Seven Years Later —
Ashvale Airport buzzed with travellers and ground staff. People arrived and departed as usual.
Yet today felt different.
Almost everyone paused at least once in front of the large TV screen broadcasting a live stream.
"Did you see that?" a traveller whispered, stopping before the screen, her gaze soft with admiration. "They are finally getting engaged."
"Oh, I have been waiting for this," another said excitedly. "I guessed it would happen before the year ends —and here it is."
"Clara Scott is such a goddess. Every bit of her deserves Dr. Colsen’s love."
"I heard they have had this arrangent since childhood. Fate, really. Even after growing up, they still fell for each other."
"Haha ... yes. I heard Dr. Colsen dotes on her endlessly. He would pluck stars from the sky if she asked."
At those exaggerated words, a soft chuckle sounded not far away.
It imdiately drew attention.
The gossipers turned with a slight frown —only to pause at the sight of the woman standing nearby.
She looked casual, yet mysteriously striking.
Dressed in fitted denim and a black cashre turtleneck, her long brown hair cascaded smoothly over her shoulders, like water ant to be admired. A black trench coat rested over her arm, adding effortless elegance to her otherwise simple attire.
"Excuse ?" soone asked sharply. "Did you just laugh at us?"
The woman smiled faintly and shook her head.
"How could I?" she replied calmly, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear and revealing the earbuds nested there. "I was reacting to sothing I heard online."
With that, she offered a polite smile and walked past them, wheeling her luggage, utterly unbothered.
As she left, the group found themselves watching her —unable to look away.
Only after she disappeared from sight did soone finally recover.
"Wow ... who was she?" one murmured, nearly love-struck. "Is she so celebrity?"
"I don’t know," another replied. "But she does look like one."
At this mont, the woman who had confronted her earlier frowned, realization dawning upon her.
"Wait," she said slowly. "Haven’t all the channels —online and offline —been covering only Clara Scott and Xavier Colsen’s engagent?"
Her friend nodded, confused. "Yes. But what does that have to do with her?"
"Idiot," she snapped. "That’s exactly the point. It ans she was laughing at what we said. How dare she?"
"It’s fine," soone said casually. "She is entitled to her opinion."
"Maybe," the woman scoffed. "But how could anyone laugh at Clara Scott? She has everything —a perfect princess life, a successful career, loving parents, devoted brothers, and now such a doting fiancé. How could anyone laugh at soone so perfect?"
"True, but you are forgetting that the more soone is perfect, the more they beco the subject of envy. Maybe ..." she turned to look in the direction of the exit. "... she is also just envious of Clara Scott’s perfect life."
—————
Outside,
The woman stopped when she heard her phone ring.
Pulling out the device, she swiped the icon to answer.
"Hello!"
"Adelyn, did you reach Ashvale?" the voice on the other end of the call asked, sounding slightly anxious.
Adelyn smiled. "Mhm-hm~ You can now relax. I am already here —and I am not running away."
Alia let out a deep sigh of relief. "I almost thought you would ditch us at the last second. But thank goodness —we finally have so hope."
Adelyn didn’t respond.
"Oh well," Alia continued, sounding far more at ease now. "Since you have just arrived, I think you should get so rest first. We will et in the evening and sign the contract. I will also introduce you to Freya then."
"That works for ," Adelyn nodded.
"Great. I will share you the location later."
With that, they ended the call.
Adelyn pushed the phone back into her pocket and looked ahead before hailing a cab to her hotel.
But just when she was getting inside the cab, from a distance soone caught a glimpse of her.
He paused, his eyes searching, trying to get a clear look.
However, the distance between was just enough to keep it illusionary.
"Bryer," soone called, making him pause. "Who are you searching for?"
Bryer didn’t respond imdiately. His gaze desperately looked past many people who were standing around. Only when he was sure that it was nothing but an illusion did he shake his head and reply.
"Nothing. Let’s go." And then, he turned and left with his team.
anwhile, elsewhere —
After hanging up the call, Alia turned to Freya.
"Did you hear that?" she asked, and Freya only lifted her gaze to her. "She is here. And she didn’t ditch us. We can finally restart everything."
"She didn’t ditch us because she doesn’t know us yet," Freya replied pessimistically. "Once she does, she will leave —just like everyone else."
Alia frowned. She walked over and sat beside Freya, reaching out to hold her hand.
"Freya, can we for once not be so negative? I know you have every reason to be, but life doesn’t stay hopeless forever. It’s changes with ti."
Freya stared at her, unconvinced. "This will be the last ti."
"Freya, you can’t —"
"Alia," Freya cut her off at once, gently but firmly, not giving her any chance. "You are still young. You can’t keep lingering like this forever. It’s ti for you to join soone who would help you grow."
She paused before continuing quietly.
"With my current situation, I am not sure I can do that anymore. The least I can do is let go —so my failures don’t beco yours."
Alia’s brows furrowed.
Freya offered her a weak smile. "Don’t look at like that. I am only saying what I believe is right. I helped you finish our studies and enter this industry because I saw your potential. Watching you stake everything just to stay with isn’t fair."
"That’s not entirely wrong as well," Alia argued softly. "Greater risks bring greater rewards. And I trust when the ti cos, we will also make greater profits together."
"This ti I won’t let you," Freya said, her tone gentle yet final. "This will be your last ti. After this, you will have to move on and join soone else, who will help you grow better and successful."
Alia wanted to argue, but seeing Freya’s resolve, she nodded.
"Then let’s talk about this after we fail," she said quietly. "I trust Adelyn. I chose her myself. She isn’t the sa. She will be our new beginning. I am sure about that."
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