Eva’s voice snapped Rowan back to reality.

“Go with your classmate,” he replied stiffly, his eyes fixed on Minerva.

Although Eva didn't know Minerva, her intuition registered the shift in Rowan's demeanor. After speaking, he quickly approached Minerva, simultaneously noticing Skylar. Skylar, engrossed in her reading, looked up, momentarily stunned to see Rowan. "What a coincidence," he remarked, "You two just arrived?"

Minerva smiled politely. "Just a few minutes ago," she replied, her courtesy suggesting a stranger or casual acquaintance. Rowan felt a pang of bitterness. "Skylar, call if anything comes up in Jipsburg. I've found some information about Ned; I'll send it later." He suspected Ned was Joe—the resemblance was uncanny unless they were twins, and another Joe-doppelganger seemed improbable.

Skylar nodded. "Okay."

Rowan glanced at Minerva. "I heard you're engaged. Congratulations."

"Thank you," she smiled.

Rowan felt suffocated. "Don't forget to send a wedding invitation."

"Of course," Minerva replied sincerely. "I also hope you find your own happiness." The past, she implied, was smoke—over three years had passed; she'd moved on, found love. It should remain in the past. She'd once hated Rowan, but that was gone.

Rowan laughed, a self-mocking sound. "I wish you the best." For someone as selfish as him, happiness was secondary; contentment was enough, and he was content, surrounded by women who pleased him.

He turned and left.

Eva, puzzled by his abrupt departure, followed him, glancing back at Minerva and Skylar. Who were they? Why the transformation? He'd been perfectly fine a moment before.

"Mr. Jakeman," she began, "didn't we plan lunch here?"

"I'll take you elsewhere."

"Oh... okay."

Skylar, withdrawing her gaze from the departing Rowan, turned to Minerva. "Rowan seems like a different person these past few years." He'd once been surrounded by women, but his focus had been Jenny; he'd shown little care for those around him. Now, it seemed he hadn't forgotten Minerva, yet couldn't bear loneliness, always with a new companion. Over the years, Caleb had mentioned the Jakemans' attempts to arrange dates for Rowan after realizing the impossibility of him and Minerva, but none had worked. Recently, however, he'd begun dating—celebrities, college students. Eventually, his parents had lowered their expectations, prioritizing a grandchild over his behavior, only demanding a respectable mother for the child.

Three years had changed much.

"People change," Minerva smiled. Adults bear their choices' consequences.

Skylar agreed. "Time changes everything." Just as she'd begun to accept Joe's possible absence, news about him and Paul had surfaced.