Chapter 8

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