Chapter 5

That evening, I watched helplessly as Keith embraced Sadie, his expression filled with worry as he repeatedly inquired about her well-being. Then, without a second look in my direction, he escorted her out of the room.

As he left, he tossed a disdainful comment over his shoulder, "If you've lost your senses, sort yourself out and apologize when you've regained your composure."

He never allowed me to explain or questioned my actions. In his view, I was simply an ill-mannered, dim-witted orphan—someone incapable of understanding proper etiquette.

The following day, I gathered my belongings and left the hospital.

I visited Elizabeth, the sole person in this world who genuinely cared about me. She held my hands sorrowfully, her voice shaking. "Zoey, are you really departing? Keith has feelings for you. Won't you reconsider? That foolish boy—I'll set him straight for you. Please, don't leave."

I gazed at the leafless trees outside. Farewells were always melancholy, but things would improve eventually. "Grandma, I've already decided. Please don't inform Keith for now."

That afternoon, Keith phoned me. His voice had lost all its warmth. Ever since Sadie's return, everything had become unrecognizable.

"Zoey, why didn't you wait for me when you left the hospital? I rushed there for nothing! And regarding last night, regardless of the reason, you shouldn't have resorted to violence. Can't you see Sadie's hand is injured? She told me you misunderstood our relationship. Zoey, can you stop being so unreasonable? We're not even married yet—what gives you the right to dictate who I can be friends with? With your attitude, I think we should delay the wedding for a few years!"

I didn't bother worrying about what Sadie had told Keith about me. Instead, when I heard the words "delay the wedding," I felt an unexpected sense of relief. "Keith, can you accompany me to visit my parents the day after tomorrow?" I asked calmly.

He was taken aback, clearly not anticipating such an abrupt change of subject. Typically, I'd have wept and explained that I only acted that way because I cared about him, but not this time. I was as composed as still water.

"We'll see," he replied.

After hanging up, I packed my belongings from Keith's house and moved to a hotel while his parents were away. That evening, I called Keith again and asked him to come with me. Perhaps my humble tone made him think I was apologizing indirectly, so he agreed.

Two days later, I purchased a bouquet of daisies and went to the cemetery. After tidying up around my parents' graves, I received a text message from an unknown number. "Zoey, you really have a bag of tricks. How long do you plan to use gratitude to manipulate Keith? Aren't you tired of these tactics? Believe it or not, with just one phone call from me, you definitely won't see him today."

I didn't need to guess—it was Sadie. I indifferently turned off my phone. Pointless actions by insignificant people weren't worth my attention.

Keith and I had agreed to meet at 10 a.m., but as time passed, he still hadn't arrived. I called him, but there was no answer. I called again, but still no response.

Finally, I made one last call and his assistant answered it. "Hello, Miss Sherman. Mr. Jordan is occupied right now and can't take your call. Do you need me to relay a message?"

Through the faint noise on the line, I could hear Keith's anxious voice in the background. "Sadie, are you alright? Don't frighten me! I'll take you to the hospital right away!"

Then, I heard him mention me. "Zoey, what's your problem? Can't you visit the cemetery alone? Why are you making such a fuss about it? Stop calling me!"

I let out a long sigh and ended the call. "Keith, you don't realize this yet, but I'll never visit the cemetery with you again."

I placed the daisies at the base of my parents' gravestone, finally feeling a sense of true relief. "Mom, Dad, it's your Memorial Day and I'm here to see you. I wanted to bring Keith along to explain everything and say goodbye, but he's too busy. Maybe that's for the best—starting today, we're strangers. Mom and Dad, please forgive me and forgive Keith too. Let's end this debt of gratitude here."

That night, I boarded a plane to France. Outsiders assumed I had relied on the Jordans to survive for years. However, they didn't know that I had never abandoned my dream of becoming a fashion designer. Recently, I received an offer to collaborate with a renowned French brand.

I believed my parents would be proud of me for choosing my dream over a complicated love story.

I changed my phone number and severed all connections with Keith. Alone, I felt liberated—no one could hold me back anymore.

In France, I absorbed endless inspiration, blending fashion elements with my creativity. I explored streets and alleys, savoring the taste of freedom.