Jordyn jumped out of bed in excitement. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” Trevor breplied/b.

“Then why didn’t Wynn tell me just now?”

“It was just finalized. She doesn’t know yet.”

Jordyn was ecstatic. “Dad, let’s keep this a secret from Wynn. We’ll surprise her when we go back to the country, okay?”

“Alright.”

“You’re the best, Dad! I love you so much!”

After hanging up, bJordyn /bwas still overjoyed. She sang and danced on her bed.

After a while, she suddenly thought of Celeste. For the past few days, she had been in a great mood because Celeste hadn’t called her. In fact, to avoid talking to Celeste, she had deliberately left home early and even turned off her phone or kept it far away bfrom /bher after school.

But after two days, she was worried that Celeste might get angry if she found out. So, she stopped doing that. To her surprise, Celeste hadn’t called at all in the days that followed.

At first, she thought Celeste had discovered that she was deliberately avoiding her calls. But then she remembered that based on past experiences, that wasn’t very likely. If Celeste knew she had done something wrong, she would immediately ask Jordyn to correct her wrongdoing instead of sulking and not calling.

After all, she was the most important person to Celeste. Jordyn knew that Celeste loved her the most, bso /bshe didn’t think that Celeste would purposely refrain from calling her simply because she was upset.

As Jordyn thought about bthis/bb, /bshe suddenly missed Celeste. It was the first time in days she had thought about Celeste, and she couldn’t resist dialing Celeste’s number.

But just as the call connected, she remembered that while she would get to see Wynn after returning to the country, Celeste would undoubtedly try every possible way to prevent her from meeting Wynn. She wouldn’t be able to see Wynn whenever she wanted like she could now.

This thought dampened Jordyn’s mood.

It was midnight in Celeste’s time zone. She was already asleep when she was woken by the call. Upon seeing Jordyn’s name on the screen, she was about to answer when the call abruptly disconnected.

Although Celeste had written in her divorce agreement bthat /bshe would relinquish custody of Jordyn, she still felt a bsense /bbof /bresponsibility as her mother. Worried that something might have happened, Celeste immediately called

back

When Jordyn saw the iing call, she turned her head away and refused to answer.

Celeste became more concerned and quickly called thend ne at the vi.

Hannah answered promptly. After hearing Celeste’s concerns, she reassured her, “Ms. Fleming should be fine. She went to bedtest night and woke upte today. bWhen /bI checked earlier, bshe /bwas still asleep. I’ll go upstairs to take a look and call you back.”

Feeling relieved, Celeste replied, “Thank you.”

+25 bBONUS /b

When Hannah went upstairs, Jordyn was already in the bathroom brushing her teethb. /b

After Hannah ryed Celeste being worried about her, Jordyn lowered her head and lied, “I identally hit the call button.”

Hannah believed her and didn’t doubt bwhat /bshe said. Seeing that Jordyn was still brushing her teethb, /bshe went back downstairs to update Celeste that Jordyn was fine.

Jordyn watched as Hannah left. She huffed and finally felt a bit better.

After hearing Hannah’s reassurance, Celeste felt brelieved /btop. Still, having been abruptly woken, she struggled to fall back asleep. She wasn’t in great shape the next morning at bwork/b.

The envelope containing the divorce agreement waspletely forgotten by Trevor after the phone call with Wynn

On the day they returned to the country, Trevor packed thest document into his briefcase and ensured that nothing was left behind before heading downstairs.

“All set. Let’s go.”

The Lincoln stretch limousine departed from the vi and headed to the airport.

Celeste had no idea that Trevor and Jordyn had returned to the country. No one had told her.

Half a month had passed since she moved out of the vi. During that time, she had gradually grown used to and even fond of the peace and leisure of living alone.

It was the weekend, and she woke upte. After freshening up, she opened the curtains to a sunny day. She stretchedzily, watered her nts, and was about to make herself a simple breakfast when the doorbell rang.

It was her neighbor, Tilda bEmery/b, who lived across from her.

“Ms. Rodriguez, I hope I’m bnot /bintruding,” Tilda said apologetically.

Celeste replied warmly, “Not at all, I was already up.”

Η

“That’s good,” Tilda said enthusiastically. These buns and pastries are fresh out of the oven. I just made them this morning, and I brought some over for you to try.”

“Thank you. It’s so kind of you to do this, Mrs. Golden,” Celeste said,

“It’s the least we could do. If it weren’t for you saving Sylvia from that rabid dog the other day, who knows how badly burt she might have been? My husband and I have been wanting to thank you properly for saving our girl, but work has kept us busy. We felt so bad about it.”

“It was nothing, bMrs. /bGolden. Don’t mention it.”

After a few more pleasantries, Tilda left.

Back inside, Celeste ate breakfast while studying the algorithm of an Al she had been researching

Later that day, a news notification about Trellis College’s centennial celebration popped up on her phone. Celeste paused to check the date and realized that it was indeed Trellis College’s 100th–byear /banniversary.

bShe /bbrowsed the news online band /bsaw several trending hashtags about the event. The celebration was receiving high attention, not only because Trellis bCollege /bwas the top educational institute in the country but also because bthis /bwas its first centennial celebration.

Many distinguished alumni had been invited back to the alma mater for the event. Those honorary alumni were highly regarded figures in various fields.

Celeste stared at the screen for a while. When she saw several familiar faces in the photos, her hand trembled slightly. Memories of her time at college flooded her mind. Her heart became unsettled.

If she hadn’t gotten married right after graduating with her bbachelor’s /bdegree, she might have been among those honored alumni invited back for this event.

Celeste closed herptop and hesitated briefly before driving to Trellis College.

It was alreadyte in the evening when she barrived/b. Many of the high–profile attendees had already left, but the campus was still bustling.

Celeste wandered aimlessly and eventually found herself near the familiarb building.

A familiar voice called out to her. “Cel?”

20 minutester, at a cafe outside Trellis College, Matthias Yoder poured her a cup of coffee.

“How have you beentely?” he asked.

Holding the cup, Celeste smiled faintly with her gaze lowered. “I’m doing well. It’s just that… I’m currently preparing for a divorce.”

Matthias hadn’t expected such a response. He paused for a while before saying, “I’m sorry to hear that.” “It’s alright.”

“What’s next? Are you nning to return to thepany?

“I am, but…”

Matthias couldn’t understand why she was hesitating. He said earnestly. “Cel, thepany needs you. You’re a part of it, so I hope you’lle back to take charge.”

“But L… I…” Celeste felt conflicted when she saw his serious expression.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to return. The Al field had advanced rapidly, and she had been out of the industry for six years. Even if she went back now, she feared she wouldn’t be able to keep up with the btimes/b, let alone lead thepany and be at the forefront of the industry as she once had.