The mother-daughter duo who'd vanished for days suddenly returned early that morning. Lennox was even carrying a heart-shaped cake.
"Aaron, I've been so swamped with work. That's my fault. But today is our anniversary. Summer and I definitely won't go anywhere. We're staying with you all day."
Summer also held up her small soft fist in a pledge. "Daddy, I'm your witness. Mommy's been working overtime at the office non-stop lately. I've been remembering my mission, keeping a really good eye on Mommy for you."
I looked at the two of them making their bold declarations and quietly asked, "Aren't you tired? Running back and forth between me and Becket, having to play the devoted wife and obedient daughter in front of me while pretending we're one happy family. Doesn't that exhaust you?"
They answered in unison. "Not tired."
Summer tugged at her hand, her eyes bright and sparkling as she looked at me. "As long as it's something involving Daddy, I never feel tired."
Lennox also pinched my cheek gently. "No matter how busy work gets, no matter how tired I am, just seeing you, all the exhaustion melts away. Besides, today is our wedding anniversary. Every year we celebrate together. No matter how much work the company has, I have to come home to you."
I just smiled without saying a word.
Lennox set down the cake, then immediately disappeared into the kitchen, bustling around. She gave all the household staff the day off, planning to cook several of my favorite dishes herself for the celebration. Summer refused to be outdone, dragging over a small stool to start cutting fruit for juice. The two of them worked frantically all morning, until finally by noon the table was set.
Lennox lit the number seven candle, then took my hand, her eyes overflowing with love, practically spilling over. "Aaron, all those years ago, if you hadn't been by my side—"
Summer clapped her hands excitedly. "Ooh, Mom and Dad are so romantic."
But right at that moment a phone ringtone suddenly shattered the warm atmosphere. I pulled my hand back, holding up the phone, displaying Becket Thorne's name, and handed it to her.
Lennox insisted she wasn't answering anyone's calls today, even trying to force me to take it back. Seeing the name on the screen, she froze for a second, but finally answered it. "Aaron, it's my assistant calling. The company must have an emergency, so I have to take this."
With that, she stepped aside to answer. When she came back, unsurprisingly, it was the same familiar line. "Aaron, I'm so sorry. Something urgent came up at the company. I have to handle it."
Summer, even though she couldn't hear the phone conversation, knew for certain it was Becket calling. So she jumped off the sofa and ran over to grab her arm. "Daddy, I want to go too. I can help you keep an eye on Mommy, so she finishes work quickly and comes home to you soon."
Watching the two of them barely able to hide their eagerness to leave, I just nodded silently. "Go ahead. Come home soon."
At that, Lennox immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Summer leaned in. Mother and daughter each planted a kiss on my cheek. "Be good and wait at home for us, okay?"
"See you soon, Daddy."
With that, they rushed off, completely oblivious to my cold indifference. They would never know. This was the last time the three of us would ever meet.
I waited until outside the window Lennox's car had completely disappeared from view. Then I grabbed the half-burned candle from the table and threw it into the trash along with the cake. Then I went into the bedroom to retrieve the file folder I'd prepared and left the house.
Ten years ago, Lennox and I had purchased together a private sanatorium for vacations. Now the place had been abandoned, with only wild vines covering the entire building. I followed the path I remembered. Memories of Lennox came crashing over me like a tsunami. From her coldness when we first met, to when she gradually grew accustomed to my presence, and finally that night in the pouring rain when she clung to me and refused to let go.
My footsteps stopped beneath the large banyan tree in the back garden. The banyan that had been so lush ten years ago still thrived with green leaves. I reached out to touch the trunk where two names had faded almost beyond recognition.
I could almost see that girl again. Her face still young, but her eyes filled with love and intensity. She'd said she would only love me in this lifetime. That she'd never let me leave her, that we would be together forever. Then she'd carefully carved both our names beneath the tree.
Yet later her heart was torn in two. One half for me, one half for some company assistant. And that so-called forever couldn't even last ten years. How could that nineteen-year-old girl have known that at twenty-nine she would lose me forever?
I used a rock to dig bit by bit, creating a small hole, placed the file folder inside, then carefully covered it with soil.
After that, I called Lennox one final time. She answered almost immediately, her tone gentle as always. "What is it? Is everything okay?"
I looked at the banyan tree before me and said calmly, "Do you still remember the banyan at the sanatorium?"
Lennox laughed softly. "Of course I remember. That year, that's where I confessed my feelings to you. Time flies so fast. It's been almost ten years already."
I laughed lightly too. "Good that you remember. I've prepared a gift for you and Summer. Buried under the banyan tree. Remember to come get it later."
Lennox's voice carried excitement. "Summer's already jumping up and down hearing this. We'll come as soon as we finish work. Tonight the three of us can look at it together at home."
I didn't respond. Just hung up.
There would be no three of us anymore, because I knew tonight they definitely wouldn't come home, and I would never return either. From now on, the Whitmore family would no longer have Aaron Grant.
A familiar mechanical voice sounded in my ear. "Host preparing to exit the program. Do you wish to confirm departure?"
"Confirmed."
And the moment I finished speaking, a blinding beam of light appeared before me, forming a pathway. Wind whipped up from all directions, making banyan leaves fall in cascades, swirling through the air.
I stepped forward without hesitation.
Lennox Whitmore. Summer Whitmore. From this moment on, we'll never meet again.