Ch. 21..30

Chapter 21 Looking at myself in the mirror, I forced a smile. 'Smile today. Be happy. Live happily ever after from now on,' I told myself.

When I went downstairs, Matthew and Lindey had already made breakfast. They'd even swapped the regular tableware and couch covers for the special family occasion sets. "Rea, once you get your marriage certificate, come back so we can celebrate and discuss the wedding party details," Lindey said, sounding more excited than I was. "Sure!" I replied.

Lindey looked at me. "You look beautiful today. It would look even better if it was embellished with pearls or Swarovski crystals."

"That would be too conspicuous," I said.

"Don't listen to her. It's not a wedding ceremony; there's no need to dress extravagantly just to get a marriage license. Rea, wear whatever you like," Matthew cut in, correcting Lindey. I smiled, feeling warm inside.

Lindey dragged me to the table. Along with the usual lavish breakfast, there were two extra eggs and a sausage arranged in a way that made me blush.

Before I could ask, Lindey whispered in my ear, "This is our family custom. It symbolizes the hope for a child soon. But I don't care if it's a boy or girl; I just hope you and Jace have a child soon."

My face burned as I looked at the eggs and sausage, feeling too embarrassed to eat them.

"Just take a bite," Lindey said, peeling an egg and handing it to me.

Not wanting to disappoint her, I took a bite, my face still red, and then focused on my oatmeal.

It wasn't until I was almost finished that I noticed Jace wasn't there. "Where's Jace?"

"He hasn't come down yet," Lindey replied, just as we heard footsteps on the stairs. Jace was coming down.

I couldn't shake the feeling that his expression was more serious than usual.

My heart sank as I watched him walk over. "Rea, I talked to Abbot Levinsky, and he said the best time to get the certificate is at 10:58 a.m., so we don't need to go so early."

"Oh, I mumbled, feeling my excitement fade.

I knew Abbot Levinsky; he was Jace's spiritual mentor. Here in Kehlmark, Harmonism ruled the roost. People turned to Harmonism monks or sisters for the best dates when planning important events. Lindey and Matthew chimed in, "Yeah, listen to Abbot Levinsky."

Jace sat down to eat. He finished the fancy breakfast quickly-not rushed, but faster than usual.

Lindey handed him the rest of my egg and sausage, which he ate without hesitation.

"Rea, wait for me at home. I need to prepare something," he said mysteriously.

Lindey winked at me, mouthing that he was getting a gift ready for me.

Remembering he'd mentioned a prize for being first yesterday, I figured the same and watched him leave. I went upstairs to change.

Just as I took off my coat, my phone rang. It was Gavin. "Good morning, Mrs. Johnston."

Looked like Gavin knew about our plan to get married today.

I smiled. "Good morning, Gavin. What's up?"

"I'm sending you an address. Come over, and I'll be waiting for you there. Mr. Johnston has a gift for you," Gavin said mysteriously. "Alright," I agreed and hung up.

Gavin sent me the address for a neighborhood called Splendor Heights.

I drove there and found Gavin waiting for me. Without a word, he handed me a set of keys. It hit me then that Jace's gift was a penthouse.

He knew me well. Even though the Johnston residence was nice, he knew I still wanted my own space. A mix of sweet and warm feelings filled my heart.

Feeling happy, I grabbed the keys and opened the door. The bright space inside instantly delighted me.

I stepped in, but as soon as one foot crossed the threshold, a familiar figure emerged from the bedroom.

It was Tanya, wearing a nightgown. I stood frozen in place.

Chapter 22 Gavín looked just as surprised as I was. "Ms. Twain, what are you doing here?"

Tanya adjusted her nightgown. "I live here."

She noticed the keys in my hand. "Do you always just walk into other people's homes without knocking?"

Gavin stepped forward. "No... this place was supposed to be a gift from Mr. Johnston to Ms. Kay."

He fumbled with his phone, accidentally putting the call on speaker. "Mr. Johnston, about the Splendor Heights penthouse-"

Before he could finish, Jace interrupted, "That's for Tanya."

Tanya's smile widened right in front of me.

"And Ms. Kay-"

Gavin tried to continue, but Jace cut him off again, "I'll get another house for Keira. And... don't let Keira know about this."

Gavin looked at me, red-faced and embarrassed, like he was the one who had betrayed me, not Jace. He didn't dare say more, realizing that bringing me here without checking with Jace first was a huge mistake. He should have cleared it with Jace, but now it was too late.

I didn't expose Jace during the call, knowing it would cost Gavin his job.

With the economy tanking, lots of companies were laying off people, and good jobs were hard to find. Plus, Gavin had just started dating someone last month. Losing his job now could ruin his relationship In that moment, I admired my own composure for not blowing up.

Gavin awkwardly ended the call, his face full of guilt. "Ms. Kay..."

"It's not your fault," I said, pausing. "Why don't you sit and have some tea while I chat with Ms. Twain?"

I didn't send Gavin away because I didn't want Tanya pulling any stunts, like pretending to faint or faking another one of her pregnancy tummy pains that I'd have to handle by myself.

After calming Gavin, I glanced at Tanya. Her eyes were wary, defensive, and ready for a confrontation.

But I didn't give her the satisfaction. Instead, I began to take in the penthouse.

The place was over 200 square meters, with a simple yet detailed decor. A bean bag chair and a small. coffee table by the floor-to-ceiling windows caught my eye. The setup reminded me of a painting I once made. Morning sunlight lazily streamed through the glass, instantly calming my agitation, This house was in the best location in Seavora, with an ideal floor level. To the left was the CBD business center, offering a view of the RiverwaveCorp Tower, and to the right, the vast ocean with its rolling waves and soaring seagulls. This was my dream home!

Gavin told me it was a gift from Jace, and I could tell he really put some thought into it.

But now, everything felt wrong.

I looked around the living room, then checked out the other rooms. The bedroom, bathroom, and open kitchen were all designed in the style I loved.

The layout matched the one in my painting perfectly I didn't say anything, just took it all in, making Tanya and Gavin more and more uncomfortable.

Tanya finally broke the silence. "Keira, you heard it clearly. This place is mine now. Please leave. I need to rest."

I turned back to her, remembering the bedding she picked out yesterday. "Has Jace slept here?"

Tanya pursed her lips.

I gave a small smile. "Let me be clearer. Have you two slept together?".

"Keira, why do you have to be so rude?" Tanya's face went pale as she tried to look dignified.

"Did you?" I asked, my eyes dropping to her belly. "Oh, right, you can't because of your condition.

Chapter 23 Tanya's face turned red, then white again.

Honestly, her act was pathetic. If she wanted to steal someone's fiancé, she should just own it. Jace gave her the house meant for me, after all. She could at least show some confidence.

But no. She did shady things and still tried to act all innocent.

'Really, this bitch wants to have her cake and eat it too,' I cursed inwardly.

"Keira, Jace won't like this behavior," Tanya dared to talk to me about this.

I laughed out loud. If I still cared about Jace's affection now, I'd be out of "Keep his affection for yourself," I shot back, shutting her down again.

my mind.

Tears welled up in Tanya's eyes, and I was glad I had Gavin around. Without him, her tears would've made things way too complicated.

"What do you mean? Aren't you getting married today?" Tanya asked, hope flickering in her eyes.

Look at her, so ambitious."

Suddenly, I didn't want to give her the satisfaction, so I said, "Yeah, we are. We'll get our certificate soon. Jace consulted an abbot about the best time, and he said 10:58. Supposedly, it's to ensure a long and happy marriage with lots of kids." The sparkle in Tanya's eyes shattered.

Seeing her hopes dashed, I delivered another blow. "After Jace and I get our marriage license, make sure to send us a wedding gift."

Tanya staggered, almost falling. Remembering her past dramatics, I added, "Jace isn't here to catch you if you fall."

My retort left Tanya speechless. She just bit her lip, a look that would definitely trigger a protective instinct in most guys.

Maybe that was how she snagged Jace's heart.

But it didn't matter anymore. From today on, Jace was just another person in my life.

Weirdly, it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would.

You don't get over someone overnight. After Jace's repeated betrayals, today's incident didn't break me any further. "Let's go, Gavin," I called out, walking away.

"Ms. Kay, this might be a misunderstanding. Let's hear Mr. Johnston's explanation," Gavin pleaded as we stepped outside.

He probably knew what my decision would be after seeing all this.

"If you were me, would you believe his explanation?" I asked, leaving Gavin silent.

"Don't tell Jace about this," I added. With that, I left.

Back at the office, everyone was totally shocked to see me. "Ms. Kay, isn't today your big day with Mr. Johnston? Why are you here?" "Just remembered a few important things I gotta wrap up," I replied casually, leaving them all staring.

I'd always been on top of things at work, never slacking even though I was Jace's fiancée.

[You're really setting the bar high,] Demi teased, adding a cute emoji.

I didn't say anything, staying focused on my tasks.

At ten, Jace called, "Rea, where are you?"

"I'm at the office."

He hesitated, then asked, "Why are you still there? I'll come get you."

"No need. We're meeting at the clerk's office, right? I'll head over now. Just wait for me," I said, hanging up.

I sat in silence for a moment before grabbing my bag. However, I intentionally left the filled-out marriage license form in the drawer. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you

Chapter 24 When Jace called me again, I was at the Cloudscape Monastery listening to a sermon..

"Rea, it's almost eleven. Why aren't you here yet?" Jace sounded urgent.

"I'm almost there, just wait a little longer." I was doing this on purpose.

I'd loved him for a decade, and lost track of how many times I'd waited on him.

Today, though, I made him wait on me. It was a small payback for a decade of love and youth. "Hurry up, don't miss the time my mentor recommended," Jace urged me once more.

At that moment, I was sitting in front of Abbot Levinsky, who hadn't mentioned anything about my marriage. It was clear he didn't know I was supposed to register with Jace today, let alone any auspicious timing.

I softly hummed in acknowledgment, hung up, and switched off my phone, focusing back on Abbot Levinsky's sermon.

Jace was a believer ever since he miraculously recovered from a serious illness as a child. Lindey had prayed nonstop at the monastery for three days and nights, and somehow, Jace had pulled through Since then, Lindey had become an even more devout believer, urging Jace to accept Abbot Levinsky as his spiritual guide.

Naturally, I tagged along with Jace whenever he visited Abbot Levinsky, who personally blessed our relationship. But despite all that, my relationship with Jace still didn't have a happy ending.

I didn't leave Cloudscape Monastery until three in the afternoon. My phone stayed off as I headed straight to the clerk's office.

Jace wasn't there anymore.

I wasn't surprised. I didn't know how long he waited for me, but it couldn't have been as long as I'd waited for him in the past.

I parked my car and turned on my phone. Countless messages and missed calls bombarded my screen, most of them from Jace.

There were fifty-three missed calls and seven texts from him:

[Rea, you here? Why's your phone dead?] [Rea, it's time. Hurry up or we'll miss the best time.] [Rea, what's going on?] [Rea, seriously, hit me back.] [Rea, 20 mins till the clerk's office shuts. We won't be able to get the certificate.] [Rea, are you messing with me?] [Rea, can't believe you're pulling this...] Seeing those texts, I could practically hear Jace going from panicked to pissed off, and finally just plain frustrated.

The last message was sent at 11:55. His patience had worn thin, barely lasting an hour.

Staring at the fifty-three missed calls, I dialed him back.

It rang once before he hung up.

He was clearly furious, angry that I had stood him up and wasn't picking up his calls:

I didn't call again, but I responded to Lena, who had also been trying to reach me. Jace had reached out to her while searching for me.

Instead of texting back, I sent her a voice message. "Don't worry, Lena. I'm okay. I just needed some time to pray."

Lena's video call came through right away, and she asked, "What's going on?"

I hesitated, biting my lip. "It's kind of a long story."

Lena said, "Then make it short."

I smiled and was ready to talk when Jace, who had just hung up on me, rang back.

I wasn't going to respond. I was entirely over it. In the past, I would have dropped everything for his calls, but not anymore.

Lena heard my phone ring and asked, "Is that Jace?"

"Yeah."

"Answer it. He's been freaking out trying to find you."

'Huh? Would he ever lose his mind for me?' I thought.

Chapter 25 I smirked. Lena could tell something was up. "Did you dig up something about him and Tanya?"

She totally got where I stood.

"He handed Tanya a penthouse that was supposed to be mine," I spilled quickly.

Lena went quiet for a beat, then clenched her jaw. "Are you gonna..."

She didn't need to finish-I knew exactly what she meant. "I'm not falling for him again."

"What a jerk! If you take him back, he'll just keep pulling this crap!" Lena shared my take on relationships.

"I know."

"Okay, let's figure out our next move. Take his call, hear him out, then meet me," Lena paused. "I'll get someone to cover half my shift."

I wanted to tell her not to bother, but she'd already hung up.

Jace's call kept coming. Finally, I picked up. "Hey..."

"Keira Kay, what the hell are you doing? What's going on?" Jace's voice boomed through the phone.

I pulled the phone away from my ear, letting him vent. When he settled down, I brought it back. "Jace Johnston, I told you yesterday in front of your parents that it was your final shot."

"Don't give me that. Where are you? Why didn't you come to get the license with me today?" he demanded.

Apparently, Gavin and Tanya hadn't told him about my visit to the penthouse, and I didn't bring it up either. I just answered his question. "I went to Cloudscape Monastery to hear Abbot Levinsky preach." My words seemed to stun Jace into silence.

He knew he'd been caught in a lie. "Rea, let me explain..."

"There's nothing left to explain. You've had plenty of chances to explain before. Jace, it's over.

"Rea!"

"By the way, I've finished organizing all my work and sent everything to the right people, including-"

Before I could finish, he cut in with a shout, "What are you doing?"

"I'm taking my annual leave."

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" Jace sneered.

J remained silent, listening to the faint rustle of him removing his tie. "Fine. If you want to throw tantrums, be my guest."

Click!

1/2 He hung up.

I smiled softly, gazing up at the sky. A bird soared past, free and unhindered.

I could finally be free-free from Jace, free from the Johnston family, free to live my own life.

While the Johnston family had supported me, I'd always felt like a caged bird, unable to explore the world I craved.

Starting today, I could spread my wings and reach for the world I'd always dreamed of.

I headed out to find Lena. She'd ditched her shift for me, and I knew meeting her face-to-face would calm her concerns.

Lena understood the depth of my feelings for Jace. Even if I tried to downplay it, she'd worry about me.

"That was fast. Did you run red lights to get here?" Lena quipped as soon as she spotted me. "Maybe, but you're worth it." My words left Lena speechless, and she pulled me into a tight hug. I closed my eyes, leaning against her. "I'm tougher than I look, you know..."

And it was true.

I didn't feel hurt or sad.

It was more like losing a business deal-I felt nothing.

Lena took off her white coat, grabbed her bag, and hopped into my car. Just then, my phone buzzed- it was Lindey calling.

Lena glanced at the caller ID and remarked, "You don't have to pick up if you're not ready."

I hesitated briefly. "I can't avoid it forever."

With a deep breath, I answered the call.

Chapter 26 "Rea, I've got a huge bash planned for you guys and invited everyone. Make sure you're back by six tonight," Lindey's upbeat voice on the phone caught me off guard.

I hadn't figured she wouldn't know we didn't get the marriage license. Jace must've kept her in the dark, probably afraid of her reaction after last night's disappointment.

As I listened to Lindey's excitement and anticipation, a wave of apprehension washed over me about breaking the news.

The fact that Jace and I couldn't get married was already set in stone. I couldn't hide it forever, and certainly not now. Besides, if she found out later with all the guests she had invited, it would only make things worse. "Lindey," I called softly.

"You're about to become my daughter-in-law. You should start calling me 'Mom,' don't be shy," Lindey teased.

For a moment, I felt a sharp pang in my heart. "I'm sorry, but I... I may never have the right to call you' Mom.""

There had been so many moments over the past ten years when I had longed to call her Mom.

But it seemed that wish would never come true.

"What do you mean?" Lindey sounded confused. "Rea, are you uncomfortable? Then don't change- "We didn't get the certificate," I interrupted her. "And we never will."

"What?" Lindey was stunned. "What happened? Rea..."

"We broke up." It felt like a huge weight off my shoulders to say those words.

There was silence on the other end, and I dreaded Lindey's reaction to my news.

She'd raised me like her own, hoping today would mark the day I'd finally be part of the family officially.

She had been so happy this morning, waiting for me to call her "mom" when I returned home.

But now, facing her disappointment, I took a deep breath. "Lindey," I began cautiously.

"What happened, Rea? Tell me," Lindey's voice softened with concern.

Memories swirled in my mind before I finally spoke. 'Lindey, Jace and I... we're just not right for each other."

I kept Jace's faults to myself; it wasn't something I wanted others to know.

didn't want to get into a rivalry with another woman over a guy, but the reality was I had been defeated by another woman, and she was even a pregnant widow. "How can you say that? You've been together for years, know each other like the back of your hand.

1/2 You love him, and he's always had your back. How can it all just fall apart like this?" Lindey couldn't accept it.

Her reaction hit me like a wrecking ball to the chest. "Lindey..."

"I'm calling Jace. It must be something he did to wrong you," Lindey's words hit me hard, and tears welled up.

Because of her final words, blaming Jace for wronging me.

Lena squeezed my hand, and I forced a smile at her.

But in Lena's intense gaze, I saw the shattered reflection of my facade.

Externally, I remained collected, but inside, chaos reigned, visible in my eyes.

When Lindey called again, I ignored it. I knew she wanted me back at the Johnston residence, hoping to sway my decision.

But I wasn't going back to hear Lindey and Mathew try to talk me out of it.

I'd made up my mind, so there was no need to listen to their whole spiel.

It would only drain us both.

Chapter 27 Lená read my thoughts. "Where do you want to go? I'll come with you, or-"

"Help me pack up my place," I cut her off.

She looked surprised. "You've been planning this?"

"Not really. It just sort of happened a couple of days ago," I said, gesturing toward the bed linens at the backseat.

"Yesterday, I was at the mall picking these up when I ran into Tanya," I added, observing Lena's expression shift from surprise to curiosity.

On the way to my place, I told Lena everything. She nodded emphatically, her frustration evident." Skipping out on that marriage certificate was the right call. Jace Johnston is just another jerk of this century who thinks he can have it all." "Jerk is jerk, no matter the century," I quipped in response.

Lena looked at me closely. "Rea, you don't have to pretend you're okay."

"I'm really not that upset," I replied, keeping my eyes on the road ahead. "Maybe my feelings for him were just as worn out as his for me-like we knew each other too well to spark any emotions."

I genuinely believed it at the time, but little did I know, those quiet emotions were aging like fine wine, ready to hit me harder later.

Jace was in the same boat.

Lena had no idea about my late parents' place in Emberholm. We'd become friends back in school, right after I moved into the Johnston residence.

"This apartment's not bad, just a bit far and kinda old," Lena remarked, always one to speak her mind.

"Yeah, this is where I grew up with my folks. I don't want to change everything here," I said, tossing the bed linens onto the couch and grabbing the new kettle to rinse and fill with water.

Lena wandered around, checking out the place before leaning against the kitchen doorframe. "It's nice, despite its age. Cozy. I can see you had a happy family here."

Yeah, if it weren't for that car accident.

Even now, it felt like a terrible nightmare. My parents dropped me off at school that morning, saying they had to discuss some contract. Dad even promised that if the deal went through, he'd build me an amusement park.

But they never came back.

"Rea, Rea," Lena called, snapping me back. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

I looked up at her. "Say what?"

Lena noticed my distress. "Are you okay?"

1/2 "Yeah, just... missing my parents," I said, my throat tight.

A wave of indescribable sadness rose in my chest.

Though I'd known since moving into the Johnston house that Jace would be my boyfriend someday, we only made it official three years ago.

It was on the anniversary of my parents' death. I was crying at their graves, and Jace hugged me, saying that I still had him. He promised at their tombstone that he'd love me just like they did. I naively believed I had found someone to rely on again.

"Don't dwell on them now. Focus on your future," Lena said, changing the subject on purpose when she saw how sad I was.

"So, what will you do now that you've broken up with Jace?" Lena asked.

The water had just boiled. I poured us two cups of instant coffee. "I've sent all my work handovers to the right people and written my resignation letter. I'll leave after the amusement park project is done." "Quitting is the right move. Staying friends after a breakup is bullshit. Distance is the only way to move on," Lena said, totally supporting me.

I nodded. Lena, seeing my mood, didn't press further and looked around the apartment. "You might want to get some appliances, like an automatic washing machine, a coffee maker, and a vacuum cleaner." "Let's do that when I get back," I said.

Lena looked up from her coffee. "Where are you going?"

Chapter 28 It took me four hours on the high-speed train to reach Chiverton.

As I arrived, the town was just lighting up. It wasn't as bustling as Seavora, but it had its own charm with twinkling lights and a cozy, small-town vibe.

Lena called almost as soon as I arrived. "Are you there yet? Found a place to stay?"

She hadn't expected me to leave so suddenly. When she asked where I was headed, I gave her the address and train time. She wondered if I was leaving so fast to avoid Jace, thinking he might try to stop me.

But she was wrong. Jace wouldn't bother. He's probably furious, mad that I stood him up and disobeyed him.

So far, I seemed to be right. After he asked why I didn't show up for the marriage registration, he hadn't sent a single message or made another call.

I hurried here because I'd always wanted to visit. Another reason was to avoid getting tangled up-not with Jace, but with Matthew and Lindey. They'd definitely try to reach me and change my mind.

But I'd already made up my mind. If I stayed, it would only waste their energy and exhaust me.

Given that, it was better to leave quickly and not give them a chance.

I even put my main phone number on airplane mode. Lena was calling my backup number, one even Jace didn't know about. This number had been my dad's. It had stayed silent in my phone's other SIM slot for ten years, and now, it was finally being used. "I haven't found a place yet, but I'm not in a rush," I said, looking around this unfamiliar place. I suddenly felt a sense of tranquility.

"Why not? It's late. Find a good hotel, make sure it's safe, check the wardrobe and under the bed before you sleep, lock the windows, and bolt the door..." Lena rambled on.

I smiled, touched by her concern. "Alright, I will. I promise."

"And don't forget to eat something. You should be able to find takeout there," Lena said just as a delivery guy passed by.

"Want me to order a hunk to keep you company?" I teased.

Lena sighed in relief. "Rea, no matter what, always remember to take care of yourself."

"I know. You get some rest too. You have an early surgery tomorrow," I reminded her before ending the call.

I wasn't in a hurry to find a place to stay because I didn't want to stay in a hotel. I came here because this was my hometown, more precisely, my parents' birthplace.

My parents weren't from Seavora. They moved there hoping to make a fortune in business. In the end, they didn't make money but lost their lives instead.

1/2 I was born here, but my parents took me away not long after. Even though I grew up in Seavora, my dad often talked about Chiverton. He always said that one day, when I was older, they'd bring me here to see where we used to live and visit the orphanage where they grew up.

Both my parents were orphans, abandoned by their families because of their disabilities. My dad was born deaf and mute, and my mom had congenital heart disease. Thankfully, they received help from some kind-hearted people and underwent surgeries that allowed them to lead normal lives.

I opened my phone's photo album, scrolling to a picture of an address from my dad's journal. Flagging down a taxi, I said, "Mister, please take me to Oldbridge Street." The driver glanced at me, and I took a closer look at him, a bit surprised.

He had a buzz cut, with stern, rugged features, and skin tanned to a near-coffee shade.

Chapter 29 The driver looked rough and tough, a bit intimidating.

The guys I was used to were always clean-cut, with fair skin, dressed in suits, ties, and overcoats. But this guy? He looked like he might've just gotten out of prison.

I instinctively tightened my grip on my bag, remembering the pepper spray and self-defense knife Lena had slipped inside before I left.

But before I could even think about reaching for them, the driver had already started the car and stayed silent.

'What was that look he gave me supposed to mean?' I wondered.

I couldn't figure it out, and my brief moment of calm was suddenly replaced by unease.

Because I was on high alert, I didn't pay much attention to the townscape. When the car finally stopped, I quickly paid and got out, watching the taxi drive away before letting out a sigh of relief. It was already ten at night, and I realized coming here at this hour might not have been the smartest move.

I could have waited until the next day to search for my parents' old home. But since I was already here, there was no point in second-guessing.

The area in front of me was incredibly run-down, with crumbling walls and pothole-ridden streets filled with puddles.

My rolling suitcase was useless on this kind of street, so I had to carry it.

My dad's address was 42 Oldbridge Street. I checked each house number until I found it, marked with a sign at the entrance indicating it was for rent.

'Who would want to rent a place like this? Only an idiot,' I thought to myself as I walked in. It was a small courtyard surrounded by buildings. In the middle stood a tree, barely visible in the darkness.

I knew it was a ginkgo tree, the one my dad had watched grow.

"Are you looking for someone or a place to stay?" an elderly voice asked.

I turned to see a granny with gray hair, leaning on a walking stick, scrutinizing me.

"I... I want to rent a room," I said, pointing to the easternmost room. "That one."

My dad had told me this courtyard had three bedrooms. The main hall in the middle was for guests and daily activities, the kitchen was on the west side, and the bedrooms were on the east. When my parents left, they sold the property. It had since been renovated, and the old traces were gone, but I wanted to stay in the room where my parents once slept.

"That room is occupied. You can stay in this one," the old lady said, pointing to the adjoining room.

I didn't respond, still wanting the easternmost room.

1/2 Sensing my hesitation, the old lady explained, "That room is old. This one is newer and better for a young girl like you. Let me show you. By the way, I'm Macy Matchley. You can just call me Macy." "Keira Kay."

Macy then led me to the room, and inside, it was clean, with fresh white walls and tidy bedding.

"It looks nice, but I still want that room," I insisted, my stubborn streak showing.

Macy sighed. "You can wait for the tenant to come back and see if he's willing to switch with you." "Alright," I agreed.

Even if I couldn't snag that exact room, I was dead set on staying here, all because of that ginkgo tree. I handed some cash to Macy, grabbed the hot water she'd boiled to make tea, and made my way back to my room. Just as I was about to get cozy, my phone buzzed. I figured it was Lena checking up on my digs, but I froze when I saw the caller ID.

Someone I hadn't talked to in forever was calling me-on a number that had been silent for ten years.

Chapter 30 ""Hey Cutie Pie."

The voice on the other end was husky and familiar, yet distant.

A familiar face popped into my mind, and I blurted out, "Wayne!"

I had hoped that changing my number would keep me off the Johnston family's radar, but I never expected Wayne to find this number and actually call me.

"Looks like you kept my number and didn't forget about me," Wayne's voice had that teasing edge.

He was only two years older than Jace. Before he left for abroad, he used to look out for me a lot and loved calling me Cutie Pie.

For a moment, I had no idea how to respond. His words sounded almost like he was complaining.

In the first couple of years after he left, I'd sometimes reach out, just to see how he was doing. But eventually, we lost touch.

Wayne was never the type to keep in contact. He barely talked to his family, so it was no surprise he didn't stay in touch with me.

Now, out of the blue, he was calling me. I knew it had to be about my canceled wedding with Jace.

Even if Wayne rarely spoke to his family, they always shared important news.

"How'd you get this number?" I asked straight out. I hated playing guessing games.

"You asked me for money to top up your phone credit back then."

Wayne's response made me admire him. No wonder he was a top student. He remembered my number for ten years after topping up my credit just once.

After my parents' accident, my dad's phone became my cherished keepsake. One day, I found the number suspended due to unpaid bills, so I needed to recharge it.

At the time, I had no money and felt too embarrassed to ask Lindey and Matthew, so I turned to Wayne.

He questioned me about why I needed the money, thinking I might use it for something else. When I explained, he still didn't believe me and went with me to the payment center. Eventually, he paid for the recharge and remembered the number.

I had forgotten to repay him, so when I saw his call now, I joked, "Are you calling to collect the debt?"

"Yep," he admitted.

I knew he wasn't serious but played along. "I can transfer the money to you right-"

"Rea." Wayne cut me off.

My grip on the phone tightened, but I said nothing. Wayne stayed silent for a moment too.

After a brief pause, his calm voice broke the silence. My parents are freaking out about you. They can't find you, and my mom... she fainted from the stress."

My heart sank. I knew they'd be worried, but I hadn't expected it to be this bad. Guilt and concern weighed heavy in my chest. "Is Lindey okay?"

"She's hanging in there, just a spike in blood pressure from all the stress," Wayne reassured me before hesitating. "Rea, did Jace mess up?"

It seemed like I couldn't dodge this question. I knew I'd have to explain it over and over once people knew about it.

Just the thought gave me a headache. I rubbed my temples. "Didn't you talk to him? Maybe you should ask him first?"

"I did. He said he has no clue," Wayne replied, almost making me want to laugh.

"Did he also mention how unreasonable and overreacting I am?" I asked, my smile tinged with bitterness.

Wayne didn't answer directly but instead said, "You loved him so much, you were determined to marry him. If you suddenly changed your mind, he must have done something to hurt you, right?"

His words pricked at my heart, a dull ache settling in. Despite being abroad for years, Wayne seemed to understand my feelings for Jace better than Lena ever did.

We had shared meals and lived under the same roof. Wayne had witnessed firsthand the little gestures of my love for Jace- the candies I left out for him, the chicken wings I saved, the hidden slices of watermelon, and the secret diary entries I wrote...