Chapter 3: The Man Waiting at the End of the Road

The black luxury sedan parked quietly outside the Herbert residence.

Several bodyguards in tailored suits stepped out first, their disciplined movements immediately attracting the attention of nearby neighbors.

Curious whispers quickly spread through the neighborhood.

"Who are they?"

"Those cars aren't from Southport."

"Could they be from the Lyttelton family?"

Inside the house, Zoe heard the commotion before the doorbell rang.

She opened the front door herself.

A young man in a dark suit bowed respectfully.

"Miss Herbert?"

"I'm Ethan Brooks, President Lyttelton's personal assistant."

"I've been instructed to deliver this to you."

He carefully presented a navy-blue velvet box with both hands.

"Mr. Lyttelton also asked me to inform you that your flight to Khelmark has already been arranged for next Monday."

"Everything has been prepared according to your convenience."

Zoe accepted the box with slight surprise.

"Thank you."

"Please thank Mr. Lyttelton for me as well."

Ethan smiled politely.

"I'm sure he'll be pleased to hear that."

Once the visitors left, Zoe carried the velvet box into the living room.

Charles Herbert looked at her with curiosity.

"Open it."

"Let's see what your fiancé sent."

Carefully lifting the lid, Zoe fell silent.

Inside rested a breathtaking diamond necklace.

The centerpiece wasn't flashy or overly extravagant.

Instead, it featured a beautifully crafted shooting star surrounded by tiny diamonds.

Beneath it lay a handwritten card.

"Miss Herbert,"

"I've heard you dislike overly luxurious jewelry."

"I hope this simple design suits your taste."

"If it doesn't, I'll gladly choose another one."

"—Lucian Lyttelton"

Zoe gently touched the necklace.

In her previous life, Connor had showered Vicky with expensive gifts.

As for Zoe...

She usually received whatever assistants happened to buy at the last minute.

This was the first present anyone had ever chosen based on what she actually liked.

It wasn't about the necklace.

It was about being seen.

"He's thoughtful," Charles said with satisfaction.

"Much more thoughtful than most young men these days."

Zoe nodded quietly.

"He really is."

At the same time, inside the Buxton residence, Connor couldn't stop thinking about the conversation he'd had with Zoe.

"She's marrying Lucian Lyttelton..."

The sentence kept replaying in his mind.

It shouldn't have mattered.

He had finally confessed his feelings to Vicky.

He had everything he had always wanted.

So why did he feel strangely restless?

"Connor?"

His mother entered the study carrying a cup of coffee.

"You've been staring at those documents for twenty minutes without reading a single page."

Connor sighed.

"Do you know anything about Lucian Lyttelton?"

Mrs. Buxton raised an eyebrow.

"The president of Lyttelton Group?"

"Of course."

"He's probably the youngest business legend in Khelmark."

"His family has been influential for generations."

"More importantly..."

"He's known for never getting involved in scandals."

"Why are you asking?"

"Nothing."

"Just curious."

His mother studied him for a moment before smiling knowingly.

"You're thinking about Zoe, aren't you?"

"No."

"She's free to marry whoever she wants."

"Exactly."

"So why do you look unhappy?"

Connor couldn't answer.

Because even he didn't understand it.

That evening, Vicky invited Connor to dinner.

Throughout the meal, she happily discussed wedding venues, designers, and honeymoon destinations.

"Connor, should we hold the ceremony overseas?"

"Maybe in Santorini?"

"Or perhaps Paris?"

"Whatever you like," he replied absentmindedly.

"You're not listening," Vicky complained playfully.

"Sorry."

"I've just been busy."

Vicky quietly observed him.

Ever since the gala, Connor had seemed distracted.

Every time Zoe's name appeared in conversation, his attention immediately shifted.

That wasn't supposed to happen.

She had worked far too hard to finally become the woman standing beside him.

She refused to let anyone ruin that.

Back at the Herbert residence, Zoe continued preparing for her departure.

Old clothes she no longer needed were donated.

Books were packed into neat boxes.

Every room slowly became emptier.

While cleaning her wardrobe, she discovered a small wooden box hidden on the top shelf.

Inside were countless souvenirs connected to Connor.

Movie tickets.

Birthday cards.

A dried flower he had absentmindedly handed her years ago.

Every item represented a memory she had once treasured.

Looking at them now...

She only felt tired.

She carried the box outside and placed it beside yesterday's ashes.

One match was enough.

The flames quietly consumed every reminder of the past.

"Goodbye," she whispered.

This time, she wasn't saying goodbye to Connor.

She was saying goodbye to the version of herself that had lived only to be loved by him.

Two days later, Charles called Zoe into his study.

"There's something I want you to have."

He opened the safe behind his desk and removed an old leather folder.

"This contains your mother's letters."

"She wrote one every birthday after you were born."

"I wanted to give them to you after your wedding."

"Now... I think the time has come."

Zoe's eyes immediately became moist.

"Mom wrote letters?"

"She hoped you'd read them when you became an adult."

"She wanted to accompany you even after she was gone."

Holding the folder carefully, Zoe felt warmth spreading through her chest.

"Thank you, Dad."

"I'll treasure them."

Charles gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Promise me one thing."

"Be happy."

"Don't spend your life trying to earn someone else's love."

"The right person will never make you beg for it."

His words echoed deep inside her heart.

"I promise."

That night, Zoe finally replied to Lucian's messages.

[Thank you for the necklace.]

[It's beautiful.]

[I'm looking forward to meeting you.]

She assumed the busy CEO would answer the next morning.

Instead...

Her phone rang less than thirty seconds later.

Unknown Number.

After hesitating briefly, she answered.

"Hello?"

A deep, calm voice came from the other end.

"Good evening, Miss Herbert."

"I'm Lucian Lyttelton."

Zoe instinctively straightened her posture.

"Mr. Lyttelton..."

"Did I interrupt your rest?"

"Not at all."

"I simply wanted to personally thank you for accepting the engagement."

"And..."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"I hope you're not feeling pressured."

"If you ever change your mind, I'll respect your decision."

His sincerity caught Zoe completely off guard.

He wasn't demanding.

He wasn't possessive.

He wasn't trying to control her future.

Instead...

He was giving her a choice.

Something Connor had never done.

A gentle smile appeared on Zoe's face.

"Thank you."

"But my decision won't change."

"I'm looking forward to starting this new chapter."

Silence lingered for a moment.

Then Lucian chuckled softly.

"So am I, Miss Herbert."

"I'll see you very soon."

After the call ended, Zoe stood quietly beside the window.

Outside, the night sky stretched endlessly above Southport.

In just a few more days...

She would leave this city forever.

She had no idea that someone else was already preparing to stop her before she could board that plane.