Chapter 5

Finnian called the family driver.

The driver sat in the driver’s seat. Finnian sat in the front passenger seat. Benjamin and Violet sat in the back.

There was no place for me.

Violet looked flustered. She glanced at me timidly. “Diana, why don’t you take my seat? I’ll just call a cab.”

Finnian, who sat in the front passenger seat, refused on my behalf without hesitation. He then said to me coldly, “Diana, you can take a cab. Violet just got hurt. She can’t go through any more trouble.”

With that, he rolled up the window and told the driver to drive off without any hesitation.

My vision went blurry. I squeezed my eyes shut. When I opened them, things were out of focus.

My eyesight was starting to fade too.

I smiled bitterly and tried to flag down a cab. I waited for two full hours before finally hailing one.

When I arrived home, I looked through the window. Finnian and Violet sat on either side of Benjamin. They looked like a close family of three.

I said nothing. I simply walked past the warm and lively scene and returned to the bedroom.

There were six days left until my departure.

During those six days, I mostly stayed in bed. I felt my five senses slowly slipping away.

On the last day, I finally felt like going outside. I wanted to use what little eyesight I had left to take one last look at the place I had called home for so many years.

Finnian and Violet had taken Benjamin to the amusement park. So, I wandered around the mansion freely.

Eventually, I made my way to the garden. It was the one place I knew better than anywhere else.

There used to be a cherry tree there.

Finnian had planted that tree for me because I really loved picking cherries. This way, he thought I could enjoy picking cherries myself every year.

But only an uncut stump remained there.

I gently touched the remains of the tree and asked the butler, “What happened to my tree?”

The butler looked reluctant. After hesitating for a long time, he finally said, “Violet said this tree was blocking too much sunlight. So, Finnian had someone cut it down.”

I did not hear clearly the first time. The butler had to repeat it to me a second time in a louder voice.

When I finally heard it, I said, “I see. That’s fine.”

Everything I had loved in this world had already been destroyed. This way, I had nothing left to cling to.

I sat on the tree stump and made an excuse to send the butler away. Then, I felt the gentle breeze on my face, just like I used to.

I did not know how much time had passed. Eventually, all five of my senses faded.

I could not hear, see, or feel anything.

At that moment, the system’s mechanical voice rang out in my mind. [Hi, Diana. I am ready to take you home. Do you want your memories erased?]

I said without hesitation, “Yes.”

Those painful memories would only cause me suffering if they stayed in my mind. It was better to forget and start a brand new life.

Right as my consciousness was being pulled away, my five senses flickered back for a moment.

The system said this was the calm before the end.

I heard Finnian had returned with Benjamin and Violet.

They were laughing and talking with each other happily. Everyone was getting along so well.

In the midst of their happiness, I lost my memories. I curled up on the remains of my favorite cherry tree, slowly closed my eyes, and never woke up again.