Chapter 24
Endla only learned the full story a month later after returning from her honeymoon. She looked at the news reports showing Chloe’s miserable downfall, yet she felt no sense of satisfaction.
Closing the news page, she remained silent for a long time. The overhead light cast shadows beneath her eyelashes until a warm hand wrapped around hers, gently hooking his fingers around hers.
She turned her head and met Parker’s gentle gaze. His eyes seemed to tell her, “It’s okay. No matter what you choose to do, I will always be by your side.”
Enola studied his face before suddenly smiling. Then, she turned her attention to the man sitting across from her. When she finally spoke, her voice had returned to normal. “You came to see me just for this?”
Robert had been watching their exchange, and bitterness churned in his heart. Regret clawed at his chest as he questioned himself for the nth time.
Why was he such a coward back then?
If he had been braver, the one sitting by Enola’s side–the one she trusted completely–would have been him.
Nonetheless, the world never granted second chances. Because he had lacked courage, all he could do was watch the woman he loved walk into someone else’s arms. Robert took a delicately wrapped gift box from beside him and gently pushed it toward Enola. Seeing the confusion in her eyes, he explained, “This wedding dress was originally designed by you.
“It was your creation. I let Chloe take it from you before, and I’m truly sorry. That’s why I am returning it to its rightful owner now.”
Enola didn’t take it. She didn’t even glance inside.
Suppressing the bitterness welling up in his chest, Robert hesitated before continuing, “But I must apologize for something.
“It was slightly damaged when I tried taking it back. So, I took the liberty of making a few small adjustments.”
“Just my selfish way of leaving a piece of myself with you,” he thought to himself quietly.
As his words trailed off, he looked at her with silent hope. He was praying she would at least open the box, take a look, or maybe even keep it.
But after a long silence, she simply shook her head. “Robbie, I’m already married. I have no plans to marry again. And… I have no need for a dress that has been altered and worn by someone else.”
She stood, intertwining her fingers with Parker’s, then picked up the gift box and walked toward the large trash bin outside the store. She then tossed the wedding dress–box and all–straight in without hesitation.
Moments later, Robert’s phone chimed with a message.
“Robbie, let’s pretend nothing ever happened between us. Let’s pretend this conversation never took place.
“You’ll still be my guardian, but only that. Nothing more.”
In just a few short sentences, she had severed ali ties with him.
Robert remained seated, staring in the direction of the trash bin, unable to snap out of his daze. His thoughts drifted far away, pulling him back to the past.
The first time he ever met Enola was when he was ten years old.
The Shaw family and the Crawford family had been close for generations. As the youngest son of the Shaw family, he was of the same generation as Enola’s father. With his own parents growing older, he spent much of his time under the care of Enola’s parents.
When Enola was born, he had been waiting outside the delivery room alongside her father. It felt like an eternity before her mother was finallywheeled out, holding a tiny, pinkish newborn, in her arms.
She lay quietly in the small crib, blowing little bubbles. But when he poked her soft cheek, the bubbles popped, and she immediately burst into tears.
“What a fragile little crybaby,” he had thought.
Yet, he couldn’t help but want to steal her away and hide her somewhere safe. He wanted to give her the best of everything and never let anyone bully or hurt her. Most of all, he never wanted her to cry again.
Then, his wish came true when he turned 18 years old. He took her home after her parents‘ funeral, gave her everything she needed, and filled every gap in her life. If only things could stay that way forever.
But the peace shattered when he turned 28 years old. He became the one who hurt her the most.
Later, she found someone she wanted to spend her life with in a foreign land. This time, no one could hurt her again–including hirn.
Everyone else continued moving forward with time, while he was left behind -neglected, forgotten, and ultimately consumed by memories.
Back in the present, his love was now walking away with another man Their fingers were intertwined as they strolled side by side. Occasionally, they exchanged glances, smiling at each other like a perfect pair destined to be together.
They would continue walking, this path, forever. And all that was left for him. Was that one final sentence,
“Robbie, let’s pretend nothing ever happened between us.”
