It took her a long time before fragments of that memory finally floated

    back.

    It must have been outside their apartmentplex.

    Her father had just returned from an assignment that day. She’d been so overjoyed, tugging him along to buy her some cotton candy.

    He’d already paid, and while the vendor was still spinning the candy, a sudden, thunderous explosion rang out.

    Neither of them waited for the treat. All they could think about was running to help.

    After that day, she never tasted the cotton candy her father bought for her again.

    Or her mother’s, either.

    They both died on the way home after finishing their next assignment.

    From that moment on, her life was turnedpletely upside down.

    Frank watched as her eyes reddened, hisrge hand gently covering her smaller one. He asked, hesitantly, “You remember now, don’t you?”

    i“/iSo-”

    Elissa missed her parents terribly. She sniffed, pushing down the sting in her eyes, and forced a crooked smile. “Are you about to tell me–you were that little boy back then?”

    If that was true, it was almostughable.

    Fate really had a cruel sense of humor.

    The person she’d saved with her own hands had gone on to shatter all her illusions about marriage.

    He’d been the one to push her, time and again, right to the very edge.

    12:09

    Frank heard the sarcasm in her voice. Inside, it felt like thousands of ants

    were gnawing away at his chest. His voice was strained as he admitted, “It was me.”

    “Little Nine, I… I’ve been looking for you for so many years.” His eyes shone, glistening with tears.

    The person he’d been searching for had been beside him all along.

    The endless days and nights he’d spent trying to find Little Nine, and the three years he’d spent neglecting Elissa in their marriage–all of it crashed together in his mind, wave after wave, until he could barely breathe from guilt and regret.

    Elissa, though, just felt absurd. She’d never been the foolish type, and now, suddenly, everything made sense–why Frank had always treated Marcia so differently.

    He’d mistaken Marcia for her.

    Because of that jade pendant.

    Elissa lowered her gaze, taking in the sight of the once–proud man kneeling beside her, guilt etched into every line of his face. She let out a heavy breath, trying to ease the tightness in her chest.

    She managed a smile, though it was stiff and cold. “If you’re really that guilty, then you shouldn’t mind doing me a little favor, right?”

    Maybe she really was cold–hearted.

    At this moment, all she could think was that she should use this chance to settle things with Frank–finally talk about the divorce and be done with it.

    They’d go their separate ways. No more interference.

    Hearing her about to make a request, Frank actually felt a strange sense of relief. “Whatever it is, just say the word. There’s nothing I wouldn’t give you.”

    Anything at all.

    12:09

    Even if she asked for everything in his name, he wouldn’t hesitate.

    He was willing to pay any price for his past mistakes, desperate ito /imake

    it right.

    Elissa let out a quiet sigh, her voice calm. “I don’t need anything from you. I just want you to understand that our divorce is final. That’s all.”

    Frank stared at her, at a loss. What did she mean, it was final?

    He parted his lips, thinking she must have misspoken, and said helplessly, “I told you, I won’t divorce you.”

    “I’m telling you, we’re already divorced.”

    There was no point hiding it anymore. Elissa had no desire to keep ying along with the Atwater family’s charade. She decided toy everything bare.

    Meeting Frank’s stunned gaze, she enunciated every word with icy rity: “Our divorce papers are already signed. Your copy is at Atwater Manor. You can pick it up whenever you want.”