Chapter 5

"Anna? What are you thinking about?" Lucas's voice pulled me from my memories.

Lucas and Ethan had arrived and sat across from me.

The food was quickly served. No one spoke. The atmosphere was stiff.

Lucas raised his glass first: "Anna, I was wrong the other day. I'll punish myself with a drink. Happy birthday."

Ethan also rarely dropped his stern expression, though his eyes remained complicated.

Just then, Lucas's phone rang.

He glanced at the caller and immediately answered, his voice changing: "What? How could she suddenly faint? Which hospital?"

He hung up and looked at me apologetically: "Anna, I'm sorry. Willow... she fainted from acute hypoglycemia. She's at the hospital now. I need to go check on her."

Before I could speak, Ethan had already stood up, coat in hand, saying to Lucas: "Let's go together. One person might not be enough."

Just like in my previous life, they abandoned me for Willow once again.

Lucas assured me: "Anna, you eat first. We'll come back as soon as we settle her in. Very quickly!"

They hurried out. The door to the private room closed, shutting out the noise outside.

The world instantly quieted.

I looked at the table full of food and didn't wait a single second longer.

I grabbed my coat and called the waiter.

"Check, please."

Walking out of the restaurant, the night wind hit my face. It was cold, but I felt more clearheaded than ever.

I took out my phone and blocked and deleted both Ethan and Lucas's contacts.

This time, I wouldn't wait anymore.

I hailed a taxi and went straight home.

When I opened the door, the house was empty.

Except for a few suitcases for my grandmother and me, there was no trace of life lived here.

I took off that dirty dress and threw it straight into the trash without thinking.

Along with that dress, I threw away the last bit of feeling I had for Ethan Rivers.

I walked into my grandmother's room. She was already asleep, breathing steadily.

I tucked in her blanket and kissed her forehead.

Grandma, this time I'll take you away from this place that broke your heart.

In the latter half of the night, I barely slept.

I checked and rechecked the documents and luggage, making sure everything was perfect.

At dawn, I woke my grandmother.

"Grandma, we're going to a faraway, wonderful place. Okay?"

Though my grandmother's memory was a bit fuzzy, she loved me most.

She looked at me and nodded with a smile: "Okay. Wherever Anna goes, Grandma goes."

The morning light at the airport shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was warm.

I held my grandmother's hand, walking step by step toward the boarding gate.

Goodbye, Ethan Rivers.

Goodbye, Lucas Knight.

And Willow Hayes.

May your love last forever.