When the boarding announcement sounded, Rebecca joined the crowd and boarded the plane.

As the plane took off and the city below shrank, she looked out the window and silently thought, "Stanley, this is goodbye—forever."

She didn't care what would happen inside Aurelia Villa. As she gazed out at the passing scenery, an overwhelming sense of relief washed over her.

Meanwhile, Nadia curved her lips into a gentle smile, one she had practiced countless times. With a soft touch, she pressed her fingers to Stanley's temples.

"Stanley, don't drink anymore. Too much will give you a terrible headache."

Stanley froze at the familiar yet slightly strange voice. The bottle he held slipped from his fingers and shattered on the floor, cutting his leg and bringing him back to reality.

His mind was in chaos, and his heart raced. He couldn't determine if he felt more shock or joy.

"Mia, is it real

The only time Nadia had ever seen a swing in her life was the day she watched her father, David Thorne, playing with her younger brother, Jeffrey Thorne, at the park.

Just as Nadia was excitedly approaching to give it a try after Jeffrey lost interest and climbed down, David promptly kicked her down without a second thought.

David shouted, "Even if Jeffrey's done playing, that doesn't mean you get to take what's his!"

Witnessing her fall and blood dribbling from her head, Jeffrey grabbed a rock and hurled it at her. He laughed and clapped. "Maids belong on the ground."

He had picked it up from television, but in that household, Nadia was treated no better than a maid. Her relocation to the city was merely to facilitate her role in caring for him.

Every time she sat on a swing, that memory came rushing back. 

To Nadia, it was painfully clear that every bit of happiness she now had b

Three days later, Rebecca left the hospital on her own. Coincidentally, the day of her discharge was also Mia's birthday, as well as her own.

After the birthday cake she ordered was delivered, she made herself a simple plate of pasta. Then, she lit the candles and sang a birthday song to herself before making a wish.

With her eyes closed, she silently wished, "May Stanley and I never meet again."

Just after she made her wish, Stanley came back, reeking of alcohol. When he saw the birthday cake and candles on the table, he was visibly upset.

He stormed over, grabbed the cake, and threw it on the floor. Then he swept the food off the table.

"Rebecca, didn't I tell you you're not allowed to celebrate your birthday on this day? Mia will never have another birthday again, and you still insist on celebrating to spite me!"

Rebecca looked at him calmly, her voice utterly steady. "So Mia's gone, and we happened to be born on the same day. Does that mean I've lost the right to celebrate my birthday for the rest of my life?"

Stanley paused for a second, then replied coldly, "Mia's not even in this world anymore. What difference does it make if you give up a little for her?"

Rebecca was stunned. Then, suddenly, she laughed.

When she looked up again, there were tears in her eyes. "I understand now, Stanley. From now on, I'll never celebrate my birthday in front of you again."

After that, Stanley remained angry and never came home again.

Every day, Rebecca would catch glimpses of Stanley's life through his secretary, Jarvis Miller's, social media. Stanley continued to obsessively search for a replacement for Mia, but he never found one.

She patiently waited until the mandatory divorce cooling-off period was over. At last, she was free to leave.

That day, Rebecca went to the courthouse alone and picked up the divorce certificate.

When she got home, she found Stanley passed out on the couch, drunk and mumbling Mia's name. "Mia… Mia…"

Rebecca glanced at him, then quietly placed his copy of the divorce certificate on the table. After that, she made a phone call and asked Nadia to come over.

Outside the door, Nadia looked uneasy, nervously gripping Rebecca's hand. "Rebecca, I'm worried I won't be able to pull it off."

Rebecca patted her hand. "Don't worry. Just walk in and tell him you're Mia. Tell him you've come back to life. He'll believe you. As long as you have that face, he'll treat you well for the rest of your life."

Her face was her ultimate advantage.

Nadia hesitated. "What if… what if he asks about you? What should I say? That you left, or…"

Rebecca was indifferent. "He won't ask about me. And if he does, just tell him I'm dead."

With that, she gave Nadia a hug and gently pushed her through the door. Then Rebecca picked up her luggage, closed the door behind her, and hailed a cab.

"Where to, miss?" 

She smiled, her voice lighter than it had been in a long time. "The airport."

When the boarding announcement sounded, Rebecca joined the crowd and boarded the plane.

As the plane took off and the city below shrank, she looked out the window and silently thought, "Stanley, this is goodbye—forever."

She didn't care what would happen inside Aurelia Villa. As she gazed out at the passing scenery, an overwhelming sense of relief washed over her.

Meanwhile, Nadia curved her lips into a gentle smile, one she had practiced countless times. With a soft touch, she pressed her fingers to Stanley's temples.

"Stanley, don't drink anymore. Too much will give you a terrible headache."

Stanley froze at the familiar yet slightly strange voice. The bottle he held slipped from his fingers and shattered on the floor, cutting his leg and bringing him back to reality.

His mind was in chaos, and his heart raced. He couldn't determine if he felt more shock or joy.

"Mia, is it really you? You came back for me? Do you know how much I've missed you? I never stopped thinking about y

Chapter 8