The Day I Finally Let You Go

Everyone in the Westbridge Military Base knew that Mason Hart had suffered harsh punishment every year in order to marry Evelyn Ward.The Hart family had served in the military for three generations, and the regulations clearly stated that anyone from the Hart family had to obtain approval from the Commander-in-Chief before they could marry.Yet for three consecutive years, Mason submitted a marriage request, only to have it denied each time.In the first year, he knelt on the training field for three days and three nights without a drop of water, eventually collapsing and being carried to the infirmary.In the second year, he endured fifty lashes under military discipline, his back split open and bleeding.In the third year, burning with a high fever, he knelt in the freezing snow until his legs were nearly ruined.Yet every year, it still ended the same way—the rules of the military could not be broken.By the fourth year, Evelyn decided that if their marriage approval was denied aga

The air in the hospital room made Evelyn feel suffocated.“I have something to take care of these next few days. Let the nurses look after you.”She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she wouldn’t be able to breathe.With that, Evelyn hurried out of the room, ignoring the obvious disappointment on the man’s face.After returning home and closing the bedroom door, all the strength left her body, and she slowly slid down to the floor.With a soft click, a photograph slipped out of her bag.It was a picture of her and Mason in their high school uniforms, standing beneath a camphor tree and smiling at each other.The photo had been taken on the day they finished their college entrance exams.Evelyn still remembered how the eighteen-year-old boy had held her hand, his crescent-shaped eyes filled only with her reflection.“Evelyn, we’re going to be together forever. We’ll never be apart.”But now, another woman lived in his heart.And she would soon marry into a family in faraway Sout

Half an hour later, Mason finally returned to the restaurant, with Anna following behind him.As if nothing had happened, he wrapped an arm around Evelyn in a coaxing manner and said gently, “Evelyn, I’ve already given her a harsh scolding. Now I’ve brought her here to apologize to you in person.”Anna admitted her fault readily.“I’m sorry, Miss Ward. This was entirely my negligence. I hope you can forgive me, considering that Colonel Hart has already ‘taught me a lesson.’”She deliberately emphasized the words “taught me a lesson.”Mason’s expression stiffened slightly before his face darkened, and he barked sharply, “Why are you still standing here after apologizing? Get out!”The provocative look in Anna’s eyes froze instantly. She glanced at him with a wounded expression.“Of course. Someone who made a mistake like me wouldn’t dare stay here and disturb your anniversary.”With that, she turned and left, her eyes red.Mason’s gaze unconsciously followed the direction she had gone.

The lively room fell silent in an instant.The two people who had spoken first stood there awkwardly.“W-what? I can’t believe it…”Evelyn answered calmly, “No. We’re not married.”And she never would marry him.Mason’s expression darkened as he shot Anna a glance, then he wrapped an arm around Evelyn’s shoulders and smiled at the group.“Don’t worry, everyone. We just haven’t gotten married yet because of military regulations. Evelyn and I have been together for so many years.“We’ll definitely get married. When the time comes, make sure you all come to the wedding.”The crowd let out a collective breath of relief, and the atmosphere quickly grew lively again.“I knew it! If the two of you ever broke up, I’d never believe in love again.”“Come on, you two, hurry up and get married so we can finally attend your wedding.”At that moment, the class representative, Michael, mysteriously took out a glass jar.“Now that everyone’s here, let’s see if the wishes we wrote in our time capsule w

Mason’s mind went blank in an instant. His whole body froze where he stood, his gaze locked onto the gold-embossed name Evelyn Ward on the invitation.She went to Southport… to get married?How was that possible?How could Evelyn marry another man?He staggered back two steps, only coming to his senses when the cold wall pressed against his back.No.This invitation had to be fake.He suddenly looked up at his friend, his voice trembling slightly.“Evelyn must be jealous and angry. That’s why she made a fake wedding invitation with another man and had you show it to me, right?”His friend had also been stunned when he first saw the invitation. He had watched Mason and Evelyn’s relationship unfold from the very beginning.As an outsider, he had never once imagined Evelyn would marry someone else.He could only imagine how Mason must be feeling now.But when his eyes drifted toward Anna in the hospital room, clarity suddenly returned. A trace of sympathy and reluctance appeared in the