Estella and Rowan were just about to grab a meal together. She lifted her gaze and spotted Jensen. It had only been a few days since they last met, but Jensen looked really haggard. He had bloodshot eyes, and his face was drawn. He held out a few pieces of paper. “Emily has signed the divorce papers, and I’ll receive the divorce certificate in less than a month, Este. Emily and I are no longer related in any way. You’ll let me go home with you now, right?”

Even now, Jensen was under the impression that Estella had gotten upset and left because he and Emily had actually gotten married… So, he’d spent almost half of his entire savings helping Emily repay her debt to the Conwys in exchange for a divorce. As soon as the papers had been signed, Jensen had come looking for Estella, hoping that she’d change her mind and come back to him.

Estella frowned and took a step backward. “Jenson, I’ve made myself pretty clear. I don’t love you anymore. We already ended our relationship. Regardless of whether you divorce Emily or not, I won’t get back together with you. Do you understand?”

After a short pause, she cast a sideways glance at Rowan, who stood beside her, and held his hand. “Besides, I’ve started a new life here, and I have someone I like now. Please stay out of my life after this.”

Jenson was momentarily stunned. He looked at Estella. Then, he glanced at Rowan. It took him quite some time to process and understand her words. His lips twisted into a bitter smile. “You shouldn’t joke about these things. You love me so much. There’s no way you’ll fall for someone else that easily. Estie, stop being stubborn. We should reconcile.” His voice cracked by the end of his last sentence. He had a desperate, pleading look in his eyes.

Estella let out a weary sigh. She couldn’t understand why he was being so persistent about getting her back. Was it because he loved her? But he did, why had he done all those things with Emily? Estella couldn’t figure it out, nor was she interested in dwelling on the issue.

“Jenson, stop deluding yourself. You know how I won’t change my mind once I’ve decided on something. I used to like you, so I loved you with all my heart. But I don’t love you anymore. Nothing you do will change that.”

Jensen’s expression turned somber almost instantly. It was as though his soul had left his body, leaving only an empty shell behind. Estella paid no mind to him and walked away, holding Rowan’s hand. When they got further away and could no longer see Jensen, she tried to let go of Rowan’s hand. But he held her hand firmly.

“Estie, did you mean what you said earlier?”

Estella paused for a moment before realizing what he was talking about. A thought occurred to her as she took in Rowan’s reddened ears. She furrowed her brows and acted clueless. “What? I don’t remember what I said earlier.”

Rowan panicked. “You held my hand and said that you have someone you like. Estie, don’t lie to me…” Rowan’s voice was a little shaky. He was probably overwhelmed by the emotion. Still, he fixed his gaze on the woman he loved dearly.

Estella noticed how the usually calm and composed Rowan seemed helpless and nervous at the moment. She smiled and lightly swung their hands, which were still clasped together. “Alright, I won’t lie to you. I really like you!”

Rowan’s eyes lit up the instant he heard those words. He couldn’t hold himself back and pulled Estella into a tight embrace. “Este, I love you.” He’d fallen for her at first sight back in college. Even though they hadn’t seen each other for six years, his feelings for Estella had never diminished.

No one knew that Rowan had flown back to Strenstrad one day before Estella’s birthday every year. He’d stayed outside her building the entire night just to wish her happy birthday, despite never getting any response. He’d thought he’d probably live alone for the rest of his life. Fortunately, the heavens were kind to him. He finally gained the most precious thing he’d once lost today. He would never let go of her hand again.

Estella leaned against Rowan’s chest and listened to his loud heartbeat. She subconsciously held him even tighter.