I Searched the World for You

Meanwhile, an interview with Quentin Hale began playing on TV.

"Your new jewelry collection is called Love Lauren, Mr. Hale. Does the name have a special meaning?"

At the host's question, Quentin gave a gentle smile, his eyes warm.

"Lauren is my wife's name. The collection means I'll love her for the rest of my life."

The host couldn't hide a delighted grin at his unexpected declaration of love.

"I read online that you and your wife were each other's first loves and married as soon as you were old enough. You've been married for five years, and you're still so happy together. What's your secret?"

"My secret? I suppose I listen to my wife, reply to her messages right away, and surprise her every day..."

Quentin's list of tips drew envious cheers from the audience.

"Oh my God, please send me a boyfriend who's that possessive and devoted!"

"A man like Quentin Hale comes along once in a lifetime! When will it be my turn to be Mrs. Hale?"

The audience kept calling out.

Quentin smiled and said quietly, "Sorry. Quentin Hale belongs to Lauren Ingram alone."

Applause swept through the room as the interview came to an end.

As Quentin's image faded from the screen, Lauren turned off the TV and gave a bitter smile.

Quentin Hale belonged to Lauren Ingram alone?

Perhaps he once did.

They grew up together, started dating at fifteen, and married at twenty-two. They went from school uniforms to wedding clothes side by side.

Everyone around her envied her for finding such a faithful, devoted husband.

He filled his social media feed with photos of her and made a point of keeping his distance from other women.

At their wedding, he set off fireworks across the city for three days, just to tell the world he had married the girl he loved most.

When she was diagnosed with kidney failure, he donated a kidney without hesitation because he couldn't bear to live if she died.

Through seven years of dating and five years of marriage, he kept the promise he made when he confessed his love.

But what did that matter now?

People changed.

Her father had, and Quentin was no exception.

At twenty-seven, her father betrayed her mother with his secretary. It broke her mother's heart, and she left this world for good.

At twenty-six, Quentin betrayed Lauren too.

Behind her back, he kept his best friend's younger sister as his mistress.

More than twenty years later, the same story played out again.

This time, Lauren made the same choice her mother did.

If he betrayed her, she would disappear!

She touched her bare neck and suddenly remembered what her mother told her before she left.

"Lauren, I'm not from this world. I came here to complete a mission. Now that it's done and your father has betrayed me, I'm going home.

“Before I go, I'm giving you this necklace. If you ever feel unhappy, use it to summon the System. It will take you out of this world forever and bring you to me."

Leave this world forever?

That was exactly what Lauren wanted.

She gave a soft laugh, slowly slipped off her wedding ring, and tossed it into the fireplace.

The moment she shut the fireplace door, she heard a soft thud behind her.

Quentin came in with snow clinging to his clothes and a bouquet of vivid red roses in his arms. He smiled as he handed them to her.

"Lauren, my meeting ran late today. I'm sorry I kept you waiting up."

Lauren received a beautiful bouquet like this every day.

But today's roses smelled especially strong, as if their scent were meant to cover something up.

She set them on the table and caught the heavy scent of perfume on him.

So, he was trying to hide another woman's scent.

Lauren held back the pain in her chest. When she looked up, she saw a red mark peeking out from his collar.

She had no tears left.

This time, she glanced at it, looked away, and said calmly, "It's fine. From now on, you can come home at any hour. You can stay away if you want. You don't need to worry about me."

And he didn't need to know that she had only fifteen days left in this world.