Chapter 832

Lena was dreaming, but it felt so real. She was a little girl again, trailing after Aaron like always.

“Uncle Aaron! Carry me! I’m soooo tired,” she whined, stretching her arms out dramatically.

Aaron stopped, turning to her with a patient smile. The second she caught up, she threw her arms up, and he scooped her onto his back. Her little arms wrapped around his neck.

She couldn’t sit still, of course. She blew air into his ear, poked at his neck, even tickled him under his shirt.

Aaron just laughed softly, shaking his head. “Twinkle, cut it out.”

Twinkle. His nickname for her. She’d been born during a meteor shower, and he said her birthday was unforgettable, thanks to the “cosmic fireworks.”

He’d always tease her: “As long as I remember the stars, I’ll remember your birthday. Then I don’t have to deal with any tantrums.”

“Twinkle… Twinkle…” His voice echoed.

But no matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t find him. “Uncle Aaron? Where are you?!” She ran and ran, searching for him. Somewhere along the way, she grew up—her little-girl self morphing into the young woman she was now.

Finally, she spotted him, standing at the top of a hill, his coat whipping in the wind. She stomped toward him, glaring.

“Aaron Ace! Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you—I’m exhausted!” Aaron didn’t answer. He just stood there, watching her.

“I’m tired!” she huffed, throwing herself onto his back like she used to. “Carry me down!”

Aaron sighed but didn’t resist. He gave her a piggyback ride down the hill, silent as her soft breaths tickled his neck.

“You’re grown up now, Lena,” he said gently. “You shouldn’t be asking me to carry you anymore.”

“Why not?” she shot back, smirking. “Are you saying I’m too heavy? You calling me fat?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Then what?” she pressed, but he didn’t answer.

Chapter 832

The dream shifted. She heard her grandmother Deborah’s voice now, firm but caring.

“Aaron, Lena’s grown up. So are you. It’s time to stop all this playfulness.”

Dream-Lena jumped in. “We’re not playing around! We’re just walking to school toge…” But it was like her voice didn’t matter—Deborah didn’t even look at her. Her attention stayed on Aaron. “You know what I mean, right?” Deborah said.

Aaron didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said, “I’ve applied for an overseas program. If I get accepted, I’ll be leaving soon.”

Deborah nodded, though she looked surprised. “That’s good. A chance like this doesn’t come often.”

And just like that, he was gone. He left without saying a word to Lena. No goodbye, no explanation. She only found out after he’d already boarded the plane.

Lena was crushed—heartbroken and furious. She refused to reach out to him, and he didn’t bother reaching out either.

Over time, their once-close bond unraveled. When they saw each other again, it was awkward, accidental—walking into the same bathroom naked at home during one of his visits. That run-in only made the distance between them feel even bigger.

After that, they barely spoke.

The dream played on, like a montage of the bond they used to have, until a loud knock at the door jolted her awake.

Wayne stood in the doorway. “Get up. Breakfast is ready,” he said flatly.

Lena stayed quiet, still caught in the haze of her dream. Aaron’s name echoed in her mind. Wayne glanced at her, noticing her distant stare, but didn’t say anything else. He turned and left the room.

It took a while for Lena to shake off the dream and come back to reality. When she finally looked out the window, the unfamiliar architecture told her everything she needed to know. She wasn’t in Kehlmark anymore. She was somewhere far away—somewhere foreign.