Chapter 3

"Logan, that's enough! Do you really think you can just wash your hands of the company and disappear? Do you have any idea how much money the firm is losing right now because of your tantrum? I don't have the patience to keep playing this game with you!"

In the background, I clearly heard Julian's voice purring, "Evelyn, have some fruit. Open up, let me feed you."

I didn't bother typing a single word back. I tapped her profile, hit block, and deleted her number.

Looking up, I saw Clara standing a few steps above me, glancing back with concern.

"Is something wrong? Do you need to handle work?"

I shoved my phone back into my pocket. "No. Let's keep moving, or we won't reach the summit before dark."

Clara didn't pry. She skipped ahead, leading the way, frequently turning back to chat and point out the scenery.

By eight in the evening, we finally pitched our tents on the mountain peak.

We sat side by side on a large flat boulder.

Looking out over the pitch-black sky, watching the rolling sea of mist wrapping around the distant peaks, a rare wave of tranquility settled over my chest.

Sensing my lingering gloom, Clara pulled two chilled beers from her backpack and handed me one.

"Don't overthink things, Logan! You're still so young. Whatever happened, you always have the chance to start over from scratch!"

I took the can from her hands, watching the bright spark in her eyes, deeply moved.

She was right.

I was in my twenties. Just because I had wasted five years on Evelyn, did that mean my entire life was ruined?

Stripping away the label of "Evelyn Carter's husband," I was still an award-winning designer and a brilliant curator.

It was time I lived for myself.

"Oh my god! Look, shooting stars!"

Clara's gasp broke the silence. I followed her gaze toward the horizon, watching silver streaks of light slash across the ink-black canvas of the night sky.

While I was still in a daze, Clara nudged my arm urgently.

"Hurry up and make a wish! If you miss this meteor shower, you'll have to wait years for the next one!"

I chuckled softly at the sight of her squeezing her eyes shut, pressing her palms together with utter solemnity.

When I was with Evelyn, I had also believed in wishes coming true. Every birthday, every New Year's Eve, I had taken them so seriously.

I had once invited Evelyn to watch a meteor shower with me, but she had sneered in contempt.

She always mocked me for being superstitious, calling such things a childish waste of time.

She would always say: "Logan, instead of daydreaming about wishes, why don't you do something practical? How old are you to still be this naive?"

After that day, I never mentioned stargazing or wishes to her ever again.

Now, sitting beside Clara, I mirrored her posture—pressing my hands together, closing my eyes, and offering a silent prayer to the night sky.

"If wishes really work, I hope I can completely let go of Evelyn Carter, sever every tie to the past, and welcome a new life."

When I opened my eyes, the shooting stars had vanished, and Clara was looking straight at me.

Maybe it was the alcohol, but my reactions were sluggish. When Clara gently leaned her head against my shoulder, I didn't pull away.

She stayed there quietly, and within moments, her breathing grew soft and steady.

I carefully picked her up, carried her into her tent, tucked her into her sleeping bag, and then returned to my own tent.

When I checked my phone, I saw dozens of missed calls from Julian's number.

I knew Evelyn had realized she was blocked and was using her secretary's phone to hunt me down.

Without bothering to read any of the angry texts, I blocked Julian's number as well.