Chapter 4: A New Beginning on Wanoki Island

The airplane landed smoothly on Wanoki Island just before noon.

As soon as I stepped off the aircraft, a cool sea breeze brushed against my face.

The salty scent of the ocean instantly replaced the suffocating memories of Bellamore.

For the first time in years, I felt like I could breathe.

Wanoki Island was nothing like the bustling city I had left behind.

There were no towering skyscrapers or endless traffic.

Instead, crystal-blue waters surrounded the island, while rows of palm trees swayed gently beneath the bright sunshine.

The peaceful atmosphere immediately calmed my restless heart.

"Miss Hudson?"

A cheerful young woman waved at me near the exit.

"Welcome to Wanoki Island!"

"I'm Sophie. I'll be assisting all the volunteers during orientation."

I smiled politely.

"Nice to meet you."

"Your accommodation has already been prepared."

"Let me help you with your luggage."

We climbed into a small shuttle bus along with several other volunteers from different cities.

Everyone chatted excitedly while admiring the breathtaking scenery.

Meanwhile, I quietly looked out the window.

Unlike my previous life, I wasn't here because I wanted to escape.

I was here because I wanted to start living.

Nearly thirty minutes later, the shuttle stopped in front of a beautiful white building overlooking the sea.

"This is the Ocean Research Center," Sophie explained.

"Most of you will be staying here for the next six months."

Six months.

That was exactly what I wanted.

Six months away from Emil.

Six months away from Bellamore.

Six months to become someone new.

After checking into my room, I unpacked only the essentials.

The room wasn't luxurious, but it was cozy.

A large balcony overlooked the endless ocean.

The sound of waves gently crashing against the shore filled the silence.

I couldn't remember the last time I had felt this peaceful.

That evening, all new volunteers gathered in the conference hall.

"Welcome, everyone," Sophie announced.

"Before introducing your work assignments, I'd like everyone to meet the director of the research program."

The conference room doors slowly opened.

A tall man entered wearing a simple white shirt with rolled-up sleeves.

Unlike the businessmen I had known in Bellamore, he looked calm and approachable.

His dark hair moved slightly in the sea breeze coming through the open windows.

When he smiled, the atmosphere instantly became warmer.

"Good afternoon," he greeted everyone.

"I'm Adrian Hale."

"I'll be supervising your projects during your stay here."

His voice was gentle yet carried quiet confidence.

The volunteers applauded politely.

I lowered my gaze and simply listened.

Love was the last thing on my mind.

When the introductions ended, everyone began leaving the hall.

As I gathered my notebook, someone accidentally bumped into me.

"Ah!"

My papers scattered across the floor.

"I'm so sorry," a volunteer apologized.

Before I could kneel down, another pair of hands picked up the documents.

"These belong to you."

I looked up.

It was Adrian.

"Thank you."

"You're Penelope Hudson, right?"

I blinked in surprise.

"You remember my name?"

He smiled.

"I try to remember everyone's."

"It makes working together easier."

Such a simple sentence.

Yet it caught me completely off guard.

Back in Bellamore...

Emil rarely remembered anything about me.

He forgot my birthday.

He forgot our childhood promises.

Sometimes he even forgot we had plans together.

Meanwhile, this complete stranger had remembered my name after hearing it only once.

"I hope you enjoy your stay here," Adrian said before walking away.

I quietly watched him leave.

For some reason, his smile felt strangely comforting.

Later that night...

Bellamore.

The McLaren residence.

Emil stood inside Penelope's now-empty apartment.

Everything was gone.

The bookshelf.

The photographs.

The decorations.

Even the small flowerpot she watered every morning had disappeared.

"She really left..." Emily whispered beside him.

Emil slowly walked through the silent apartment.

It no longer carried Penelope's familiar scent.

Instead...

It felt cold.

"Where did all her things go?" he asked.

"She donated most of them," the landlord answered.

"She terminated her lease yesterday."

"She said she wasn't coming back."

Emil frowned.

"She'll return."

"Everyone says that when they leave."

"Not her," the landlord replied.

"I've rented apartments for over thirty years."

"I can tell when someone is running away..."

"And when someone has truly moved on."

Those words lingered in Emil's mind long after he left the building.

That evening, Sarah invited him to dinner.

"You don't seem very happy today," she observed.

"Did something happen?"

"Nothing important."

"Then why are you checking your phone every five minutes?"

Emil looked down.

There were no new messages.

Normally, Penelope would have already sent him several apologies by now.

She would ask if he had eaten.

She would remind him to rest.

She would tell him she wasn't angry.

Today...

There was nothing.

Complete silence.

"Emil?" Sarah called softly.

"You're distracted."

"Sorry."

"Just work."

Sarah smiled but said nothing more.

For some reason...

She felt as though something invisible had begun changing.

Back on Wanoki Island...

I stood alone on the beach after dinner.

The sunset painted the horizon in shades of orange and pink.

The ocean stretched endlessly before me.

I took a deep breath.

"This is my new beginning," I whispered.

"No more chasing someone who never loved me."

"No more waiting."

"No more tears."

Just then, footsteps approached from behind.

"Beautiful view, isn't it?"

I turned around.

Adrian stood a few steps away, holding two cups of hot coffee.

"I noticed you skipped dessert," he said with a small smile.

"I thought you might like this instead."

He extended one of the cups toward me.

For a brief moment, I hesitated.

Then I accepted it.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Neither of us spoke for several minutes.

We simply watched the sunset together.

It was a comfortable silence.

One I had never experienced before.

Far away in Bellamore, someone was beginning to regret losing me.

But here...

On this quiet island...

Someone had unknowingly become the first person to make me smile without asking for anything in return.