---- Chapter 13 Ever since we parted at the hotel, it had been a year since I last saw Raymond. He still looked as dashing as ever, though he seemed slightly nervous. "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," he said. "I just heard you'd be coming today, so I thought I'd come see you." His eyes, filled with longing, were glued to my face, as if he were trying to memorize my features. "Adeline, I've missed you. When we first separated, I thought time could heal everything. And that I'd still have the chance to get back together with you. "Once, I even thought about using my father's power to force you into marriage. But how would that make me any different from Cora? "Seeing you becoming more radiant and liberated day by day, I finally realized you don't belong to me. You belong to yourself. ---- "Someone like me isn't worth turning back to." While he was still wallowing in his sorrow, I handed him a card. "This is all you spent on me when we were still together." Back when I started dating him, I gladly let him spoil me. He paid for everything, from my tuition and allowances to my meals and clothes. People said I was shameless, that I was only with him for his money. In truth, money wasn't the only reason. His looks were part of it, too. To Raymond, what he spent on me barely made a dent in his allowance. Why shouldn't I accept his generosity? He shoved the card back, refusing to take my money. But I didn't relent. "Raymond, I'm not trying to compensate you," I said. "T just borrowed some of your money, and today, I'm ---- here to pay you back." With that, I turned on my heel and left. "Adeline, I will never meet another woman like you again," he called out after me. "Is there really no chance between us anymore?" His voice was full of longing and regret, but I didn't turn back. "Raymond, let's not meet again." To my surprise, Sean still hadn't left when I returned. He glanced at Raymond and asked gently, "Is that your ex? He's indeed very good-looking. A lot of 'women are probably interested in him." I gave him a nonchalant nod in response. Hesitating for a moment, Sean said solemnly, " Adeline, what do you think about me? I'm not as dashing as he is, but I'm not too bad either. We're both from Lycanshire, so given our educational level, I'm sure we'd have plenty of common topics. ---- "Would you consider dating me?" I flashed him a polite smile instead. Istill had a long future ahead. Why should I rush to make a choice now? The only use of men was to spice up my life-they were never a necessity. My goal was to help every child as unfortunate as I once was find courage, and to ensure that evil people could no longer dominate the narrative.