Chapter 87
The greatest distance in the world wasn’t measured in miles—it was right in front of her.
For seven whole years, she had stayed close to him, lingering in his shadow, yet he never once realized she had secretly loved him.
With tears blurring her sight, Ellie quickly turned away and fled in embarrassment.
Late at night, she walked numbly along the sidewalk. The sycamore trees lining the road swayed in the autumn breeze, their golden leaves shaking gently before drifting to the ground.
Ellie stopped under one of the trees, watching the leaves fall around her. Her heart ached deeply.
“This winter must be especially cold,” she thought bitterly. “Even the leaves know they can’t survive it. They don’t fight it—they just let go.”
She had no idea how she made it back to her apartment.
For days, it felt like she was drowning in an illness she couldn’t shake. She turned off her phone, took leave from work, and slept for what felt like an eternity.
But when she finally woke up—truly woke up—she felt different.
She knew now that a woman couldn’t rely on feelings and empty hopes to get by. Making money and loving herself had to come first.
Her father still needed medicine. Her parents deserved a better life. She was still young, and there was so much she needed to do. She couldn’t afford to waste time wallowing in sadness.
On Monday, Ellie returned to work at the hospital.
As she hurried from the inpatient department to the clinic, she stepped out of the elevator—and saw Alex standing there.
His cheerful expression made her chest tighten painfully.
“Why didn’t you come to my proposal the other day?” Alex pulled her into a quiet corner of the hallway. “Why didn’t you answer any of my calls?”
Ellie smoothly withdrew her hand from his grasp. “I was super busy and couldn’t get any time off.”
Alex grabbed her hands again, his voice filled with excitement. “Ellie, I did it! Haley agreed to marry me.”
Ellie tried to pull up the corners of her lips, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t smile.
Alex continued, “Remember what I promised when you helped me get Haley to agree to date me? I said you could have one wish—anything you want. So go ahead, what do you want?”
Ellie swallowed hard, pushing down the storm of emotions inside her. She pulled her hand back and met Alex’s gaze. No matter how much she tried to hold back, her eyes turned red.
“Congratulations.”
Alex frowned. “Why are you crying?”
He reached out to wipe her tears, but she turned her head away. “I don’t need anything.”
Alex insisted, “No, I have to keep my promise. How about I take you to pick out a sports car?”
Ellie shook her head.
“What about a mansion? Or a house with an ocean view?”
She shook her head again.
Alex thought for a moment. “Then why don’t you just pick something yourself?”
Ellie felt a tightness in her chest, like she could barely breathe. The words escaped her lips before she could stop them.
“Send me abroad.”
The smile on Alex’s face froze instantly.
“Where do you want to go?” he asked, his voice quieter now.
Even though she knew this was inevitable, Ellie couldn’t stop the tears from falling.
“Anywhere,” she whispered. “As far away as possible.”
