The Price of a Diamond – Part 7

Chasing a Ghost

Ava had searched everywhere for him.

She had lost everything—her reputation, her pride, and the illusion of love that had led her astray. When her affair partner abandoned her, she had nowhere to go. No power, no wealth, no connections.

Only regret.

Yet, even in the darkest moments, Daniel's voice echoed in her mind. His words, his quiet determination, his way of never giving up—even when the world gave up on him.

Perhaps this was karma.

When she finally saw him again, she had expected him to take revenge. She had prepared herself for his hatred. But he didn't even raise his voice. He simply helped her, kept his distance, and let her exist on the fringes of his life.

That hurt more than any revenge ever could.

In the past, he had placed her at the center of his heart. Back then, she had only brought him pain. But now?

Now, she could no longer break his solitude.

Before, all it took was a glance, a smile—he would come running, willing to bear any burden for her sake. Now, she had lost even that power. He had built a wall so high she couldn't reach him anymore.

She whispered to herself, voice trembling, "It's all my fault. I chased him away."

The truth was clear now—Daniel was never hers to keep.

In the months after her world crumbled, the only things keeping her sane were her daughter and the fragments of Daniel's memory.

She had lived in an illusion, believing that somehow, he would always be there. That no matter how much time passed, no matter what happened between them, she could still hold on to him.

But now, she was awake.

Daniel had given her everything—her freedom, her dignity, her second chance at life. He never held her back, never took anything from her. And what had she done? She had taken him for granted.

She wasn't chasing Daniel the man anymore.

She was chasing Daniel the memory.

She collected the pieces of his past—his abandoned game shop, his old house, the places he once loved. She wouldn't leave them behind. Even if he wasn't there, even if he had disappeared into the world, she would find him.

Deep down, she already knew where he might have gone.

But there was one problem—she didn't know the address.

She could search for his family name, but that name was no ordinary name. It held a secret.

A secret tied to the very history of County S's freedom.

And unlocking that secret... might bring her closer to him.

Or further than ever before.