Chapter 6

Carina and Aster only got to know each other due to a series of coincidences.

Back then, when Carina first arrived in Halowich, she ended up renting a room in Selena's house after going through plenty of listings. On the day she moved in, however, Selena suddenly collapsed from an illness and fainted on the ground.

Luckily, Carina found her in time and quickly sent her to the hospital.

Selena's surgery was successful. But she was still sick, and she needed a long-term caretaker to take care of her at home.

Coincidentally, Carina still hadn't managed to find herself a job because she'd only just arrived there. So, with some convincing on Selena's and Aster's part, she finally agreed to be Selena's caretaker.

Unfortunately, Selena's illness worsened, and she passed away a year later.

Aster fulfilled his mother's dying wish and married Carina. And just like that, five years passed in the blink of an eye.

Carina had been warm, enthusiastic, and passionate back then, thinking that she would eventually break through the layers of ice surrounding Aster's heart.

However, five years later, Carina was exhausted. She didn't want to continue like this anymore.

Carina slowly wheeled her suitcase out of the mansion and placed a call on her phone.

"Del? Help me find a place to rent. It doesn't need to be too big, just enough for one person. It would be even better if I could move in a month from now."

Delphine Foster sounded confused. "A place to rent? Carina, don't you have a bunch of properties for sale in your hands? Why would you think of finding a place to rent instead?"

She was the property agent who first introduced Carina to Selena back then. The properties that Carina bought over the years were also all handled by her.

In some way, Delphine could be considered one of Carina's few friends whom she could talk to in Halowich.

"If you have no place to stay and just want a change of scenery, then what about Mrs. Ducant Senior's old house back then? It's calm, quiet, and not too far from your workplace…"

Of course, Carina would never agree to Delphine's suggestion. She wanted to steer clear of Aster as much as possible, after all. There was no way she would choose to continue staying anywhere linked to him.

"Please help me find another place, Del," Carina said, calmly but determinedly.

Delphine seemed to finally get the hint. She sighed and didn't press any further.

Just then, Aster's voice suddenly appeared right behind her.

"Who are you talking to, Carina?"

Carina shuddered. She hurriedly said goodbye to Delphine and ended the call. Then, she turned to look at Aster, still as calm as ever, and said, "I hadn't talked to Del in a long time, and I was just inviting her to go shopping this weekend."

There was some truth in Carina's words, but it still put a frown on Aster's face.

He knew that Delphine was one of the few friends Carina had, and that they would keep in contact every once in a while.

However, Carina was usually the stoic type who never enjoyed shopping. He could count on one hand the number of times she actually went shopping over the past five years.

"Why did you suddenly think of going shopping?"

Aster took off his coat and looked at Carina, who was sitting on the couch without moving a muscle. The frown on his face deepened a little more.

In the past, Carina would always come up to greet him as soon as he got home, take his coat from him, and hang it on the coat hanger. However, he realized that he wasn't getting such treatment anymore.

This time, he was actually starting to panic.

"I thought that you never liked going shopping."

Carina kept her head down as she scrolled on her phone. "I'd just donated a pile of my stuff, and the seasons are starting to change. I need to get a few more shirts. I also thought of catching up with Del at the same time."

Aster stared at Carina, trying to pick apart her words. He knew that something was wrong, but he couldn't figure out what, and this feeling of losing control was making him feel more and more anxious.

"I should have some free time this weekend. Why don't I come with you instead? I haven't gone shopping with you for a long time either."

Carina finally looked up at Aster, some wariness reflecting in her eyes.

A few seconds later, she said in a miffed tone, "You're too busy at work. Forget about it. After all, everyone at the company is depending on you for their livelihood."

This was the line Aster used the most on her every time he rejected her. But now that the words were coming out of Carina's mouth, Aster sighed in relief and slung an arm over her shoulders.

"Are you still mad at me? I know that I have been quite busy lately and accidentally sidelined you. I promise that I'll spend time with you properly this weekend."

Aster never caught the hint of disappointment flashing in Carina's eyes.

She was mumbling to herself.

Soon.

She could finally leave Aster very, very soon.