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I remained distant throughout this period. He thought I was still angry and redoubled his efforts to win me over.
To make me smile, he hobbled on crutches to an auction house and bought me an antique pearl necklace worth millions.
Later, convinced the warzone had traumatized me, maybe left me depressed, he tried to get me to see a therapist.
But I wasn't sick.
I’d just gained perspective. Seeing people fall before me every day showed me how fragile life is. My own wounds seemed insignificant in comparison.
The day he was discharged from the hospital, he staged an elaborate proposal.
He thought he'd kept it secret, but I knew.
He just hadn't realized yet that this grand, meaningless gesture couldn't restore what we once had.
I shook my head and refused.
His eyes filled with despair.
"No! You dolove me! Otherwise, how could that night..."
"Sebastian, thank you for taking such wholehearted care of me all these years. You don’t owe me anything, nor are you responsible for me. If anything, I owe you."
"Sophie, I truly love you. It's not out of duty."
"What's lost is lost. Instead of walking a path of endless regret, look forward. I've moved on. Why torture yourself?"
Sebastian slumped to the ground. He couldn't bear to look at me. "Is there really no chance?"
My retreating footsteps were his only answer.
I hadn't returned just to see Sebastian through his recovery. I had a more important mission: to connect with domestic media outlets, seeking their support for our war reporting work.
Once that was done, I packed my bags again, ready to leave.
Sebastian appeared suddenly; I hadn't seen him in days.
"Will you come back?"
I waved at him, a bright smile on my face. "If fate allows!"
"Hey!"
The system, silent for so long, popped up. I thought it would try anything to stop me. Instead, it said: "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Forgot to tell you, I’m a love-addled system. What you said before was earth-shattering! Unbelievable! I called a summit of all love-addled systems! After careful deliberation..."
"Did I win him over?"
"You failed. You get twenty years less, remember?"
"Whatever. Creating value in a finite life is what matters!"
"But I've unbound you from the winning-over task. Your life is no longer forcibly tied to Sebastian Cole's. Farewell, twenty-four-year-old warrior girl!"
The plane lifted off. Whether I'd ever return to this land, I truly didn't know. I'd leave everything to time.
