Chapter 3

As her words ended, she couldn't help but cover her face and weep. In that moment, my heart felt like it was being torn apart. I hastily pushed him away, wanting to see him one last time.

Serena held me back, her voice choked with tears as she said to me, "Melody, try to calm down. Garrison's family has already taken him away. You won't be able to see him anymore."

"Where are his family members? I want to meet them. Don't try to stop me." I struggled to break free from Serena's embrace, but she held onto me tightly.

"Melody, please don't do this. Listen to me, Garrison's family is going through their most painful moment right now. They said they don't want to see you."

Serena's words made me feel like I'd been plunged into an icy abyss. My grief was so overwhelming that I seemed to have forgotten how to cry.

From that point on, I had no news about Garrison's family. I didn't know where they came from or where they went. I couldn't even pay my respects to Garrison because I didn't know where he was buried.

As for the person who crashed into us, they fled the scene afterward. When they tried to track them down using surveillance footage, all that was left was a burned-out car.

Coming out of these memories from the past, I couldn't calm myself for a long time. Or perhaps, is it possible that there really are two people in this world who are so similar?I feel a splitting headache and a sense of disorientation. The events of the past couple of days have been too complicated, and I don't know how to face them.

After leaving Serena a message on WeChat, I slept for a while until the doorbell rang.

As Serena came in, she talked to me while changing her shoes, "What's so urgent that you called me over? I had to sneak out, you know."

I went to my room to get my computer, intending to show her the photos I took at the M Hotel today. The situation was too messy, and I wanted to tell Serena, hoping she could give me some advice.

As I was about to turn the screen towards her with the pictures pulled up, my hand froze. Serena had placed a Coach tote bag beside her, the same style and pattern as the one in the photo. Looking at what she was wearing today, it was a white shirt.

Seeing me zone out, Serena asked, "What's wrong? What are you thinking about so intently? What did you want to show me? Thinking of buying something again?"

She reached out to look at the computer, but I snapped it shut. She was clearly startled by my action.

"Melody, are you okay? You seem really unsettled." A flicker of panic flashed in Serena's eyes.

At this point, she should be feeling bewildered at most. Why would she be panicking?"I didn't have trouble sleeping that much recently. I just feel a bit disoriented."

"Are you taking the medication I prescribed for you?"

Oh right, Serena is a psychologist. All my sleep aids were prescribed by her.

"I am. Don't worry about it." After I said that, Serena seemed to relax, no longer as tense as before.

"What's going on with you? You wouldn't say on WhatsApp, and now you're being all mysterious at your place." Serena took a sip of water.

"I... I just wanted your help picking out a gift for Damien. His birthday is coming up soon." I hastily made up a lie to brush it off.

Without hesitation, Serena said, "Didn't Damien's birthday already pass?"

We both froze for a moment at her words.

I was just trying to come up with an excuse off the top of my head, but how did Serena know Damien's birthday had already passed?

"You even said last time that you were going to bake a cake yourself for Damien's birthday."

Serena must have realized her response was a bit odd, so she awkwardly added another sentence to cover it up.

This year on Damien's birthday, Serena was out of town studying. The cake-baking was something mentioned last year.