Chapter 3

The preparation for the wedding was in full swing.

Since the preparation required a lot of manpower and resources, they hired many people.

Yelena happened to be one of them. Leonard was shocked to see her.

I stood in the hallway on the second floor and witnessed the scene in the lobby.

Yelena wore a simple white dress with her hair cascading down her shoulders. She was busy filling in the employment form.

Leonard paused for a bit when he walked past her.

"This is the new assistant wedding planner, Ms. Yelena Lynch," the human resource manager introduced.

Yelena raised her head and looked Leonard in the eyes.

I saw Leonard's fingers tremble slightly. He usually did that out of habit when he was emotional.

"Welcome." Leonard's voice was slightly husky. He swiftly left after that.

I secretly trailed behind him and saw him enter the utility room.

After a while, Yelena entered the room too.

I stood at the door and heard the muffled sounds of sobbing coming from inside.

"Why… Why do you have to do this to me?" It was Yelena's voice.

"Lena, I…" Leonard sounded miserable. "I'm sorry."

I pushed open the door and saw Leonard holding Yelena tightly in his arms.

Their lips were crimson and swollen. Anyone could tell that they had just kissed passionately.

This scene stabbed into my heart like a knife to butter.

I thought I was numb to it all, but the pain was still excruciating.

The next day, Yelena "accidentally" lost the lucky charm that I treasured most.

It was a pendant I loved. When I had fallen sick, Leonard had climbed more than 3,000 steps to get it from the church atop a mountain.

I remembered him departing at 4:00 am that day.

At the time, I had laid in bed with a high fever. While I was floating in and out of consciousness, I heard him sneaking out quietly.

I had only heard the knocking on the door at midnight after sleeping for a day.

He had returned—drenched in sweat. The fabric around his knees had even been ripped to shreds.

He knelt next to my bed and took out a wooden box, saying, "Liv, I've brought you a lucky charm."

I opened my eyes weakly and saw the smile on his pale face.

His hands had been scraped, and his knees were covered in blood.

"I heard that we could make any wish come true in this church if we're sincere enough." He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I crawled up the steps on my hands and knees. My wish will come true if I show more sincerity, right?"

I couldn't help tearing up when I saw his tired yet gentle gaze.

He gently wiped my tears away. "Don't cry. You'll be fine. I've made a wish to God. I'll offer my health in exchange for yours."

I held the lucky charm tightly and felt the warmth deep within.

At that moment, I had truly believed that the lucky charm would keep me safe.

After that, I had recovered fully.

However, Leonard had started falling sick frequently after the incident. He had always brushed it off with a smile, saying, "It seems like God heard my wish."

I now closed my eyes and seemed to see the young man kneeling on the steps of the mountain.

He had ascended the steps sincerely. He didn't give up even when his knees and palms were injured.

He had truly loved me back then.

Now, Yelena had lost the lucky charm that held that beautiful memory.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Smith!" Yelena apologized in a panic, her eyes red. "I… I'll look for it right now!"

I sneered inwardly as I watched her lousy act.

She had obviously done this on purpose. I had noticed her jealous gaze on the lucky charm on the day she came for the work interview.

Leonard stood to the side with a frown. "How could you be so careless?" He sounded like he was reprimanding her, but I knew he didn't care about the lost lucky charm.

"Forget it. Just let it be," I said softly.

Leonard was stunned as though he hadn't expected this calm reaction from me.

He opened his mouth and wanted to say something. But in the end, he only said, "I'll get you another one someday."

I looked at him without a hint of emotion in my gaze. Instead, I was overwhelmed with fatigue and relief.

At this moment, I had to admit that the guy who would crawl up 3,000 steps, stay up all night when I was sick, and search around the city for a hairclip I liked, was gone forever.

"It's okay." I turned around and left. "Some things are just meant to be gone."

Yelena's sobbing came from behind me. Leonard wanted to say something to me, but he ran after her in the end.

I stood in front of the window and watched the two run out of the villa.

The sun was so bright, but I was trapped in the dark.