The trash bin in the administrative office was empty, having just been replaced.

After all, it was the first necklace Erick had ever purchased, and it didn't seem right to simply discard it in the trash. He placed it in a secluded corner of a drawer and put it out of his mind.

Shortly afterward, a significant project demanded his attention for nearly three weeks, keeping him away from home.

When the project was finally finished, the company celebrated with a large banquet, where Erick drank quite a bit. Once he got into the car, he felt completely worn out.

The driver asked, “Sir, shall we head to the apartment, or..."

Erick massaged his temples, feeling a slight pain in his throat and a craving for the soothing taste of iced lemonade. He responded, “Let's go home."

The car soon arrived at the Foster family estate.

Erick entered and found the living room unchanged. He discarded his suit and collapsed onto the sofa in exhaustion.

Late at night, his sore throat worsened. Reaching out, he found a glass of iced water neatly placed on the table.

Without looking, he picked it up and drank, feeling the coolness spread through his throat, but something about the taste was amiss.

It was only at that moment that he realized he was just holding a glass of plain iced water.

Erick sat up, and just then, a servant walked by. He asked, “Where is Elin?"

The servant seemed surprised by the question, thought for a moment, and answered, "Mr. Foster, Elin left for her studies quite some time ago."

Erick, still fuzzy from the alcohol, didn't grasp it immediately.

Then, it hit him that she was off at college. He asked, “Doesn't she come back on weekends?"

The servant gave Erick a disbelieving look and responded, “Mr. Foster, are you serious? Elin is studying in Uchaesau. A connecting flight to Swynborough takes a day and a half, so two days wouldn't suffice for a round trip."

Erick was taken aback. A few seconds later, there was a "thud" as the glass slipped from his hand onto the carpet. Luckily, it didn't break.

He repeated in disbelief, “She's studying in Uchaesau?"

"Right!" The servant nodded. "You didn't know?"

Confusion clouded the servant's face. After all, Erick and Elin appeared to get along well, yet Erick seemed oblivious to Elin's studying abroad in Uchaesau.