Chapter 5

　　Silas held Rose close, glancing down at Kay from above.

　　"Kay, I never wanted to treat you this way. But you're too stubborn. A woman with a temperament like yours will never make a good Mrs. Delgado."

　　"You should take a hard look at yourself. From now on, stop going after Rose."

　　Kay watched in silence as Silas and Rose walked away, the light in her eyes slowly dimming.

　　She didn't go back to her room. Instead, she carried the herb, now nothing but a crushed pulp, to the old Delgado estate.

　　Norman, having heard what his son had done, went red in the face with rage, his cane cracking hard against the floor.

　　"That worthless boy. How could he treat you like this!"

　　"Kay, don't you worry. I'll set this right for you. When he comes back, I'll make him get down on his knees and apologize to you."

　　"And that woman. I knew all along she wasn't one to sit quietly. That's why I sent her abroad before you and Silas married. I never imagined she'd have the nerve, the reach, to come back!"

　　"Don't worry. I'll have her sent away this instant!"

　　Kay shook her head.

　　"Uncle Norman, there's no need for that."

　　Norman looked at her, startled.

　　"You called me... Uncle Norman?"

　　Kay said softly,

　　"I know you've always felt indebted to my father for saving your life. But when he was gravely ill, you arranged a top medical team for him. That debt is already repaid."

　　"When I agreed to marry Silas, it was mostly because he loved me, and I loved him too."

　　"Now that I know where his heart truly lies, I no longer want to keep him bound to me. Uncle Norman, please, give the two of us our freedom."

　　At that, Norman's face filled with sorrow.

　　"Kay, my good girl, is there really no room left to turn this around? I'm that worthless boy's father. I can feel it. He truly does care for you."

　　Kay smiled faintly.

　　"It doesn't matter anymore. I don't want to love him now."

　　"I only want to carry out my father's last wish. To go back to Rosedale and make a drug that can truly help people."

　　"Ashford City is a fine place. But it isn't right for me."

　　Once, she had truly loved Ashford City. She had truly loved Silas, too.

　　Back then she could feel, clear as day, how much Silas loved her.

　　But for reasons she couldn't name, ever since Rose returned, it was as if he'd become another person overnight.

　　Could a first love really cut this deep?

　　Kay couldn't make sense of it, and she no longer wanted to dig for the reasons behind it.

　　If they weren't right for each other, then they would simply part.

　　Norman let out a sigh.

　　"Since you've made up your mind, rest assured. I'll help you get what you want."

　　"As for your drug being stolen, Kay, trust me. I will get you justice."

　　Kay looked at Norman and gave a small nod.

　　She rose, meeting his eyes with resolve.

　　"Uncle Norman, I'd like to leave tomorrow. I'm sorry to trouble you."

　　Norman hesitated a long moment, opening his mouth as if to say something.

　　In the end he only sighed, helpless.

　　"All right. Ten o'clock tomorrow morning, I'll arrange a private jet to take you back to Rosedale."

　　Kay nodded, then left the old estate without a trace of longing.

　　Back home, she packed only her own everyday clothes.

　　The other clothes, jewelry, and gifts of every kind that Silas had given her, she left every single one untouched, right where it was.

　　Kay had thought she would spend her last night in Ashford City alone.

　　But somewhere between sleep and waking, she suddenly fell into a warm embrace.

　　She flinched, trembling, and came fully awake in an instant.

　　Feeling the movement of the woman in his arms, Silas's lips curved.

　　"Still awake? Were you waiting up for me?"

　　Kay said nothing.

　　If he hadn't come back, she would have been fast asleep by now.

　　Silas didn't notice the impatience on her face. He murmured softly,

　　"I know you were wronged this afternoon. I honestly hadn't meant to lay a hand on you today, but your attitude really set me off. I lost my temper in the moment, and that's why I couldn't hold back from crushing that herb."

　　"It was my fault. Tomorrow I'll buy you a hundred of those little plants to make it up to you, all right?"

　　Kay still said nothing.

　　Silas could buy a thousand, ten thousand seven-leaf flowers, and never buy back the one her father had cultivated with his own hands.

　　Some wounds, once dealt, could never be undone.

　　Silas looked down at the small figure in his arms, and something in him softened. He bent to kiss her.

　　"My wife, you're always so good."

　　"Rose just started at the Ashford City Research Institute. Work's been busy lately, so I want her to stay at the house where it's easier to look after her."

　　"She's the delicate sort, and she asked for your room by name. Said the light is good. Let her have it, won't you?"

　　Kay tilted her head aside, dodging Silas's touch, her voice flat.

　　"Fine."

　　Silas didn't catch her answer at first, and kept prattling on to persuade her.

　　"It's just a room. Don't be so petty..."

　　"What did you say?"