Avery is dead, and Evan has gone mad.
He built a villa on the beach where Avery's accident happened.
Each night, he would stay awake, speeding out to sea on his speedboat, saying he was going to bring his Avery home.
Liam pushed open the door of the seaside villa. Even though it was a sunny day outside, inside the villa was pitch-dark, all curtains drawn.
Liam entered and drew the curtains. Sunlight instantly dispelled the gloom.
Evan, sitting in a corner, shielded his eyes with his hand, unaccustomed to the light after long periods in darkness.
Liam walked towards his friend.
Evan's face showed signs of neglect and exhaustion, his beard unkempt, his clothes wrinkled. He held Avery's diary in his hands, surrounded by empty wine bottles. It seemed he didn’t notice Liam's arrival as he gently caressed the diary like a precious treasure, as if through it, he could touch the vibrant woman he loved.
"Evan, enough," Liam said, frowning at his friend who was wasting away over a woman. "Avery is gone. Are you going to torment yourself to death too?"
Evan chuckled lowly, his laughter echoing eerily in the desolate room, sending chills. He slowly raised his head to look at Liam, his smile tragic, "She was a ruthless woman. She took everything with her, leaving no trace of her existence. I don’t have a single photo of her, no clothing, no evidence that she ever was—only the name Avery.
She has truly abandoned me this time.
Yes, she is dead.
She was so cruel. She wouldn’t allow herself to look back, nor did she give me a chance to turn around."
Liam grabbed Evan by the collar, lifting him, his brows furrowed in anger, "If you can’t forget her, then try not to think about her. You’ve wallowed in grief for Avery long enough. It’s time to pick yourself up."
"Forget her? How can I not think about her?"
Evan pushed Liam’s hands away and staggered back to lean against the wall, clutching Avery's diary tightly.
Liam, frustrated by his friend’s despondent state, strode forward, snatched the diary from Evan's arms, and flung it into the air, "Do you need to drive yourself mad before you’re satisfied?"
"No, my diary, my diary..."
Evan, panic-stricken, watched the pages flutter in the air. He shoved Liam aside and awkwardly fell to the floor, scrambling to gather the scattered pages.
Liam, used to seeing his friend dignified and commanding, felt an unspeakable pain seeing him now so abject and disheveled.
He knew that once Evan fell for Avery, he would be tormented by her death. With a long life ahead, Liam dreaded thinking how his friend would face a future without Avery by his side.
When a bodyguard brought over a urn, Liam’s eyes widened in disbelief. He had thought his friend respected Mr. Jones's wishes enough not to reclaim Avery’s ashes. Yet, Evan had someone secretly retrieve them.
Evan had truly lost his mind!
Gently, Evan caressed the urn, his eyes tender, "Avery, don’t be afraid. I’m taking you home now. Our home is filled with roses; you’ll love it."
