Chapter 1135

"What a coincidence," Skylar replied.

"Can I join you?" Rowan asked.

Minerva didn't look up, dismissing him curtly. "It's not convenient."

Rowan stared at her briefly, then smiled. "I'll treat you both another day. I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now." He cast one last lingering glance at Minerva as he walked away, but she didn't acknowledge him.

"Great, he ruined my mood," Minerva frowned. "Jipsburg is so large. How could we run into him here?"

Skylar hesitated, unsure how to broach the subject of Rowan with Minerva, who clearly considered him a scoundrel, while he remained a friend to Skylar. Minerva, sensing her unintentional slight, quickly changed the subject. "Shall we order?"

"Sure."

They both drove themselves, opting for freshly squeezed juice instead of alcohol.

Near the end of their meal, Minerva announced, "I'm going abroad to study soon. I'll be gone for two or three years."

"Really? That's sudden," Skylar replied, surprised. Minerva had mentioned wanting to leave Jipsburg to study abroad before, but Skylar hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

Minerva nodded. "I think it's sudden, too. It feels like fate. Leaving Jipsburg now feels right. A change of scenery will help clear my head." She added, "But we've only just gotten to know each other, and now I'll be leaving. Don't forget about me. Let's keep in touch." A pang of reluctance touched her; she wished they had met earlier, but studying abroad felt like her only recourse.

Since Rowan and Jenny's breakup, her family had reconnected with the Rowans, both families believing a reconciliation between Rowan and Minerva was still possible. Previously, she hadn't objected to arranged marriages, but now she felt a deep resistance. She also feared her wavering feelings for Rowan; he was known for toying with women's emotions, and there was nothing truly substantial to hold onto. Yet, she sometimes found herself remembering their time together. The complexities of the heart were maddening. To avoid a painful entanglement, leaving was the best option.

Skylar felt a similar reluctance. "Have you set a departure date?"

"Next week. I'll leave a little early."

"Best of luck with your studies. I hope everything goes smoothly."

"Thank you."

Inside a café, Vera finally met Molly. Molly was strikingly beautiful, her elegance refined by her upbringing. Despite the rumored imperfections in her relationship with Edwin, she seemed completely unburdened and in good spirits. In contrast, Vera, barely in her twenties, looked weary, the dark circles under her eyes evident. Seeing Molly's apparent well-being ignited anger within her. "So, you finally decided to meet me."

Molly sipped her coffee, seemingly unfazed by Vera's ire. "I've been very busy these past few days. I didn't intend to avoid you, Ms. Ruell."

"You know you were avoiding me. I no longer want the statue from my home. Please take it back. We have nothing further to do with each other." Vera pressed her temples, a throbbing headache beginning. She hadn't slept well the previous night.

Molly raised an eyebrow. "The statue is yours now. I can't take it back. Besides, you have a connection to it. As long as you truly venerate it, your wishes will be fulfilled. Giving it away or discarding it now will backfire."