Chapter 8 After returning from Heritage Coast , Andrew locked himself in the editing room at Initial Media Corporation . He ignored all calls , abandoned projects , canceled every meeting . For three full days , he neither ate nor drank , dis- secting the last video Sylvia left behind frame by frame . Her recording held no dramatic monologues , not even audible sobs - just soft farewells and a few faint smiles . He watched it dozens of times , silently demanding with each replay : How did you walk this path alone ? In your final second , did you think of me ? By dusk on the fourth day , he emerged from the editing room visibly thinner , stubble unkempt , eyes bloodshot. Rebecca cornered him the moment he stepped into his office . " Andrew , where have you been ? You terrified me ! I couldn't reach you for days ! " He brushed past her without response . " Do you actually believe that video ? She left your life long ago . Didn't she choose her own path ? " Andrew halted , turning with gravelly coldness : " Just answer me one thing . " " When did you know she was ill ? " Rebecca froze , avoiding his gaze . " Her will mentioned you're the only person who knew her true condition yet stayed silent . Isn't that true ? " Her lips trembled . " No , I just― " " You feared her return , didn't you ? " Andrew's words struck like ice . " Scared she'd come back and reclaim me . " " I did fear her return ! " Rebecca finally shattered , voice cracking . 0.0 % 00:06 Chapter 8 288 Vouchers " You've never let her go ! Do you know whose name you cry in your sleep ? Who received thirty desperate Facebook messages when you were drunk ? " " I see her shadow in your heart , yet I stayed three years , Andrew . Can't I ask for some security ? " " So you hid her illness ? Let her die alone ? " " I never thought she'd actually leave ! " She sobbed . " She shouldn't have ! Only survivors get to judge me - but she quit ! I'm the one who stayed ! " " She didn't quit . She was broken . " Andrew advanced slowly . " Tell me - about the earrings . Was that deliberate too ? " Tears streaked Rebecca's face . " I found them . I needed to know if she still haunted you . I wore those earrings , yet you glanced right through me . I knew you still saw her . " " I planned to confess everything at our engagement , but she … left early . I never imagined she'd choose the night be- fore our ceremony . " Andrew's eyes darkened . " You didn't just ignore her death . You gambled on her dying quietly . " " You feared she'd return to ruin your image , our wedding , the life you've built over three years . " " But you underestimated her . " " She never intended to ruin anyone . " Rebecca collapsed weeping . " I'm not evil - just terrified . " " Evil ? " He stared down . " You're merely selfish . " He turned and pulled the cooperation termination agreement from the file cabinet , slamming it before her : " Starting today , you're neither my fiancée nor the creative director of Initial Media Corporation . " " It's over between us . " She tried to throw herself into his arms , but he stepped back , evading her touch . Rebecca knelt weeping , collapsing amid scattered document fragments . From that moment , Andrew ceased being the business partner obsessed only with projects and numbers . He lost a person . 37.0 % 00:06 Chapter 8 288 Vouchers And forfeited any right to forgiveness . That evening , all Initial Media Corporation employees received an internal announcement : The engagement ceremony is canceled . Executor Andrew has apologized to all partners . Rebecca resigns effective immediately and won't participate in future projects . The whole city buzzed with shock . Andrew sat alone in the conference room , replaying Emerie's final recording , listening repeatedly to her words : " Thank you for entering my life . " Tears dripped steadily down his chin . The quieter her departure , the deeper his debt . This was no ordinary farewell . It was his life's singular chance at redemption - missed forever .