A cold breeze swept through.

The wind snapped him out of his reverie and scattered his intense feelings.

Raphael, what are you up to? He thought.

He stepped back and leaned against his black Land Rover in frustration. His hands shaking, he pulled out a cigarette pack, hoping to smoke and calm his nerves. Just then, the gates of Evans Gardon swung open and a white Maserati rolled out. It had to be Olivia.

Olivia had arrived in Czanch the night before. She planned to buy gifts for her family members here she hadn't seen for a while, so she left early in the morning.

As her car exited the gates, she noticed Raphael and his car.

Dressed in a black suit, he leaned against the vehicle, smoking quietly.

Olivia's eyes stung as she gazed at him. Before she could gather her thoughts, the white Maserati came to a screeching stop. She gripped the steering wheel tightly and stared ahead. After a while, she seemed to regain control of her body. She unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car.

She approached Raphael and asked, “What are you doing here?"

Raphael crushed his cigarette and looked down to take one last puff.

When he raised his eyes to meet hers, a hint of coldness flickered in his eyes. He stared at the mansion and said, "I was very young when I first came here, and the memories are not fond. Olivia, you said you wanted to break up and that you were leaving. Now, you're saying you want to marry because you're expected to at your age. It isn't wrong, really. But..."

Raphael's gaze deepened.

He wanted to say that if he had known the truth, how could she assume he wouldn't still choose to be with her?

Why did she make that decision for him?

But he didn't continue.

There were no ‘ifs' in life. Life was shaped by endless choices.

Olivia had made hers long ago, and now it was his turn.

Cloris stood in the morning mist, draped in a loose white overcoat.

She remained there for a long time, dew forming on her eyelashes.

She took quite a while to grasp what he meant. She finally realized that Raphael had known her true identity and the reason behind their breakup all along.