Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Seraphine's POV

Octavius's expression dimmed.

Finally, he stood and placed the nutritious meal on the small table in front of me.

"Eat. I’ll check with the doctor about when you can be discharged. I'll see you off when the time comes."

I smiled softly. "Thank you."

Octavius didn't say anything else. He got up and went to find the doctor.

After the doctor's assessment, he wrote down his conclusion.

"In three days, if your physical examination shows no abnormalities, you can be discharged."

I breathed a sigh of relief. I hadn't expected it to be this easy to leave. "Thank you, doctor. Thank you all for taking such good care of me during this time."

The doctor smiled. "You're welcome. It's what I should do. But Ms. Whitaker, are you in such a hurry to be discharged because you want to marry Mr. Capulet quickly?"

I froze. I hadn't expected everyone to think I was rushing out just to marry Octavius.

I shook my head. "No. I want to go out and see the world. It has nothing to do with marriage."

The doctor asked again, "Are you traveling with Mr. Capulet?"

Octavius frowned and finally spoke. "Stop asking questions. Leave and let Seraphine rest."

The doctor didn't dare ask more and left.

Octavius turned back to me and smiled. "Don't mind what they said."

I shook my head. "It's fine. But... will you resent me for leaving like this?"

"No." Octavius sat down and held my hand. "Whatever you do, I support you."

My emotions were all over the place. I nodded. "Thank you."

For the next three days, Octavius stayed by my side almost the whole time. He cooked for me, gave me massages, and helped me walk through the hospital gardens.

He didn't bring up the ring again. He didn't ask when I was leaving.

Three days later, I was discharged and returned to the original villa.

In the living room sat a packed suitcase.

Octavius led me over to it. "I packed clothes for you in the suitcase. You have everything you need—your daily essentials, everything. The driver's waiting outside. He'll take you to the airport."

"I won't ask you where you're going. As long as you're happy, that's enough for me."

I was a little surprised that he'd let me leave so calmly.

I nodded. "Okay. Then I'll be going."

Octavius helped me carry the suitcase outside and put it in the trunk. "When you want to come back, tell me. I'll come get you."

I opened the car door and got into the back seat.

Just as the car was about to start, Octavius bent down and tapped on the window.

I rolled down the window and looked at him. "What is it?"

"When you've finally figured things out, marry me. I'll be waiting for you as always."

Before I could respond, a clear voice suddenly rang out.

"Seraphine!"

A white car pulled up by the road. Brielle walked over.

A man also got out of the driver's seat.

He was tall and thin, wearing a dark blue suit. He had a gentlemanly air and ordinary features. He looked like someone with a good temper.

This must be the man Brielle married.

He really was different from Mitchell—and from every other man she'd known. You could tell right away he’d treat her well.

Even if there wasn't passionate love, life with him would be steady and warm—without constant conflict.

Brielle pulled the man over to me.

I was a little surprised. "Aren't you busy with work? I told you—you didn't need to come see me off."

"How could I not come? You don't even know when you're coming back. I don't know how long it'll be before I see you again. If I didn't come, I'd regret it later."

Brielle's eyes reddened. She pulled the man in front of me. "Seraphine, let me introduce you. This is Xander Boleyn, the man I married."

Xander smiled at me, a bit shy. "Brielle worries about you every day. She said once you woke up, she'd officially introduce us. And now we finally meet."

I smiled and looked at Xander.

"Be good to Brielle. Even if I'm gone, Octavius will keep an eye on you two for me. If you do anything to hurt her, he won't let you off."

Xander laughed. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of Brielle."

Brielle turned her head, tears streaming down. "Take care of yourself when you're out there alone. Call me if anything happens. If you feel lonely, just come back."

She glanced at Octavius. "We'll all be waiting for you."

Octavius pressed his lips together, his eyes full of reluctance as he looked at me.

I avoided his gaze and reached through the car window to grab Brielle's hand, squeezing it tightly. "I know. Take care of yourself too. Don't be as willful as you used to be."

Brielle nodded hard, tears falling.

She wiped them away. "All right, all right. If I keep talking, I'll cry myself to death. You have to take good care of yourself."

"I will." I glanced at the time. "I really need to go now, or I'll miss my flight."

Brielle stepped back, looking at me reluctantly.

I looked at Octavius.

He just quietly looked back at me.

His eyes were clearly saying he didn't want me to go, but in the end, he didn't say a word.

I knew this was his way of respecting me.

He understood that I wouldn't stay just because he asked. He wanted me to experience the freedom of traveling the world.

"Octavius, the luckiest thing in my life was meeting you. Even when I'm not by your side, I want you to be happy."

Octavius smiled gently. "How could I be happy without you? But don't worry about me, I'll live well."

I withdrew my gaze and waved at them, trying to memorize how they looked in this moment. "Okay. Then I'm leaving."

The driver pressed the gas pedal. The car slowly pulled away.

I leaned out the car window, watching the three of them grow smaller and smaller until their faces blurred completely. Only then did I turn back.

I'd already booked my flight when I was discharged. I was headed to countries with beautiful scenery but far from everything.

After landing, I first went to a place with a primitive tribe, living with the locals for a long time. Then I went to see the ocean alone.

Finally, I made it to what felt like the edge of the world—a small island covered in aurora lights.

Many explorers and photographers were waiting there.

At nine in the evening, when the stunning green aurora appeared in the sky, everyone erupted in cheers.

I pulled out my phone and took a few photos of the aurora. My chest felt warm.

I unzipped my jacket and took off the necklace I was wearing.

Hanging on the necklace was a pink diamond ring.

I held up the ring.

Under the aurora, it glowed beautifully.

I took a photo of the ring and posted it online.

[Today I saw the most beautiful thing in the world.]

Five minutes later, Octavius liked my post.

I smiled and placed the ring against my heart.

The world was so big. It was still waiting for me to explore it.

Maybe I'd go back soon. Maybe it would take a long time before I returned.

But no matter where I was, the people I cared about in this world were living safely and healthily.

And that was enough.

[The End]