Chapter 9
Xavier was rushed to the hospital.
Loretta stayed by Genevieve’s side, keeping her company in the hospital room through the long, silent night.”
It wasn’t until eight in the morning, when the alarm she’d set went off, that Genevieve snapped back to reality. Seeing the “Departure” note flash on the screen, she threw her arms around Loretta, unable to hide her reluctance.§
“Loretta, please don’t go. Don’t leave me, okay?” she pleaded, her voice thick with tears. “If you go now, we probably won’t see each other for another three years. By then, you’ll be a dazzling star, and it’ll be even harder to meet up. I… I’m really going to miss you.“>
Loretta’s eyes grew red as well. She gently patted Genevieve’s back, comforting her. After a long while, Genevieve finally let her go, still sniffling as she walked Loretta to the door.
Loretta stepped out of the hospital, suitcase in hand, and raised her arm to flag down a cab. But she paused, frozen for a moment. She’d said her goodbyes to everyone.
Everyone except Xavier.
She stood there, deep in thought. After three years together, she owed him some closure.}
Turning back, she retraced her steps through the hospital corridors. Just as she reached the door to his room, familiar voices drifted out.} Inside, Fidelia was draped against Xavier’s chest, her tears flowing freely.
“I just wanted you to say something, that’s all. You didn’t have to dive in for the necklace… Why are you so reckless?“>
“I know you still have feelings for me. If you’d just break up and tell me you want to be with me, I’d say yes. Why can’t you just give in for once?”
These were the words Xavier had longed to hear for six years.
Yet, now that they finally came, he didn’t feel the happiness he’d imagined. Instead, the mention of the word “breakup” made Loretta’s face flash through his mind–her throwing herself in front of him to shield him from a car, her tear–filled eyes promising to love him forever, her bright laughter as she celebrated his birthday, the countless moments when she’d looked at him with such raw affection…} Suddenly, his head throbbed painfully. His thoughts were a jumbled mess; he didn’t even know how to respond.
Just then, he happened to glance up–and saw Loretta.
She stood outside the glass window, staring at him steadily. Her dark eyes were calm, as still as a lake, utterly unreadable. The moment their gazes met, Xavier lost his composure. He pushed Fidelia aside and shot to his feet, but by the time he reached the window, Loretta was gone.
Fo F 2 5 3 5 F 3 = 3 = = 2 2 3 2
He rushed out into the hallway, only to find it empty and silent.
Was it just his imagination?}
it had to be. He hadn’t told anyone–certainly not Loretta–that he’d risked his life for Fidelia’s necklace, or that he was in the hospital. There was no way she could have known, let alone come to see him.
Xavier’s heart pounded wildly. He couldn’t shake the feeling that things were slipping out of his control, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on what, exactly, was changing.
Meanwhile, Loretta had given up on saying goodbye.”
When she got home, she quietly tore the page off the calendar, set her apartment key on the table, and picked up her suitcase.§ On the ride to the airport, Loretta opened her chat with Xavier.
She hesitated for a long time before typing just three lines.
“We’re over. Thank you for taking care of me these past few years.”
“I hope you and Fidelia will be happy together.“}]
“Xavier, I’m leaving. Goodbye–forever.”
With a single message, she put three years behind her.S
With a single blessing, she gave him his freedom.
With a single farewell, she made it clear there would be no turning back.
From now on, he would be nothing more than her best friend’s older brother.
After she hit send, there was no reply for a long time.
#Y
Loretta knew Xavier was with Fidelia now–he probably didn’t have time for messages that didn’t matter anymore.
And even if he did see it eventually, she doubted it would affect him at all. After all, the woman he truly cared about was right by his side. Why would he care about an ex–girlfriend who was only ever a substitute?}
Just before boarding, Dailey handed Loretta a new phone.}
“Loretta, according to your contract, you’ll have to cut off contact with the outside world from today on. This is your work phone.“>
Loretta nodded, took out her old phone, and swapped them over.”
The plane was just about to take off. The PA system blared, and a group of girls in the row behind her were chatting noisily.
Loretta didn’t notice the screen of her old phone lighting up one last time before it shut down.
Nor did she hear the frantic chimes of incoming messages.}
Turning her head, she gazed out the window, watching as the clouds parted and the sky cleared. A small, hopeful smile touched her lips.
From now on, Loretta’s life would be nothing but blue skies.
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