In an instant, Ryan felt the entire room was eerily silent, as if in a vacuum. Besides his own heartbeat, he heard nothing.


    The diary was yellowed with age, a testament to the many years Yasmin had used it.


    Ryan''s fingers trembled as he carefully turned the pages. Although Yasmin had never received a formal education, her writing was neat, even showing a masculine strength. It closely resembled Ryan''s own handwriting.


    Ryan''s writing had been taught to him by his father from a young age. Being around him day and night, Yasmin had naturally been influenced. Perhaps her admiration for him was so deep that she unconsciously mimicked his handwriting, hoping to bridge the gap between them.


    Yasmin did not write every day. What she recorded were moments that were significant to her.


    [Today, I followed Young Master to Mr. Finn''s funeral. With Mr. Finn gone, the burden of the family now falls on Young Master. The road ahead will be hard, but there is no need to fear. I am here. Mr. Finn, rest assured. Even if the sky falls, I will protect Young Master without hesitation.]


    [Recently, Young Master seems different from before. He smiles for no reason even while eating. Could it be that he is in love? Who is thedy who has opened Young Master''s closed heart? I would love to meet her.]


    [Ms. Carrie is a lovely girl. She deserves Young Master. Truly a person with great taste!]


    [Young Master, this is the 14th Thanksgiving I have spent with you. I used to not understand the meaning of reunion, but now that you have a wife, such festivals hold special significance for you. They also hold special meaning for me.]


    [Young Master, the moon tonight is beautiful. Just like the love I have for you, an affection I can never speak of.]


    Ryan''s hands trembled as he held the diary. Tears, swollen with pain, dripped onto the pages.


    An old, yellowed photograph clipped from a newspaper caught his tear-blurred vision. It was from ten years ago, during a family ritual.


    Ryan, just pastpleting hising-of-age ceremony, stood tall and majestic, following behind Logan, exuding the presence of a future head of the family.


    Trailing closely behind him was the young Yasmin, dressed in a ck bodyguard uniform, her hair tied in a high ponytail. Back then, shecked the mature charm of today, with her face still retaining some baby fat.


    The photo was not very clear, but the gaze of the young girl watching his back was bright and clear, shimmering with gentle radiance. She was always watching over Ryan, even though he never once acknowledged her.


    [Today, you casually asked me if I have someone I like and that I should tell you if I do, so you can help me vet them. God knows how fast my heart was beating at that moment.]


    [You always worry that I will end up as an old maid if I keep following you, and you asked if I had ever thought about marriage. Actually, I am already married. I silently married you in my heart.] [Young Master, my only wish in this world is for you to truly find happiness. Please do not disappoint me.]


    Ryan clutched the diary to his chest, slowly crouching down as his tears flowed uncontrobly. At first, it was a whimper, gradually turning into heart-wrenching sobs, making it hard for him to breathe. Yasmin had loved him deeply for so many years. Yet he, like a fool, remained unaware.


    He loved Carrie deeply and knew


    well the pain of unrequited love. How could Yasmin, who had


    watched him day in and day out with


    women, not be in pain? How


    could someone endure such


    heartache and still continue to


    protect him?


    ''Yasmin... How could there be such a steadfast person in this world? What was so special about me?''


    "If there is an afterlife..." Ryan cried


    out, gasping for breath. "If there is an afterlife, I hope you can be my sister. I will protect your happiness for a lifetime. Let us meet again in another way. You deserve the best of everything in this world."


    With the help of Justin and Dean, Yasmin packed up her belongings. There were only two boxes, as if the girl could vanish from Ryan''s life at any moment. Only the pink diary was kept close to his chest, treasured as a gem.


    "Mr. Hoffman, this is Yasmin''s phone." Dean, with reddened eyes, handed Yasmin''s phone to him. "It was originally broken and could not be turned on, but it was repaired by Young Master Ralph''s technicians at the police station. The screen was reced. Please keep it well."


    Ryan''s longshes trembled as he took the phone. He opened the photo album and was instantly overwhelmed with sorrow, barely managing to control himself.


    Thest photo in the album was of him dressed in a dog costume, Yasmin in a rabbit costume, and Carrie together.


    There was not a single decent photo of them together.


    He had so many regrets...


    At that moment, Justin''s phone rang. It was Paul calling.


    "Mr. Salvador, are you with Mr. Hoffman?"Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yes, I''m with Ryan. What happened?"


    "Just now, Chairman Salvador visited the hospital to see Ms. Carrie. Inadvertently, he revealed the news of Ms. Yasmin''s death..."


    "What did you say?"


    Justin''s eyes widened with anger. "How could he be so careless despite repeated instructions?"


    The car was silent, and Ryan, though faintly hearing Paul''s words, felt his heart tighten.


    "It''s no use ming Chairman Salvador now. Pleasee over quickly. To resolve this, only Mr. Hoffman canfort Ms. Carrie!"