From the ssmate''s words, I could tell he felt deeply resigned over his current situation, nostalgia for the past, and uncertainty about the future.


    It hit me that everyone had a unique path. We were all in our way seeking peace with the world and having those difficult conversations with ourselves. 1 patted him gently on the back and gave him a wordless sense of encouragement.


    "Every life has its value and significance. You inherited your family business, and that''s a responsibility you''ve taken on


    "As for the marriage alliance, it might seem strange at first, but life is full of surprises. Who knows your meaningful to you?"


    He seemed to rx, and a smile crept onto his lips. "You''re right. I might have been too pessimistic."


    future partner might tum out to be someone incredibly


    The rich aroma of coffee lingered in the air, and we seemed to have returned to our carefree days in high school.


    I continued saying, "You might think life feels like a cage, but for those of us who ventured out into the world, we''re hardly carefree."


    Without our families'' safetys, we were left to fend for ourselves and find the right path


    We were in the middle of a lively conversation when a fashionable woman suddenly approached our table. She walked with light steps, excluding confidence and elegance


    Her long sleek hair hung over her shoulders, and her sophisticated makeup was enchanting under the warm lighting of the cafe.


    my ssmate.


    As she walked straight toward us, I noticed a flicker of anger on her face. She stopped at our table, and her sharp gaze darted to me before settling on my  Herexpression wasplex. It was a mix of frustration, disappointment, and a barely detectable hint of jealousy. "Alden, Is this why you weren''t answering your phone?" Her voice wasn''t loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. The previously rxed atmosphere around usbensedThis belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    I sensed the tension and was about to intervene when Alden Reyes stood up before I could speak. There was an embarrassed smile on his face.


    "Hailee, what are you doing here?" He sounded genuinely surprised and clearly hadn''t expected to run into her, much less have her confront him so directly.


    The woman, Hatlee Hoover, frowned. There was a simmering anger in her eyes ready to burst at any moment.


    "Why can''t I be here? Or do not have the right to know when you are?" There was a hint of hurt and unwillingness in her voice.


    It hit me that there was somethingplex going on between the two of them. As a spectator, I should stay silent since anything I said would only


    "Don''t forget we''re getting engaged soon, and mage is ju ay."


    just around theer. If you don''t want y


    your family o


    to run into any financial problems, you should do


    Hale''s words were like a de slicing through the air and cutting into everyone''s emotions.


    she wasn''t just angry; she felt helpless toward Alden yet looked forward to their marriage. There was also the heavy weight of family expectations and financial Interests weighing on her Enjoy Ad-Free Readngar