Chapter 268

Chapter 268

The night before the surgery, it started raining in Ashfrodia.

Evan lay in the hospital bed, his palm gently pressed against his chest. He made a promise to himself that if the surgery succeeded, he would fly back to Asteria City immediately to find Anne.

He would tell her everything and give their missed love the perfect ending it deserved.

The surgical lights came on, and Felix personally performed the operation.

Thanks to his top-notch medical skills and his team's steady coordination, a few hours later, the surgery was declared a complete success.

In the hospital room, Felix watched Evan gradually wake up and offered his sincere congratulations.

But as Felix turned to leave the room, a cold breeze swept through the corridor, and his eyes darkened. He thought of the person he cared about most, of the proud and radiant Victoria.

During Evan's recovery in Aldercrest, Felix saw breaking news from Asteria City on the hospital lobby's news screen. Media outlets everywhere were reporting that Edward, CEO of the Russell Group, was about to propose to chief designer Victoria.

On the screen, the two embraced tightly, gazing sweetly at each other. Felix watched the scene, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth, yet still managed to force out a small smile.

Felix finally let go. He told himself that as long as she could be happy, he was willing to step back into the position of just a good friend, and genuinely be happy for Victoria.

"Victoria, you must be happy." Felix said softly to the screen.

But reality was cruel.

What news had Felix actually seen in reality?

Victoria had a complete mental breakdown. She stood on an overpass, smiled as she said goodbye to Edward, then jumped without looking back into the rushing, icy river!

He desperately tried to save her, but all he finally pulled out was her lifeless body!

There was no proposal, only that thin wisp of smoke rising from the crematorium.

The beautiful illusion continued.

Asteria City.

The awards ceremony for the Annual International Jewelry Design Awards had just ended. Victoria, wearing a stunning burgundy haute couture evening gown and holding her highest honor trophy, was about to step off the stage.

The lights suddenly went out, plunging the entire venue into darkness.

The silence around her was terrifying.

Victoria stood at center stage, her heart racing, frantically looking around.

The next second, a blinding spotlight suddenly turned on, landing precisely on her at center stage, as if pulling her out of the darkness.

Victoria gasped, covering her red lips in surprise.

The venue doors were pushed open. Edward, wearing a sharply tailored pure black tailcoat and holding a large bouquet of red roses, walked toward her with determined steps. In his hand was the pink diamond ring called "Mono Eternity," and he walked across a floor covered in rose petals.

As he walked, curtains around the venue were pulled down. The entire venue had transformed without anyone noticing—red roses, her favorite, were everywhere, like an entire sea of red.

It was the ultimate romance, the kind that was obviously over the top but still made hearts flutter with its devoted preference.

While Victoria was still in a daze, Edward had reached her.

He looked up at her, as if looking at his only answer. As the crowd held their collective breath, he knelt on one knee.

"Victoria, from the first moment I saw you, I gave myself to you." Edward's voice in the illusion was hoarse, his eyes showing undisguised passion and deep affection. "Thank you for accepting my flaws, thank you for loving me. Will you marry me?"

Victoria's tears streamed down her face. She tossed the trophy aside, stood in that sea of red roses, and nodded through her tears.

"I will..."

Edward's fingers trembled with excitement. He slipped the ring onto her slender ring finger, then stood up and pulled her forcefully into his arms, lowering his head to kiss her.

That night, Asteria City's media, gossip tabloids, and screens at Horizon Plaza all repeatedly broadcast this proposal. Almost everyone in high society was blessing the couple.

Far away in Aldercrest, Evan stared at the news on his phone for a long time after hearing about it. He didn't interfere, only sent his blessings silently.

This news also made Evan more eager to cooperate with his rehabilitation. He pushed himself to recover faster, just so he could return sooner to witness his brother's happiness in person and find the woman he loved.

Two months later.

At Saint Aurelius Cathedral, the oldest and most magnificent church in Asteria City, Victoria and Edward's wedding took place as scheduled.

It was a grand and solemn ceremony. In the illusion, there was no kidnapping, no conspiracy, no endless torment—only the normal life they should have had.

Sunlight streamed through the rose window, falling on the red carpet in the church.

Evan had fully recovered and returned home. Wearing a sharp suit, he stood in the front row of the guest section.

Anne stood beside Evan at that moment. She was gentle, dignified, and quiet, as if waiting for a long-overdue period at the end of a sentence.

Vows echoed through the hall. Victoria and Edward exchanged rings, making promises to stay together for life.

As the ceremony reached its end, it was time to toss the bouquet.

Victoria lifted the hem of her white wedding dress, smiling brightly. She turned her back to the crowd and threw the bouquet of lily of the valley symbolizing blessings into the air.

The white bouquet traced a clean arc through the air.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Anne instinctively reached out and caught the bouquet firmly.

The moment she caught the flowers, she looked up, and her gaze unexpectedly collided with Evan's.

In that second, the surrounding noise seemed to have disappeared, leaving only their breathing.

Evan's deep eyes held suppressed yet burning love, like someone who had escaped death finally seeing the road home.

Anne's eyes grew slightly warm. She gripped the bouquet tightly, as if gripping a future that had been lost and found again.

This was their perfect ending, it has finally arrived.

At the center stage, Victoria turned around and saw Anne and Evan gazing deeply at each other. A tear of happiness slid down her cheek.

She turned to look at Edward, and they smiled at each other.

Edward extended his strong arm and pulled his bride tightly into his embrace. They held each other in the sunlight, silently blessing the couple who had finally come together.

"How wonderful... everyone is so happy..."

In reality, in a cold, dark room.

Edward clutched Victoria's portrait tightly.

He laughed like a madman. In the dead silence and endless regret, he murmured over and over in a hoarse voice, "Victoria... we got married..."