Chapter 1014

Claire took a deep breath, as if summoning every ounce of her strength to force the next words out. “But we… we’re different.”

Because they had loved.

Because they had cared.

And that was exactly why they could never just settle.

If she had never loved Felix, she wouldn’t have cared whether he had other women on the side.

She wouldn’t have given a damn about the blatant favoritism he showed Madeline Lynwood.

She could have happily lived the glamorous life of a billionaire’s wife, spending his money while he stayed away from home.

But all of that hinged on one impossible condition: that she didn’t love him.

So how could they ever be like those other couples?

The night wind picked up, whipping a few loose strands of hair across her face.

Claire raised a hand to tuck the hair behind her ear, her gaze returning to that cool, unwavering detachment.

“Only by leaving you can I finally be free.”

Without another word, Claire turned and walked away, never once looking back.

Felix remained rooted to the spot, staring silently at the empty space she left behind. Every memory, every moment of warmth and joy he had ever experienced with Claire, crashed over him all at once…

He instinctively reached out his hand, his fingers grasping empty air as if trying to pull her back, but all he caught was the biting wind.

Eventually, his arm dropped to his side in defeat. He bowed his head, pressing his hand against his agonizingly tight chest, his eyes burning red.

The proud, unbending posture he had carried his whole life finally shattered.

He finally understood that some things, once broken, could never be put back together.

Snow began to fall silently from the dark sky.

When the housekeeper stepped out to close the door, she spotted Felix standing like a statue in the courtyard, snow gathering on his broad shoulders. She panicked and hurried out with an umbrella.

“Why are you standing out in the snow? You’ll catch your death!”

As she ushered him inside, she accidentally caught a glimpse of the

unshed tears gleaming in ho

Shocked, she snapped her mouth shut and didn’t dare say another word.

Old Mrs. Quigley woke up just after two in the morning.

Seeing both Claire and Felix by her side, she weakly lifted her hand.

Claire immediately leaned in, grasping her hand and calling her name through her sobs.

The old woman offered her a comforting, gentle smile.

As Claire lowered her head to wipe

her tears, Old Mrs. Quigley looked et

past st her trembling shoulders eyes locking onto Felix

She didn’t speak, but her gaze demanded an answer.

Felix knew exactly what his grandmother was asking for.

He pressed his lips together, his hands slowly curling into tight fists at his sides.

Finally, he gave her the definitive answer. “I promise you. I will let her go.”

Her eyes began to cloud over again. She waved her hand weakly, signaling for Felix to leave the room.

Once it was just the two of them, she squeezed Claire’s hand with whatever strength she had left.

“Sweetheart, don’t be sad when I’m gone. Promise me you’ll find happiness every single day.”

“I will…” Claire wept uncontrollably.

“And don’t hate that stubborn boy. He can be awful, but… he’s also pitiable.”

Old Mrs.

gley sighed, staring up

at the blurry ceiling. “Before he

Demou there was a girl he

loved very much.”Conten

belongs

“And no, it wasn’t Madeline Lynwood. That girl isn’t worthy!”

She made sure to emphasize that point.

Claire’s eyes were red and swollen. She wanted to tell her grandmother to rest, to save her strength.

She didn’t want to hear any of this.

But Old Mrs. Quigley was determined to clear the air.

“According to my late husband, they met in college. She was his first love. His old flame.”