Her honesty was palpable. Her life with Dylan had eclipsed her memories with Raphael.

Raphael's spirits seemed to fall at her words, a dimming visible in his gaze.

He let go of the past and gazed at her for a moment longer before asking, "Where's Dylan? Shouldn't he be with you?" He paused before adding, “Haven't you two tied the knot yet? I mean, since you're pregnant..."

Olivia noticed the tranquility in Raphael's demeanor, a stark contrast to before.

It was as if the past had settled into a quiet corner of his mind.

Her voice gentle, she shared, “Dylan and I have already registered our marriage a few weeks ago. We just hadn't announced it."

Raphael regarded her silently, his eyes hinting at a swirl of thoughts, perhaps even words he couldn't quite voice.

Finally, with a weak smile, he offered his well wishes. "Then—congratulations."

With those words, he stepped away and melded into the stream of the bustling street. Memories flashed in his mind of a time when Olivia playfully clung to his arm, pleading for just one more ice cream.

Emotions overcame him suddenly, tears brimming in his eyes as passersby cast curious glances his way.

Olivia didn't witness this quiet unraveling. He was relieved she spared herself the sight.

Though he felt a pang of loss, he found some solace in her newfound joy.

Meanwhile, Olivia watched Raphael's retreating form with a serene gaze. She held no regrets. Her commitment now was to her husband and their shared future.

Olivia's ringtone broke the silence, signaling a call from Dylan.

"Look behind you," he said into the phone with warmth in his voice.

She turned to find Dylan, donning a dark gray shirt and black trousers-clearly a dash from work. His ensemble and the ice cream cone he held stood out against the backdrop of the bustling street.

It was the flavor she adored.

His presence caught her off guard.

"Promise me you'll only eat half of it. You can't have too much ice cream now." Dylan's gentle tone came with a teasing edge.

Eagerly nodding, Olivia eyed the ice cream cone, a perfect treat in the heat of summer, secretly vowing to consume it all.

Dylan watched her with affection. As for Raphael, now out of sight, he chose not to ask why their paths had crossed or the content of their conversation.

He had faith in Olivia. Years of companionship had built a strong foundation for their relationship, resilient to any outside influence, Raphael included.

“How's our baby doing?" he inquired softly, resting his hand on her stomach.

"The Little one gave me a little nudge earlier. I'll keep you posted on the next," Olivia replied.