Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph
Chapter 236 Our Agreement

The smile in Faris's eyes slowly faded.

With a tired grin, Faris asked, "Are you eager to get rid of me?"

I shook my head, "No, I just don't want to hold you back. You should get married, have kids. And I..."

I looked down, feeling the sadness creep back in.

"I don't plan on getting married again," I said quietly.

Faris leaned back, tilted his head, and with a slight smile said, "Marriage is just a piece of paper. Kids need a dad when they grow up. I'm not forcing you to sleep with me."

"Faris!" I looked at him, feeling helpless.

He shrugged and gave a bitter smile, "Alright, I was joking. I know you don't need me anymore. I'll go."

Dinner was tasteless, with a sense of sadness and bitterness hanging in the air, blending into the food. After dinner, when I finished washing the dishes and came out, Faris was sitting on the couch, motionless, with only a faint smoke rising in front of him.

Just then, the nanny came down with the two kids. Faris stubbed out his cigarette and walked towards them.

The kids had spent a lot of time with Faris recently and were very familiar with him. From a distance, they reached out their little hands for a hug. Faris squatted down, holding both kids in his arms and kissed their cheeks. True feelings couldn't be faked, just like the love and reluctance he was showing then, completely genuine.

After letting go of the kids, they quickly went to play with their toys. Young children had a simple and happy world, without much sorrow and joy. Even when I taught them to wave goodbye to Faris, they were cheerful and indifferent, not understanding the sadness of parting at all.

I walked Faris to the door. It was snowing heavily outside, with large snowflakes falling like goose feathers.

Faris's black hair was soon covered with snowflakes, and I thought my head must be the same. When we reached his car, he stopped and half-jokingly said, "Aren't you going to give me a goodbye kiss?"

Although he was smiling, I could sense a hint of sadness in his smile. Seeing that I didn't respond, Faris said, "Let's have a farewell hug!"

He approached me and gently hugged me. This hug was not as forceful or intense as any before, nor did it carry any desire. It was just a tender, reluctant embrace.

We hugged for a while, then he let go of me, gently brushed the snow off my head, and said softly, "Take good care of yourself!"

I said I would. I stood there for a long time, watching his car drive away. I knew I owed him a lot, but I could never repay him in this lifetime.

I changed into a thick down jacket and braved the wind and snow to the cemetery. The ground was now completely covered with snow, a vast expanse of white.

In my heart, I always held a fantasy that Ethan would come back, hoping he would suddenly appear in front of me one day. But as time passed, I had to accept the reality. He won't come back anymore.

Holding flowers, I walked into the cemetery and saw a figure standing in the wind and snow from a distance.

I walked closer, placed the flowers in front of the tombstone, and mustered the courage to look at the photo on the tombstone.

With just one glance, my heart twisted painfully. Ethan in the photo was still so handsome and young. But he was gone!

"I only now realize that I never truly understood my brother."

A bitter sigh cut through the wind and snow.

I stood up, looking at the tombstone, my heart heavy with sorrow.

"I don't think anyone truly understood him. Only he knew the mission he was carrying, so no one could understand the pain in his heart. He had to bear it alone until the day his shoulders could no longer carry the burden. Never being understood was his greatest sorrow."

Oliver, with his hands in his pockets, stared at the tombstone, seemingly full of emotions, but in the end, it all turned into a sigh. It wasn't until his shoulders and hair were covered with snow that Oliver turned and left.

I stayed a little longer before leaving the cemetery. On New Year's Eve, I went to the supermarket alone. Everyone was carrying abundant gifts, their faces filled with New Year's joy. This joy was so dazzling, but to me, it was somewhat glaring. It starkly contrasted with my sadness and loneliness.

I wandered around the supermarket aimlessly, forgetting what I needed to buy. Passing by the clothing section, I found there was a New Year sale, and that many older women were grabbing discounted clothes. Among them, I surprisingly saw Faye.

Faye was wearing sunglasses, covering most of her face, blending in low-key with the crowd. She pulled out a discounted down jacket from a pile of sale items. The color and style of the jacket were only suitable for middle-aged and elderly people.

Faye took the jacket to the cashier, pulled out a card, and handed it over. The cashier swiped it and handed it back to her.

"Miss, I'm sorry, this card can't be used. Can you use another card?"

Faye was stunned for a while, then handed over another card. But just like before, the cashier said it couldn't be used. Faye awkwardly rummaged through her bag, her ears turning red. The line behind her was getting longer, and people started whispering.

"How much is it?" I asked.

Faye must have recognized my voice and turned around abruptly. Because of the sunglasses, I couldn't see her eyes, but I imagined she must be shocked and embarrassed at that moment.

"Two hundred and sixty-eight dollars," the cashier answered.

I nodded and handed over a card.

"Charge it to mine."

The cashier took it, quickly swiped it, returned the card to me, and handed the jacket to Faye. Faye's movements were slow and difficult as she took the jacket, but she eventually accepted it. After leaving the supermarket, we found a café to sit down in.

I didn't speak first, nor did I ask how she was doing. I didn't want to hurt her pride. We sat for a while, the cold air we brought in from outside had completely dissipated, and Faye finally spoke first, her tone uneasy and nervous. "Thank you. I'll pay you back."

I gently shook my head, saying, "No need. If it were a stranger today, I would have paid the two hundred dollars as well. I grew up in poverty and have been in such situations before. I understand that kind of embarrassment." Faye kept her head down, not saying a word. After a long while, she finally looked up.

Faye said with concern, "I heard about Ethan. I really didn't expect it."

At this point, her voice choked up, as if she was too sad to continue. Tears streamed down from under her sunglasses.

"I know, I did a lot of wrong things in the past. Ethan was always mad at me. I kept thinking I'd apologize and seek his forgiveness once he calmed down. But he left so suddenly, and I never got the chance to apologize." I turned my head to look at the swirling snow outside the window, my eyes instantly blurring.

"It doesn't matter. Nothing is more important than Ethan being alive."

Faye's tears kept streaming down from behind her sunglasses, and she said sadly with a nasal tone, "I really regret it. I spent so much time making him angry and putting him in difficult situations. If I had another chance, I wouldn't do it again. There aren't many people in this world who are good to me. So when Ethan pampered me so much, I felt so happy. I was just afraid of losing him."

I sighed lightly, "Even though Ethan sometimes scolded you and blamed you, he always wanted you to be well. He always treated you like a little sister and pampered you."

Faye seemed to be hit in a sore spot and suddenly covered her mouth, crying uncontrollably.

"But I let him down."

After crying for a while, she finally took off her sunglasses, revealing the bruises on her eyes and nose.

"Did your husband hit you?"

Faye took a tissue, wiped her tears, saying, "I had a flash marriage with him. I didn't really know him. When we first got married, he was pretty good to me. But within a month, his interest in me faded. He started partying and staying out all night. When he came home drunk, he would beat me. He didn't treat me like a human being."

I remembered the last time Faye came to the Empire Artistry Group, she was still acting like a wealthy and arrogant lady. I didn't expect her life in the rich family to turn out so miserable.

Tears streamed down her face, and she didn't bother to wipe them. She said with a bitter smile, "I used to always go against you. Now seeing me in this pathetic state, you must feel very pleased, right?"

I looked at her and shook my head, saying, "No, I feel sad for Ethan. He worked so hard to fulfill your dreams, paving the way for you, but you didn't work hard enough and ruined your own path. Did you marry for love? I don't think so. I believe it was more about your vanity."

If it were in the past, Faye would have responded to my words with even sharper and more sarcastic remarks. But this time, she didn't. She let the tears flow down her face, her nose and eyes red from crying, looking very disheveled. "Yes, I deserve it. I thought marrying into a wealthy family would mean a life without worries. A few days ago, he openly brought a woman home. I was so angry that I argued with him. He said he would cut off my cards. I didn't expect him to be so ruthless. I bought this jacket for my mom, but now I have no income and have to get his approval for purchases. I can't buy anything expensive because he checks the accounts and scolds me if I spend too much." Holding my coffee, I said, "That's why a woman should never lose the ability to earn money."

Faye lowered her head in despair, saying, "I haven't acted in a long time. Now, no one even offers me small roles."

I said, "Don't put yourself on a pedestal. You can start over. Many top stars started with minor roles. It's not scary to start over; it's scary not to have the courage to start over."

Faye looked up at me, her face still streaked with tears, looking lost. I placed the money for the bill on the table, picked up my bag, and left.

Stepping out of the café, the cold wind biting, I instinctively wrapped my coat tighter around me.

It wasn't scary to start over; it was scary not to have the courage to start over. But I wasn't afraid of lacking the courage to start over; I was afraid of not having the chance to start over.

I thought to myself, 'If I could start over, what would I care about? What would I be pretentious about? As long as God would give him back to me, I would trade everything for it.'

But the chance to start over was no longer possible.

On New Year's Eve, Jason suggested we all have a New Year's dinner together, and he would cook.

I knew he just wanted to use the lively atmosphere to distract me from my sadness and loneliness. The dinner was indeed lively. Richard, Sophie, Frank, and Nora all came. I thought Faris was alone, so I invited him too, as he hadn't left Starlight City yet.

No one at the table mentioned anything unhappy, as if we all collectively forgot about someone. But I couldn't forget. No matter how lively this reunion dinner was, without him, my heart felt empty.

After dinner, I stood outside the living room, watching the snow, and heard the distant sound of fireworks, which instantly triggered my memories.

I suddenly returned to the living room, grabbed my bag, and rushed out the door. They chased after me, but I had already gotten into the car. Seeing their worried looks, I tried to give them a reassuring smile and said, "Don't worry, I'm just going to a place. I'll be fine."

There were very few cars on the road; everyone must have gone home to reunite with their families.

At this moment, driving the car, I felt an urgent sense, as if I were rushing to a date.

I drove to Skyline International Corporation. The security guard on duty recognized me and let me in without any hesitation.

The Skyline International Corporation building was very empty at this time. I went straight to the rooftop.

Standing by the railing, I looked out at the city's twinkling lights.

I remembered that New Year's Eve when we watched the fireworks here, kissed at the stroke of midnight, and welcomed the New Year.

He said we would spend every New Year's Eve here from then on.

I thought to myself, 'Ethan, you said it yourself. It was our promise. I'm here, but where are you?'

At this moment, fireworks started going off everywhere, the sky filled with brilliant colors.

But the colors in the sky slowly turned into blurry shadows in my eyes. The sound of fireworks exploding in the sky didn't bring any joy to me; it was the saddest music.

At this moment, I extremely missed Ethan.

I thought to myself, 'Ethan, can you come back, just because I miss you so much?'

On the deserted rooftop, facing the city's celebration and joy, I was already in tears. Suddenly, there was a creaking sound, the sound of the iron door to the rooftop being pushed open.

I thought no one else would come here tonight. I slowly turned around, looking at the door that had just opened.