24
As soon as he boarded the plane, Rufus felt a wave of drowsiness
However, his sleep was extremely restless, and he seemed to be talking in his sleep.
“I already know I was wrong, will you come back? Let’s get married”
“Carice, where exactly are you?”
His voice was low, making it hard to tell whether it was a murmur or something else.
The assistant beside him, afraid of angering him, simply listened quietly, trying to minimize his presence.
After about another thirty minutes, he suddenly woke up, his head throbbing faintly, as if he had been dreaming for a very, very long time.
But he couldn’t clearly distinguish whether it was a dream or reality.
In the dream, he was still in a meeting when Carice called to ask what time he would be home tonight, saying she had made his favorite
tomato–braised beef brisket.
He glanced at his phone, confirming it was Canice who had called.
So, he hurried home quickly.
By the time he arrived home, it was already noon, and Carice was busy in the kitchen.
Rufus reached out to hug her.
But found himself embracing empty air, and when he looked back, she was no longer by his side
He woke up with a start, his eyes already moist.
Looking around at his surroundings, he realized he was now on the plane.
A deep sense of regret surged in his heart. If given another chance, he would never let things escalate to this point.
He thought he would firmly hold her hand and never let her go again.
But there is no time machine in this world, no way to reset everything for him.
After getting off the plane, he immediately followed the address to the vicinity of Carice’s residence.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a man also leaning against a car, seemingly waiting for someone.
Rufus glanced inside briefly before averting his gaze, but the other man showed no restraint and turned to scrutinize him
Rufus frowned, only to see a familiar figure emerge from the villa’s gate.
Carice wore a simple white dress with light makeup, yet it accentuated her radiant beauty at that moment.
He immediately rushed forward in quick strides:“Carice!”
Carice halted her steps, noticing that Rufus seemed to have lost a lot of weight, with dark circles under his eyes.
He looked utterly exhausted.
Yet her expression remained unruffled:“What do you want?”
“I was wrong.” Rufus grabbed her wrist, his voice trembling.” I was blind before, deceived by Annalise! She framed you and fabricated evidence–I’ve already–punished her.”
“So That’s why you came to me?”
Tve made up my mind. I won’t force someone who doesn’t love me anymore, and I hope you won’t disturb my life again.”
“I love you!”
Rufus was so anxious that his eyes turned red:“Only now do I realize that you have always been in my “Who is in your heart has nothing to do with me, and I don’t want to know either.”
Inknovel
heart.”
Carice turned and walked toward Eddie, not even glancing at him once throughout the entire process.
Rufus wanted to chase after her but was stopped by a suddenly outstretched arm.
Eddie had somehow already approached, completely shielding Carice with his body.
nr you to come
“Sir, Carice has made it very clear that she doesn’t want
come looking for her again”
Eddie’s tone was calm, but his gaze was as cold as frost “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. I’m sure you understand this better than I do”
Rufus’s nails dug deeply into his palms as he stared at the taunting smile on Eddie’s lips, fury boiling in his chest,
“And who are you? What right do you have to interfere in our matters?
His voice was low, eyes filled with anger.
Eddie, however, leisurely adjusted his suit cuffs, his gaze sweeping over Carice‘ profile in the distanceTm Carice’s fiancé. We’re getting married next month. Do you think I have the right to interfere?”
“So not only do I have the right, but also the duty to protect her from disturbance. If I see you again, I will call the police. The local laws don’t take kindly to such matters.”
These words struck like a heavy hammer, slamming into Rufus’s hear.
He turned his disbelieving gaze toward the car, where Carice sat in the passenger seat, her face full of detachment
“Carice!”
“This isn’t true, 15 14:
His voice rose involuntarily, his face showing a panic he’d never displayed before.
Carice lowered her eyelashes “Of course it’s true. What? Do you want to come to my wedding? Rufus, I’m telling you for the last time–don’t come looking for me again.”
Her voice was terrifyingly calm, yet each word cut like a knife, severing Rufus’s last shred of hope.
Rufus felt his vision darken, his legs weakening beneath him.
He thought of everything Carice had quietly done for him, all of it now a sharp mockery.
It turned out that in his self–righteous indifference, Carice might have long since moved on
Eddie pulled open the car door and, before sining in the driver’s seat, deliberately turned to look at Rufus.
He curled his lips into a meaningful smile.
His eyes brimmed with the triumph of a victor.
The roar of the sports car tore through the silent street, like a sharp blade slicing through Rufus’s last delusion.
He stood frozen, watching the car drive farther and farther away
Until it finally disappeared around the corner.
The wind swept up fallen leaves by the roadside, but it couldn’t carry away the bone–chilling cold in his heart.
Rufus stared at the empty street and suddenly remembered the first time be’d seen Carice–she had walked past him just as quietly then.
Back then, he never would have guessed that the gears of fate had already begun to turn.
Everything that happened was his own doing.
