Chapter 8

A flood of memories surged through Evelyn's mind the moment she pushed open the door.

Everything in the room was exactly the same as the day they had left. Not a single thing had changed.

"Eve, do you remember when we—"

"I don't." Evelyn lowered her head, her voice barely audible.

Matteo froze for a second, then pointed toward a brick model in the corner. "Didn't we put this in the study after we finished building it? Why is it here?"

Evelyn didn't follow his gaze. Her voice was calm and indifferent.

"You couldn't see back then. A lot of your memories must feel like a blur, like illusions that are all mixed up."

It was just like how she had once believed that Matteo loved her.

But in reality, what he felt for her had only been a mirage. She was something he clung to in desperation.

Because he had been blind, he had relied on touch to navigate his world. She had been like a walking cane to him, a guide, a necessity. That was why he had thought she was important.

But once he regained his sight, he could do whatever he wanted. And just like that, she became irrelevant.

She had believed that their years of companionship would be enough to carry them through any storm.

But in the end, it was nothing more than an illusion. It was just a dream that had crumbled into emptiness.

A fleeting sadness crossed Evelyn's face, and Matteo felt a tightness in his chest.

He wanted to ask her what was wrong, but before he could, she turned away and walked toward the balcony.

"The piano is in the last room down the hall. You can go there yourselves."

As the sound of their footsteps faded into the distance, Evelyn sat down in a rocking chair and slowly closed her eyes.

Before long, the bright afternoon sky darkened. Heavy clouds rolled in, and soon, the first drops of rain began to fall.

She got up and went back to the living room just in time to hear the sound of a piano playing from a distance.

It was the first piano piece she had ever heard in her life—A Lover's Dream.

As she listened, she felt as if she had been transported back to that summer when she was ten years old. Without realizing it, she followed the melody.

Through the window, she saw Matteo and Rebecca sitting at the piano, their hands moving in perfect harmony as they played a duet.

Even after all these years, their connection hadn't faded in the slightest. Their synchronization was as flawless as ever.

Seven years had passed, yet the way Matteo looked at her was still filled with deep, unwavering affection.

So, this was how much Matteo loved Rebecca.

He loved her enough to hold onto that love for seven whole years, even after she had abandoned him.

Of course.

They were both born into privilege—him, the golden boy of the Gallagher family; her, a shining star of high society.

On the other hand, Evelyn was just the daughter of a maid.

Why had she ever dared to step into a world that wasn't hers?

Why had she ever thought she could claim something that had never belonged to her?

If she could go back in time, she would never have fallen for Matteo at first sight.

She would never have secretly loved him.

And she would never have thrown away everything just to take care of him for seven long years.

The music gradually faded into silence.

At some point, Rebecca's hand slid over Matteo's, slowly tracing upward.

Through the window, Evelyn saw her wrap her arms around his shoulders, leaning in to press her lips against his.

"Matteo, I know you still love me…"

At that moment, Evelyn could take no more. She turned and walked away.

The rain poured down harder and harder, drenching her completely.

Her mind was blank, lost in a storm of emotions.

One second, she felt like a withered weed clinging to the edge of a cliff.

The next, she felt like a lone boat capsized by a relentless tide.

She was rootless and directionless, drifting aimlessly.

Even her tears vanished into the rain, leaving no trace behind.