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She whispered, “No.”

Willem drew his breath in. “Change your mind.”

She bit her lip hard. “No.”

“I love you, Serenity. Marry me.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. “No.”

When she opened her eyes, he was walking away, and it was like seeing the rest of her life fade into oblivion.

She began to cry, her tears ravaging her body in silence.

Do you see, Serenity?

It was all an act.

That’s how much you mean to him.

But even to Serenity’s own ears, the words sounded empty and unconvincing.

She watched the Dutch billionaire continue walking away, and it was as if her life, beginning at fourteen, replayed itself in her mind.

“It was nice meeting you, sir,” her fourteen-year-old self had told him gravely.

“The pleasure was mine,” a 28-year-old Willem de Konigh had told her with equalgraveness.

“Sir,” she had told the billionaire upon meeting him at the library.

“Willem,” the billionaire had countered, and it was just one of the countless arguments they would have over the years on how she should address him.

“Keep in touch, engel.” It was the billionaire, promising her without so many words that he would be there for her.

“I will. Willem.” And at fifteen years old, she had entrusted herself to him, like she had never trusted anyone again since her father had killed himself.

“Will you promise me something,” the billionaire had asked her. “If you ever choose to leave me, don’t just...go away. Let me know. I won’t ever stop you, but just...tell me.”

Her head jerked up at the last memory.

And suddenly, it was clear to her.

She had refused his proposal and he had asked her again and again, but he would not ask her forever because he loved her. He loved her just as he had said he did, loved her since she was fourteen and would love her forever.

He loved her so much it was just like he had promised when she was sixteen.

If she chose to leave, he would not stop her.

Because he loved her, enough to let her choose where she was happy.

She began to run after him, as fast as she could even though she knew she was straining her muscles. She wanted to cry out to him, but she bit her lip hard, telling her that she would not use pity to force him to come back for her.

The crowd parted as she hurried forward, silent and watching, none of them seemingly willing to intrude. It was as if everyone understood that this was a battle she alone had to fight.

She was halfway to reaching him when her injured leg finally gave out, and she fell to the floor in a loud thud. Suddenly, what seemed like a short distance stretched endlessly before her, but she forced herself to get up.

The billionaire had turned into a corner, and this time the crowd was denser, civilians jostling for a chance to catch a glimpse of their favorite local celebrities. They did not seem to recognize the billionaire, which allowed him to move swiftly. They were just as indifferent to Serenity’s plight, forcing her to suffer people pushing her in all directions and stepping heavily on her toes.

But still she forced herself to move, ignoring the pain that raped her body, from her leg and all the way up to her spine. She went after him, crying and begging God in her mind to let her reach him.