Three years ago, the person I loved most sent me away to another country.

Now, three years later, I finally have the chance to return home.

But I no longer have any feelings for Ryker Armstrong.

Nevertheless, everyone around me looks at me with caution in their eyes.

"Emely, are you thinking of getting involved with Ryker again? Are you trying to mess up Sydney and Ryker's relationship?"

"Three years abroad and you still haven’t learned your lesson. Ryker is too forgiving; he shouldn’t have let you come back."

"Exactly. Someone like her should be locked up, should have stayed overseas permanently."

I just respond with silence.

But then, I heard some news that shattered me.

I found myself muttering to myself.

"Judah."

"Have you seen my Judah?"

"Please, don’t die."

"You promised you’d come find me."

I spiraled into madness for a long time.

Eventually, no one thought I was pretending anymore.

Ryker pushed through the crowd and pulled me into his arms.

But his hands were shaking.

"Emely, what’s wrong?"

"Who is Judah?"

"Please don’t scare me like this."

---

I'd been back in the country for less than an hour and had already received countless hostile messages.

"How dare you come back?"

"Couldn't any criminals abroad deal with you? Maybe you need a lesson taught the hard way."

"Why didn’t your plane crash and put an end to you?"

...

I didn’t bother reading the rest of the messages.

I just grabbed my laptop, opened my email, and quickly typed out a message.

I sent just a simple line.

"I made it back safely."

Once sent, the recipient’s avatar remained black, and there was never a reply.

I sat there, gazing blankly at the screen.

Hearing footsteps, I shut the laptop.

My mom walked in, her hair piled high.

"Emely, why are you looking at your mother like a stranger?"

I stayed silent for a moment, lost in my thoughts.

Mom wiped her tears and walked out.

That night, I heard the sound of something crashing in the study.

"Does she blame us?"

"She pushed Miss Wells down the stairs; she was in a coma for three months."

"Stop it."

"It’s all in the past now. Ryker and Miss Wells are about to get engaged. We can’t afford any slip-ups."

As I clutched my coffee cup, my hand trembled slightly.

I turned away and quietly left the room.

Early morning.

I sat brooding in front of my computer.

Midway through, I went downstairs to grab a bite.

My mom was in the living room watching TV.

Suddenly, a breaking news segment appeared on the screen:

**Breaking News: The Armstrong Corporation announces the engagement ceremony of Mr. Ryker Armstrong and Ms. Sydney Wells, set for mid-next month.**

I froze.

An engagement on a private island?

It seems like a lifetime ago when I clung to Ryker Armstrong so much.

I remember begging him:

“Isn't an island so romantic? Can we have our engagement there?”

He always looked so detached and annoyed.

“Emely, can you stop this?”

“I’m working.”

Seeing him upset, I immediately sat quietly beside him. “Okay, I won’t say anything. You go ahead and work.”

The memory faded.

I snapped back to the present.

My mom noticed me and seemed startled.

“Emely, why are you downstairs?”

“Are you going out? Where to? I can come with you.”

She had already asked someone to retrieve her purse and was searching for the remote to turn off the TV.

Watching her anxious and awkward actions, I understood.

She was just scared that I'd become clingy again, constantly sticking to Ryker Armstrong like glue.

But, Mom, I won’t anymore.

Never again.

"I'm not going out, just came to grab some food."

“What?”

I had already picked up a bottle of juice and turned to head back upstairs.

At the stairs, my mom still looked surprised.

“Emely, you…”

I sniffled.

“Mom, you go ahead and watch TV. I’m going back upstairs to work.”