Like a stray dog,she could never claim it,couldn’t even witness it openly,and could only hide in the dark,watching quietly from afar.
Looking at the carefree,joyful smile on Santino’s face,Aurelia’s heart sank with a heavy ache.It had been so long since she had seen him like this,and perhaps it truly was time for her to leave.
She was about to close the video when faint whispers drifted through.
“It’s only because Santino is too kind.Even after being ruined by that woman,he still hasn’t cut her off.If it were me,I would have hated her long ago!”
“Exactly.She spread those things on purpose just to ruin Santino’s name and gain from it.A woman like that…only someone as kind as Santino would still keep her around out of gratitude.”
After that,Aurelia could no longer make out the voices,nor did she wish to.She shut off her phone at once.It wasn’t only Santino;everyone believed she had gone too far.Everyone wanted her gone.
This time,without a trace of hesitation,she walked slowly yet firmly toward the boarding gate.
Before takeoff,Aurelia sent Santino one last message.[Happy birthday!Congratulations on your freedom.]
The plane lifted,breaking through the heavy clouds as it flew north across eight time zones,toward that faraway land where volcanoes and glaciers stood side by side.
For ten years,they had been tied together,torn apart,sharing both sweetness and indifference.But now,she cut the final thread.
There would be no“future”waiting for them.The promises of“forever”no longer mattered.
