lucian. Chase isn't your fiance anymore, so stop worrying about what he's 

Chapter 8