Chapter 4
Reading this message, my knees suddenly gave out and I collapsed onto a street bench.
Memories crashed over me like a tidal wave. My throat felt like an invisible hand was strangling me, the suffocating sensation nearly driving me to despair.
Not because of Damien, but because of Delcher.
For three years, I had forced myself not to think about that wedding three years ago.
New Year’s Eve during our college graduation year marked exactly four years since Delcher and I got together. Under the fireworks that filled the sky at midnight, Delcher made me a promise:
“I’m sorry, Violena. I don’t have money right now, but I swear I’ll work hardy
“Just give me three years! I’ll propose to you under fireworks that belong only to you. I’ll marry you, make you my wife, make you the happiest woman in the world!”
That day, the endless fireworks reflected in our eyes, but Delcher’s gaze shone brighter than all the fireworks combined.
From that day forward, he founded his own team, working day and night on research and development, coding programs and creating products. I stood by his side, constantly seeking clients and running sales exhibitions.
In three years, our small team of a dozen people grew into a company of hundreds.
Delcher kept his promise, proposing to me under a sky full of fireworks.
On the rooftop garden restaurant of LA’s tallest building, he showed me the fireworks display he’d prepared-just for me.
But on our wedding day, I lost Delcher forever.
The mangled car wreckage, shattered glass scattered everywhere. Firefighters and paramedics pulled me out, leaving my beloved’s body lying in the flames…
A passerby’s voice interrupted my memories.
“Miss, are you alright?”
I realized I was sitting on the street bench, sobbing so hard my whole body was shaking. My fingers gripping the phone were trembling uncontrollably.
Only now did I understand-the pain of losing Delcher hadn’t lessened for even a second in these three years.
Even today, three years later, missing Delcher still hurt so much I felt like dying.
It was precisely because he knew me so well that Delcher entrusted Damien to me, hoping to give me a reason to live, hoping time would ease my love for him.
But Delcher…
I still miss you so much.
I dialed Damien’s number. The moment he picked up, his voice came through impatiently.
“Didn’t I tell you to bring food? Where are you? Violena, are you-”
I cut him off.
“Damien, you need to live well.”
Because that was your brother’s only wish, I thought to myself.
1 hung up and looked at the concerned passerby beside me.
“I’m fine.”
Turning off my phone, I got up and hailed a taxi to Lily Cemetery.
Belcher, the three years are up. This time, you can’t stop me anymore, can you?
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Damien felt an inexplicable wave of pante.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong with Violena’s tone in that strange phone call.
Just then, his secretary burst through the hospital room door, clutching a stack of documents, his face full of panic:
“President Scott! Miss Violena is missing!”
