Chapter 11
Shane bit his lip, forcing himself to remain calm as he continued to lie. “Mr. Porter, the blood donor has been properly taken care of. Her family received compensation as well. Everything is settled.”
Fabian still didn’t turn around. He merely let out a soft hum, as if the answer didn’t matter to him at all.
“Is there anything else?” Shane asked cautiously.
Fabian was silent for a moment before he finally waved a hand. “No. You can go.”
Shane let out a quiet breath of relief and turned to leave.
Just as he reached the door, he couldn’t help but glance back. Fabian was still standing by the window, as though he had shut himself off from the entire world. He looked lonely.
After Shane left, Fabian slowly reached into the depths of a drawer. From it, he retrieved a worn velvet ring box.
The fabric had faded, and the edges were frayed, yet the ring inside still glearned brilliantly.
It was the engagement ring he had prepared for Valerie years ago.
As Fabian opened the box, the diamond on the ring caught the sunlight and shimmered faintly. As he brushed his fingertips over the ring, memories long sealed away began to resurface.
When they were 15 and still in high school, they were in that hazy stage between friendship and something more.
Valerie always sat in front of him. During class, her ponytail would sway gently with her every movement.
Fabian often found himself staring at her back, lost in thought, until she would suddenly turn around with a mischievous grin.
“Fabian, I don’t get this problem. Can you teach me?” She would push her textbook toward him. Her eyes glinted with playful mischief.
He glanced at the page. It was the simplest of problems.
He raised an eyebrow. His tone was teasing when he spoke. “You can’t even solve something this simple? You spaced out in class again, didn’t you?”
Valerie stuck out her tongue and chuckled sheepishly. “You caught me.”
Shaking his head, Fabian picked up his pen and began explaining.
As his fingers accidentally brushed against the back of her hand, they both froze for a moment.
Valerie’s face turned red instantly. She lowered her head while pretending to listen intently, but he noticed that the tips of her ears had flushed crimson. What she didn’t know was that his heart was racing just as wildly.
At that moment, he realized that no one else would ever matter the way she did.
When they were 20, Fabian confessed his feelings to Valerie under the moonlight with a flushed face. That was when they started dating.
They were in college then. Clad in a white dress, Valerie stood under a canopy of cherry blossoms. She was smiling like a flower in full bloom. She tilted her head back. As she watched the cherry blossoms swirl through the air, her eyes were filled with anticipation.
“Fab, do you think we’ll always be this happy?” she turned to him and asked with a smile.
Fabian reached out and ruffled her hair before replying affectionately, “Of course. We’ll always be together, until we’re old and gray.”
Valerie’s smile grew even brighter. She tiptoed and kissed his cheek. “Then promise me this. Our wedding will be in Eleyburn. I heard that if two lovers get married in the most sacred place beneath Azure Summit, they’ll be together forever.”
Smiling, he nodded. “Alright. Whatever you want.”
At 22, they moved in together. They shared meals, watched movies, and planted flowers together. For countless nights, they were tangled in each other’s arms. They were drowning in love.
One night, Valerie was curled up on the couch. She was flipping through a bridal magazine.
“Fab, what do you think about this dress?” She pointed at a wedding dress in the magazine. Her eyes were filled with anticipation.
Fabian sat beside her and pulled her into his arms. “If you like it, then it’s perfect.”
Valerie leaned against his chest while murmuring dreamily, “Our wedding has to be in Eleyburn. We’ll have the gods of Azure Summit bear witness to our love. And after that, we’ll have two kids. A boy who looks like you, and a girl who looks like me. What do you think?”
He kissed her forehead and replied gently, “Sounds perfect.”
Smiling, she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, “I love you, Fab.” Fabian’s heart skipped a beat. He held her tighter and whispered back, “I love you too, Val.” The memories flooded him, each one cutting deeper than the last. Fabian’s fingers trembled.
He remembered their first touch, their first kiss, and the first time they swore to spend forever together.
He remembered how much Valerie had once loved him and how much she had once needed him. But why had she betrayed him? Why had she run down Ameha with her car? Why had she destroyed everything they had?
A shadow of agony crossed Fabian’s face. He snapped the box shut and hurled it into the trash. The box tumbled through the air, landing in the bin with a dull thud
Closing his eyes, Fabian took a deep breath to steady himself. He couldn’t let himself dwell on the past any longer.
Valerie was gone. Maybe, just as Shane had said, she had left Nobert City and gone overseas.
He had to let her go. He had to hate her.
“Three months,” Fabian murmured to himself “Just give me three more months. I’ll forget you completely by then.”
Chapter 12
Fabian turned around, walked over to his desk, and powered on his computer to get some work done.
For the next few days, he acted as if nothing had happened.
He spent every day with Sasha–dining, shopping, and watching movies together. He even posted their photos on Instagram with the caption, “A lifetime with you is all I need.”
Sasha beamed, happily linking her arm through his. “Fab, you’ve been especially sweet to me lately.”
Fabian gave her a faint smile. “You’re my future wife. Who else would I spoil if not you?”
Sasha’s smile grew even brighter. She rested her head against his shoulder, looking every bit like the happiest woman in the world.
Noticing Fabian’s change, Matthew finally relaxed.
He patted Fabian’s shoulder. His tone was filled with satisfaction as he said, “Fabian, you’ve finally moved on. Sasha’s a good lady, Cherish her.”
