Once she stepped out of the De Yue Restaurant, the cold wind outside blew against her, and her chaotic thoughts finally became a bit clearer. Looking at the person walking ahead, she couldn’t help but ask, “Ian Mitchell, why didn’t you say anything?”

　　“Say what?”

　　“They all seem to think… I dumped you, but that’s not how it was at all. Why didn’t you explain?” How could the proud and aloof Ian Mitchell tolerate such a misunderstanding!

　　“How should I explain?” Ian Mitchell stopped in his tracks, his tall and broad back looking so lonely at that moment. His hoarse voice was especially clear in the night wind. “Even I think so myself.”

Chapter Four: Fate

　　She didn’t understand what he meant by even he thought so.

　　“I still wonder to this day if the things I said back then just gave you the perfect excuse to run away.”

　　Ian Mitchell’s voice was neither loud nor soft, but each word struck her heart with the weight of a thousand pounds.

　　How could he say that? He actually said that!

　　She remembered that day clearly. After hearing what Amy Mitchell said, she immediately went to him for confirmation. Ian Mitchell would never lie to her—if he said it wasn’t true, then it wasn’t, and she would absolutely believe him. But what if he really did like Amy Mitchell? What then…

　　On the way there, the worst she could imagine was Ian Mitchell telling her he loved Amy Mitchell too. She never expected to be met with his look of disgust and words as sharp as a blade.

　　“Go. I don’t want to see you!”

　　“Mason Morgan, I wish I had never met you!”

　　That tone and expression, so resolute and final—even now, recalling it made her heart shatter. But now he was saying that she had wronged him?

　　“What do you mean by that?” Mason Scott stared at her own shoes, asking in a low but clear voice.

　　The two of them, standing still in the flow of people, attracted some attention. Ian Mitchell pulled her to a quiet spot, let go of her, and lit a cigarette.

　　How could he tell her? The truth?

　　No.

　　He spoke steadily: “That day, your father came to see me.”

　　Catching sight of her shocked expression, a faint mocking smile appeared on his handsome face. “Surprised? Ha! I was surprised too. My girlfriend turned out to be the mayor’s daughter.”

　　Mason Scott’s face suddenly turned pale. The mayor’s daughter! The mayor’s daughter! What an ironic title!

　　She and Ian Mitchell came from the same place—Y City. Back then, she had been overjoyed, thinking it was a wonderful coincidence and fate. Now, it was just a huge embarrassment.

　　If he knew she was Quentin Morgan’s daughter, then he must also know…

　　Mason Scott said unsteadily, “You must know about my father.”

　　“Yes.” Ian Mitchell nodded. Quentin Morgan had embezzled and accepted bribes totaling tens of millions, and after his crimes were exposed, he committed suicide in prison, shocking the whole country.

　　Mason Scott closed her eyes. It didn’t matter anymore.

　　“What did my father say to you?”

　　Ian Mitchell lowered his gaze. The words Quentin Morgan said to him that day still echoed in his ears: “You’re an outstanding young man. Xiaosheng likes you very much, and I don’t want to oppose it. If you’re willing to go to America with Xiaosheng, I’ll help you take care of everything—visa, housing, school, you won’t have to worry about a thing…”

　　What tempting conditions!

　　After a while, Ian Mitchell said heavily, “I was a poor student living off part-time jobs and scholarships. What do you think he said to me?”

　　Mason Scott was silent. She knew her father—he always looked down on people with no value or background. She could easily imagine the harsh things he must have said to Ian Mitchell. Otherwise, with Ian Mitchell’s usual composure, how could he have gotten so angry with her?

　　“I’m sorry.” So this was the truth! Everything she had believed for so long was completely overturned. Mason Scott’s thoughts were in turmoil, as if a storm was raging inside her.

　　“Who are you saying ‘I’m sorry’ for? Yourself, or your father? If it’s for your father, there’s no need.” Ian Mitchell said coldly.

　　Mason Scott weakly tried to explain, “I… I didn’t know at the time.”

　　“Then why didn’t you come and ask me?”

　　Ian Mitchell’s voice was as cold and sharp as if it came from hell: “You sentenced me to death without even asking, Mason Morgan. Can you guess how much I’ve hated you these past few years?”

　　Hate?

　　Mason Scott stepped back in panic, but she couldn’t escape his grasp. He suddenly grabbed her shoulders so tightly she wondered if her bones would break.

　　“I never bothered you—why did you have to bother me? And since you did, why did you give up halfway?” The despair and anger in his questioning left Mason Scott unable to even say “I’m sorry.” She just instinctively closed her eyes, not daring to look at him.

　　“I just want to ask you one thing now,” Ian Mitchell gradually calmed down, his burning gaze fixed on her. “If you had known everything back then, would you still have left?”

　　Would she still have left? Mason Scott was stunned—she hadn’t expected him to ask that.

　　Seven years ago, she would have said “no” without hesitation. Back then, going to America was simply a way to escape the pain of a failed relationship. But now? Now she understood that everything seven years ago had been a carefully planned escape by her father. Otherwise, how could the visa have been arranged in just a few days? How could everything in America have been set up in advance? Everything had been decided without her knowledge. She had no doubt that even if she hadn’t wanted to go, she would have been forced onto the plane.

　　Mason Scott lowered her head. “I’m sorry.”

　　Ian Mitchell understood. He suddenly let her go, the disappointment and anger in his eyes so intense it felt like they could tear her apart.

　　After a long time, he finally managed to speak calmly: “What about now?”

　　What about now? Mason Scott was confused.

　　“Do you want to come back to me now?” Ian Mitchell said, a bit stiffly.

　　The world outside suddenly fell silent. Mason Scott stared at him in shock, hearing only the violent beating of her own heart.

　　“I don’t plan to waste too much time on this, nor am I interested in getting to know someone new and building a relationship from scratch. So you’re the most suitable, aren’t you?”

　　Am I? Mason Scott listened in a daze, her heart slowly sinking.

　　Because of familiarity, because of suitability?

　　But Ian Mitchell, do you really know this Mason Morgan standing before you? This person—sometimes even she felt like a stranger to herself…

　　But none of that mattered anymore.

　　She no longer had the strength to chase after a distant heart, nor did she want a love that could be destroyed at any moment. She couldn’t bear to hear the sound of her world collapsing again.

　　So, Ian Mitchell, “I’m sorry.”

　　Forgive my cowardice. I just never expected that even you couldn’t give me the courage anymore.

　　She actually rejected him so quickly. Ian Mitchell steadied himself and said, “You don’t have to answer me so soon, you…”

　　His words were gently interrupted by Mason Scott: “I’ve been married.”

　　The words came to an abrupt halt. Ian Mitchell stared at her in disbelief, asking each word with absolute clarity, “What did you say?”

　　Mason Scott stared at her own shadow on the ground and said softly, “I got married, three years ago, in America.”

　　Ian Mitchell’s face turned cold and dark, the aura around him so icy it seemed to freeze the air. He glared at her viciously, as if he might reach out and strangle her at any moment.

　　After a long time, she finally heard his voice, cold as ice: “Mason Morgan, I must be crazy to let you trample on me like this.”

　　The days slipped by unchanged. It wasn’t until Mason Scott saw the National Day holiday notice on the magazine’s bulletin board that she realized it was already the end of September.

　　The whole summer had passed just like that.

　　The closer it got to October 1st, the more relaxed the atmosphere in the magazine office became. On the 30th, just before getting off work, Ruby came over to ask Mason Scott, “Ash, how are you planning to spend the seven days of the National Day holiday?”

　　“Haven’t thought about it yet.” Mason Scott was sorting through the photos on her desk.

　　“You haven’t thought about it? I’ve been looking forward to October since May Day!”

　　Amused by her exaggerated expression, Mason Scott casually asked, “Why is the holiday so long this year?”

　　“It’s like this every year.” Ruby said, a bit puzzled, then realized, “Oh, you’ve been abroad too long, you probably don’t know. The seven-day holiday has been in place for years now, to develop tourism. This year I’m planning to go to Phoenix Ancient Town—do you want to come with me?”

　　Judging by her sweet expression, it was obvious she was going with that doctor boyfriend. Mason Scott tilted her head and smiled, “Do you want me to follow you around and take couple photos the whole time? I charge a lot, you know.”

　　“Aiya! You’re so annoying!” Ruby covered her face in a cartoonish show of shyness, but when she put her hands down, she noticed that Mason Scott, who had just been joking with her, had fallen silent again, looking dazed and absent-minded.

　　Ruby nudged her: “Ash, what’s wrong? You’ve been acting a bit strange lately.”

　　“Hm? Oh, nothing.” Mason Scott snapped back to reality. “Suddenly having so many days off, I’m just thinking about what to do.”

　　After work, she still didn’t know what she wanted to do. The streets were clearly much livelier, the shops all looking brand new. Mason Scott strolled along the pretty shop windows, occasionally stopping to buy some snacks, then continued wandering aimlessly.

　　It wasn’t until she saw the familiar, old-fashioned school gate that Mason Scott realized she had somehow walked all the way to University C. She was startled—she must have walked across half the city from her workplace to here.