Chapter 25

“Sorry, I don’t want to marry you. It’s over. I don’t love you anymore,” Anna said in her dream, pulling her hand away and walking further and further away.

“I’ll treat you well. I’ll buy you those line cakes from the East Sadetean bakery every day, jewelry, accessories, houses, shares—anything! I’ll give you anything! Just stay,” Jonathan pleaded desperately, but Anna didn’t turn back. Not even a glance. He reached for her that night, but grasped only air. Even the two engagement rings he held disappeared.

Anna didn’t want his anger. She didn’t love him; she didn’t want anything from him. Jonathan muttered her name over and over, his tightly closed eyes streaming with tears. His pale face was haunted, and he had bitten his lips so hard they bled. No one knew how many times he had whispered her name.

Jonathan’s grandfather watched, his cloudy eyes filled with worry. He let out a deep sigh. His assistant, after days of searching, finally found Anna’s contact information.

He dialed Anna’s number. “Hello, Miss Anna. This is Jonathan’s grandfather. You met me at your wedding.”

Anna had just finished attending to a guest when she received the unexpected call, leaving her puzzled.

“Grandpa, what can I do for you? If you’re calling to persuade me to reconcile with Jonathan, then there’s no need to discuss it.” It had been a while since Jonathan last disturbed her, and she had thought he had finally given up. But now, he had sent his grandfather instead. Anna couldn’t help but smirk sarcastically.

Jonathan’s grandfather, sounding weak but resolute, said, “Miss Anna, I know Jonathan wronged you. He doesn’t deserve your forgiveness. But he’s sick now. I’m not asking you to forgive him—just to come and see him one last time. It might help put an end to his lingering hope.”

“I promise, I won’t let him bother you. I’m an old man, and I’m begging you.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Finally, Anna answered firmly, “I’m sorry, but I’m doing very well now. I don’t plan to go back.”

“If he returns, will he be able to live again? I must do this. The Toon family is so powerful, and I’m just an ordinary person. Please, let me go.”

“He fell for Dobella before, and he’ll fall for someone else in the future. I was never the only one in his heart, and no one ever will be.”

“He’s just clinging to his obsession and unwilling to let go. Given enough time, he'll get over it!”

Her words left no room for persuasion, and Jonathan’s grandfather could only relent.

“I’ve asked and pleaded. If you have even the slightest bit of lingering affection for him, come see him. If not, let’s consider this call as if it never happened,” he said helplessly.

“Thank you, Grandpa,” Anna replied sincerely.

After hanging up, Jonathan’s grandfather sent Anna a video of Jonathan lying unconscious. Anna watched it, surprised. She hadn’t expected that in just a few months, he would become such a frail person—neither human nor ghost. But this was no longer her concern. She didn’t feel the slightest pang of sympathy anymore. All her love for him had been buried in America long ago. She decided not to return. Jonathan had plenty of people to care for him, including his grandfather. He didn’t need her to spend her time. She moved on with her life, far from the crumbling world of her former existence.