Faded love 7

Chapter 7 

88 

[Rescue Efforts Failed. No Hope of Survival.] 

Wendy took the phone, glanced at the screen. No expression. 

“He stayed by the shore all night,” Yuanzi whispered.”They caught a shot of him kneeling there. The whole internet is cursing Sybil.” 

“Cursing me?” 

“Yes. Saying I interfered. Saying I indirectly caused your death.” 

Wendy flipped the phone face-down. Her gaze drifted to the pale morning light outside 

the window. 

“Public sympathy,” she said softly, “only ever feels gentle toward the dead.” 

Yuanzi froze. “Then where are you going now?” 

I smiled faintly. “To live.” 

The wind slipped through the half-open window, lifting strands of my hair. I looked at the road ahead, my voice light as a whisper: 

“Wendy is dead.” “But the other me hasn’t begun yet.” 

Day One The News Flooded Every Screen. 

— 

“Wife of Z Group’s CEO presumed dead after plane crash; body not recovered.” “Wendy, aged twenty-seven.” 

In the photo, I was smiling gently, eyes bright. It was taken at the company’s anniversary gala – the night I stood beside him. He remembered how my hand had trembled, while he smiled with perfect composure. 

Now that same photo had become the backdrop of an obituary. 

He sat in his office, the headline flashing over and over on the screen. 

Someone knocked.”President Zhou, the search has ended. The sea-” 

“Get out.” 

“But the media-” 

“I said get out!” 

The door slammed shut. He stared at the monitor, pain surging through his chest. His breath caught, strangled. No logic, no self-control could quiet the roar of blood in his 

ears. 

His fist crashed down on the desk. The coffee cup shattered. Brown liquid spread slowly, forming a ringed stain -just like the one on the resignation letter I’d left behind that day. 

11:26 Sat, Oct 18 

I had sat by the window then, my eyes calm.N”Rory, I want to resign.” He had asked me why.NI smiled. “Because of reason.” 

I 

– 

He’d thought I was joking.NNow he realized that was my goodbye. 

(88) 

He suddenly bolted from the office. His assistant followed. “Sir, where are you going?” 

“The hospital.” 

The morgue was freezing. He lifted one white sheet after another with bare hands./ Each unfamiliar face stole a breath from his lungs. 

Until the last. His hand froze. It wasn’t me. 

“Where is she?” His voice was hoarse. 

“The waves were strong,” the staff member said cautiously. “The missing… may have been carried away.” 

“Carried away?” He repeated it quietly. “She was afraid of water.” 

The man fell silent. He turned and left. 

At the end of the corridor, the lights were harsh and white. His shadow stretched long, like a thread about to snap. 

Day Three-Sybil Came. 

I wore a black dress and carried white lilies. “Xingchen,” I said softly, “my condolences.” 

He didn’t move. Didn’t even look at me. 

I laid the flowers down. “She wouldn’t want to see you like this.” 

He lifted his head. His eyes were blades of ice. “How would you know what she would want?” 

Sybil faltered.”I just—” 

“Get out.” 

His voice was low, but it froze the air. “I don’t want to see you in this room.” 

I bit my lip, held back tears, and turned away.MBut outside the door, a cold smile touched my lips.”Insane,” I murmured. “He’s gone insane.” 

Day Seven 

— 

The Cemetery. 

An empty grave. Inside lay only a single ring. He knelt there, fingertips brushing the cold metal. 

11:26 Sat, Oct 18