She had been afraid Damian would sense her intention to leave, so she had planned to destroy them on her very last day.

Now, with Vivienne doing the work, replacing her pink forget-me-nots with Vivienne's white roses, it felt like a changing of the guard.

At that thought, Cassia let out a soft, almost imperceptible laugh.

The sound caught the attention of Damian, who had just walked into the courtyard.

He frowned, his eyes sweeping over the ravaged garden. He found Cassia’s laugh strange.

It was almost as if… it was relief.

But what was she relieved about?

A question formed on Damian’s lips, but in the next second, Vivienne took his arm. “Damian, you’re here.”

His attention shifted, and the question was forgotten.

He grunted in acknowledgment, draping the trench coat in his hands over Vivienne’s shoulders. “The autumn wind is cold, and you still have that cough. Go inside and rest. I’ve called the family doctor.”

Then, his gaze fell on Cassia. “The butler said you had a fever last night. You should have the doctor look at you too.”

Cassia paused, then shook her head with a small smile. “Thank you, Uncle, but that’s not necessary. I have something to do, so I won’t disturb you two.”

She gave a nod of farewell and turned to leave.

Damian’s brow furrowed, and he called out, “What do you have to do? Vivienne and I are heading out later, we can give you a ride.”

Cassia was slightly taken aback. Him offering her a ride… it hadn't happened in years.

It felt like they were back in the time before her confession had created this chasm between them.

But, you can’t touch what you’ve sworn off.

“It’s nothing important. You should take care of my aunt. I’ll be going now.”

This time, before Damian could say another word, Cassia walked away quickly.

After changing, she left the house alone.

Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the district police headquarters.

After graduating high school, Cassia had wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a police officer.

Damian had disagreed, thinking police work was too dangerous.

Later, because of the fallout from her 18th birthday confession, Damian was away from home for a long time. Cassia had filled out her application for the police academy on her own.

After four grueling years at the academy, she had wanted to join the special forces upon graduation.

But Damian had pulled some strings and had her assigned to a desk job at the district headquarters, a position in name only.

Now that she was leaving, she had to come back and process her resignation.

The colleagues at the station had barely seen her face a few times and didn't know her well.

The resignation process was swift. Only the chief spoke to her. “I hear you’re going back to Port Sterling to reactivate your father’s badge number. Do good work. Your father will be proud of you!”

Cassia gave the chief a sharp salute.

Walking out of the police station, she looked at the photo of her father on her phone and asked herself silently, “Dad, will you be proud of me?”

For so many years, she had foolishly chased after a man she could never have.

Because of him, she hadn’t pursued her dream of being a police officer.

Watching from heaven, was her father disappointed in her?

Cassia stood in the sunlight for a moment, then turned and went to the Serenity Monastery.

Only in this place, filled with the gentle sound of Buddhist chants, could her heart find a moment of peace.

Across the stone table, her mother poured her a cup of tea.

“Why have you come again?”

Cassia stared at the ripples in her teacup, disturbed by a floating speck of dust. She bit her lip, her voice hoarse. “Mom… do you love me?”

Her mother’s hand paused for a beat.

But then she continued pouring the tea as if nothing had happened, without answering.

Cassia felt tears welling in her eyes. She fought them back, forcing the tremor out of her voice as she continued, “I feel like I’ve done so many things wrong. You must be so disappointed in me, aren’t you?”

Her mother still said nothing, her face a mask of tranquility, like a stranger.

Cassia’s heart sank to the bottom of her soul.

After a long silence, she took a deep breath, drained the tea in her cup, and stood to leave.

“I’m sorry for bothering you.”

But just then, her mother called out to her. “Cassia.”

Cassia turned to see her mother rise and walk toward her. She reached out and placed a string of sandalwood prayer beads on Cassia’s wrist.

“Take care of yourself. Come back safe.”