Chapter 80 The Heart-Shaped Pebble

At first glance, the pebble appeared well-preserved, having been buried for some time. The cleaned spots gleamed, untouched by time. Waverly produced her keys, revealing the pebble fashioned into a keychain. It was nearly identical to the one just discovered, in both appearance and quality.

Shanice exclaimed, "My goodness, aren't these the rare pebbles Casimir bought at auction years ago? He gave one to Raylee and the other to Wavy! This must be Raylee's!" She quickly covered her mouth, realizing her mistake. Raylee frowned, offering no denial.

Four years ago, Raylee had lost this very pebble halfway up the hill. A storm of suppressed frustration and quiet sorrow brewed within Waverly. She turned away, clutching her clothes. She could never have imagined that Casimir, the giver of her treasured gift, had also given one to Raylee. She felt trapped and frustrated.

However, Waverly quickly regained her composure, smiling brightly. "I knew Casimir and Raylee were close; it's understandable he gave her gifts. Don't worry, Shanice, I'm fine. Raylee, it belongs to you. Please take care of it and try not to lose it again." Smiling, Waverly handed the pebble to Raylee.

Raylee accepted it, her thoughts drifting back to the day four years earlier when she'd visited Whitehorn Mountain to see the murals. Wind and rain had made the roads treacherous, causing her to fall and lose the pebble—a gift from Casimir on her eighteenth birthday. She'd treasured it immensely. She'd cried for days after losing it.

Looking back, she found her lovestruck self amusing. Her love for Casimir had been real, as was her current hatred. Perhaps losing the pebble had been an omen, a quiet sign that their relationship was never meant to be.

Jeremiah teased, "Mr. Sutherland, your actions remind me of a certain celebrity who gifted each girlfriend a pebble. Is there a special meaning?"

Snapping back to reality, Raylee recognized the subtle hint at her lingering feelings. Calmly, she said, "Let the past stay in the past. This pebble… it's time it went back to its rightful owner." She returned the pebble to Casimir.

Casimir frowned. "Once I've given something away, I don't take it back. If you don't want it, throw it away!"

Without hesitation, Raylee tossed the pebble over the cliff. Casimir stared in disbelief. He'd meant it as a casual remark. His heart felt torn, burning with pain. He vividly remembered Raylee's tears four years ago, when she’d lost the pebble and asked him for another. She had truly cherished his gifts then. Now, she was indifferent; she no longer cared about him or his gifts.

Shanice glared at the despairing Casimir. "Casimir, that pebble is worth a fortune! She lost it four years ago, and now she throws it away! She takes your kindness for granted. Look at Waverly—she made hers a keychain! That shows who truly values you!"

Grateful, Waverly tugged Casimir's sleeve, her eyes red. "Casimir, I'm your fiancée. Can I be the only one you give gifts to in the future?"

Casimir, seeing Waverly's distress, realized his harshness. He'd deeply hurt her, yet she pleaded for him to change. He softened. "All right!"

"Yay! I knew you're the nicest to me!" Waverly exclaimed happily, subtly glancing at Raylee.

Raylee looked at Casimir. "Mr. Sutherland, when the pebble was returned, I felt nothing. But when it was discarded… I felt something." Casimir's eyes lit up. Then, coldly, Raylee added, "It feels like a weight has been lifted. We've finally set clear boundaries."