Chapter 16 Sophieleila had just finished a proposal and was about to leave the conference room when she spotted Rebecca stand- ing at the end of the hallway . Rebecca leaned against the floor - to - ceiling window , holding a pair of earrings as if waiting for her . She wore no makeup , her bare face looking weary . " Got a minute to talk? " She wavedleila Sophieleila over . Sophieleila paused , then walked toward her . They sat across a long table , Rebecca gently placing the earrings at its center . " See these earrings ? Aren't they beautiful ? " Sophieleila's heart clenched . The earrings felt both foreign and familiar . " I found them years ago , hidden in his desk drawer . He never gave them to me or anyone else . Kept them locked away . " " So I took them without asking . " " Later I learned … these were your birthday gift to yourself . " Rebecca finished softly , lifting her gaze . " You're notleila Sophieleila . " Sophieleila stayed silent for several seconds . " You're her . " Rebecca's tone held no blame , no anger , not even surprise - merely confirming what she'd long suspected . " I don't know how you did it . " " I'm just … " She gave a bitter smile . " Afraid . " " Afraid you might actually come back . " " Afraid he'd never look at me again if you returned . " 0.0 % 00:06 Chapter 16 Sophieleila's voice barely carried : " So you chose not to tell him I was ill . " " Yes . " She nodded . " I know it was selfish . " " But I admit defeat . " Sophieleila stared at the earrings , feeling like she was looking at someone else's possessions . " Thank you . " She whispered . " For what ? " " For walking with him during his loneliest years … when I couldn't . " Rebecca froze . Sophieleila reached out , slowly pushing the earrings back : " These don't belong to me . " " You're the one who stayed by his side all those years . " " You didn't lose . " " We simply met him at different times . " Rebecca's eyes reddened . " He already knows who you are . " She murmured . " But he won't force you to admit it . " " Because he's terrified that if he does … you'll disappear again . " Sophieleila's fingertips trembled . " He never forgot you . " Rebecca said . Standing , she pulled a black velvet box from her bag . " Returning these to you . " Sophieleila opened it to find a sapphire pendant inside . 288 Nouchers The one she'd planned to have Andrew deliver after filming that commemorative short - meant to conclude the script she'd written . 40.9 % 00:06 Chapter 16 But the project died , and she vanished . She'd thought it lost forever . Yet here it remained . Rebecca watched her expression : " He kept this safe for three years . " " Said he'd return it to you personally … when you came back . " " Now I'm fulfilling that for him . " Her eyes cleared with resolve : " I resigned . " Sophieleila startled . " I can't keep him anymore … and I won't hurt you further . " " This triangle ends here . " That night , leila Sophieleila sat on her dorm bed , gazing at the pendant for hours . She whispered : " Does this still belong to me ? " " Do you truly still recognize me ? " Unaware he'd been waiting all along . Not waiting for her to confess . But waiting for her - to choose to stay . 77.0 % 00:06 288 Vouchers Chapter 17 Chapter 17