Catriona arrived at the shop and began working.
She had surgery before, and while the wound no longer hurt, it was still healing, so she stuck to light tasks.
She noticed Sapphire wrapping flowers with her head down, looking low-spirited, as if something was bothering her.
Since Sapphire was now working at her shop, she felt it necessary to check in on her.
Sapphire was indeed different from the werewolves she knew. In her eyes, werewolves were taller, more robust, and had abilities superior to pure humans.
They were fearsome, ferocious, and ate meat seared for just a few seconds.
Sapphire was truly out of place among them. She was quiet, didn't speak much, and even when she did, her voice was soft. She was delicate, often tearful, evoking a sense of pity in others.
She poured a glass of warm water, walked over, and handed it to her, saying, "Take a break and have some water."
Sapphire held the cup, her eyes red.
"My feelings for him are probably just a burden, Catriona. I think I should give up."
Was she talking about Magnus?
"I thought... you both liked each other."
Sapphire shook her head with a bitter smile. "He doesn't like me. He just feels sorry for me."
"Every time he comes to Capital, he doesn't come to see me. He must not want to see me, right? I... I don't want to keep waiting only to be disappointed. I don't want to live like this, constantly worrying and unhappy."
Catriona pursed her lips, comforting her, "If you're unhappy this way, then take the path that brings you joy."
Sapphire nodded, her eyes red.
She wouldn't go out of her way to see him anymore.
Nor would she wait in Capital, hoping he would come to see her.
A werewolf who didn't want to see her — she must have already become a burden to him.
From this day on, Sapphire stopped letting herself pay attention to any news about Magnus.
Even if she heard Magnus was in Capital, she would no longer hold out hope that he would come to see her.
——
On the afternoon.
Catriona went to the roadside early to wait for Roderick's car to pick up their son. Roderick's car was just one traffic light away.
Two voices suddenly came from the nearby white car.
"Whoa, there's a stunning beauty ahead."
"Is that the flower shop owner? Is she married?"
Roderick frowned, his thin lips tightening.
Catriona stood tall and graceful across the street, like a beautiful, pure lily in quiet bloom.
Roderick felt a bit flustered.
And then...
As soon as Catriona got in the car, Roderick said, "You don't need to come to the roadside early. I'll text you or come to the shop to call you."
"That's too much trouble, no need..."
"It's no trouble."
Roderick thought, seeing Catriona noticed by other men with unnecessary intentions was what was truly troubling.
They arrived at the kindergarten just in time.
Cedric, carrying his little backpack, walked out holding his teacher's hand. He ran toward Catriona, shouting, "Mommy!" When he got closer, he called out again, "Dad."
Seeing both his mom and dad picking him up every day made him incredibly happy, and his classmates were all envious of him.
"Mommy, I was very well-behaved at school today. Did you miss me?"
Catriona smiled, kissing her son on the cheek, "If Mom didn't miss you, who else would I miss? You're the best."
Cedric, now delighted, took his mom's hand and walked a few steps, then remembered something and went back to grab his dad's hand.
The family of three walked out of the kindergarten hand in hand.
Once in the car, Catriona was fastening her seatbelt when her phone rang. She thought it was a flower order, so she answered and held it to her ear, "Hello..."
"Catriona, where did you go? I miss you." A man's voice came through, choked with emotion, "I came back to the country and sat outside your door all day. Where are you? You moved. What should I do? I can't find you anymore."
Catriona was taken aback.
At the same time, the big and the small one in the car looked over at her.
Especially the big one, his eyes dark and brooding.
"It's Mr. Silly," Cedric said.
"Oh, is that Cedric? Where did you guys go? I misses you so much!"
This was the younger guy who had pursued her before, almost deciding not to go study abroad. He wasn't even twenty.
Catriona hadn't expected him to come looking for her again after being abroad for half a year.
Had he still not forgotten her?
Roderick's gaze fixed on her; without needing to try, he had already heard the voice on the phone clearly.
Another man had come along.
Another one pursuing Catriona?
The hand at his side clenched unconsciously, his thin lips pressed into a straight line.
His once-settled heart began to beat uneasily again.
He had never understood as clearly as he did now how popular Catriona was in the human world, with one admirer after another.
The young man continued asking, "Catriona, are you at the shop? Can I come see you?"
No! You! Cannot!
Roderick pressed his lips together coldly.
His uneasy heart felt like it was sinking to the depths, a suffocating sensation rising to his throat.
Meanwhile.
Elsewhere, in a county within Capital.
Arden held a thick stack of documents, turned to glance at the small town where Miss Ashford had lived for ten years, sighed, and got into the car. "Finally, I can return to Capital."
On the first page of the documents was a small, yellowed photograph of a thin, five-year-old girl, silently staring at the camera without a smile.
Below it were three words: four years old.
