Chapter 9

Hayden expected Sylvie to be overjoyed and readily agree, but she remained silent and motionless.

Joshua's patience wore thin. After he threatened suicide again, she finally made a vow, leaned over slightly, kissed him, and immediately pulled away.

Joshua noticed nothing amiss, smiling as he pulled her into his arms.

Watching the two reconcile, Hayden smiled silently. He turned and left quietly, removing the ring from his finger.

Back home, Hayden booked a flight to Areland for three days later.

The airline called, and he answered, "Yes, the 9 AM flight, first class."

He was interrupted when Sylvie returned, looking at him with surprise. "What about first class?"

Hayden hung up, his tone flat.

"A first-class flight."

"Did your mother agree to come back for the wedding? When does she arrive? Should I pick her up?"

Hayden did not clarify her misunderstanding. "No need."

Sylvie did not ask any further questions and took off her coat.

Looking around, she noticed many things seemed missing and frowned. "Have you had someone clean up the house recently?"

Hayden nodded casually. "Yeah. We're about to start a new life, so of course I had to get rid of some useless things."

Sylvie assumed he was referring to married life and did not think much of it. She got up to go to the bathroom.

For the next two days, she was busy and not home.

Hayden did not ask about it.

The day before the wedding, he received his permanent residency permit, went to the cemetery, and brought Amelia's favorite sunflowers.

"Amelia, the last thing you did before you passed away was leave me a will, telling me to let go of you and start a new life. But seven years have passed, and I still can't move on.

“Are you angry with me? You can be angry. I've always been good at making you angry, anyway. I've only ever loved you."

He poured out his heart, standing before the gravestone for a long, long time.

Only when the sun began to set did Sylvie call, asking where he was.

He gave her the cemetery address, and Sylvie offered to pick him up.

Hayden did not refuse.

Once in the car, Sylvie asked him out of concern, which was out of character for her, "We're getting married tomorrow. Did you go to the cemetery today to tell your late relatives or friends the good news? Your grandfather or grandmother?"

Hayden shook his head, changing the subject. "I'm just paying respects to the deceased. And what brings you here all of a sudden?"

Sylvie's hands on the steering wheel paused as she hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I just came to pick you up. By the way, I'm going home tonight. That’s my hometown’s bridal custom. I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning."

Hayden knew that everything she was saying was a prelude to her running away from the wedding.

He did not expose her.

When they arrived home, Sylvie saw him to the door and called out to him before he went inside, "Tomorrow..."

She trailed off, pausing as if remembering something. "See you tomorrow."

Hayden did not respond. He just waved and turned to go inside.

That evening, he turned on his camera and recorded a video, beaming at the camera.

"Dear guests, I'm sorry I couldn't be there in person and can only inform you about this via video. Since the bride ran away, I've run away too."

After a night's rest, the makeup artist and photographer arrived at 3 AM.

"I want to rest a little longer. You can go straight to the wedding venue. I won't get ready first."

Hayden made an excuse to send them away and slept until 6 AM, when Sylvie called.

"Something happened at the wedding venue. I need to go deal with it. Can you head to the hotel by yourself?"

"Sure," Hayden readily agreed.

After hanging up, he got up leisurely, washed up, ate breakfast, and changed clothes.

At 7 AM, the wedding convoy arrived on time.

He did not get in the car. Instead, he handed the wedding rings and the video camera to the driver, instructing him, "When you get to the wedding venue, give this video to the emcee and have him replace the pre-wedding music video that was originally supposed to be played."

Then, watching the long convoy depart, he picked up his suitcase, hailed a taxi, and rushed to the airport. After deleting all of Sylvie's contact information, the boarding announcement came.

He took one last glance at the city, smiled, and said, "Goodbye."

Goodbye, Jamesville.

Goodbye, Sylvie.