When this question surfaced in Noelle's mind, she suddenly thought of the couple from the Swanson family. Facing them, she had asked herself this same question countless times.

But deep down, she had always known the answer. No matter how many disappointments she had endured, she couldn't help but cling to hope again once those wounds healed, until they smashed her heart to the ground and crushed it completely.

Yes, what was she hoping for? Was she hoping they would love her or that Hendrix would treat her differently? For the past two years, she hadn't been able to warm his heart-how could he possibly draw closer to her suddenly?

She had overestimated herself, or maybe she was just delusional.

It was just like the time when she was a child. She stood outside the school gate and stared at the old man running a cotton candy stall. On his stand were cotton candies in various colors and flavors.

At the time, she wanted so badly to have just one bite, but she had no money. So, all she could do was stand there and watch from afar. She did only that day after day, time and again.

She knew perfectly well that even if she stood there until nightfall, the cotton candy on the stall would never belong to her. Yet, she still hoped for a miracle.

Perhaps Cynthia might pass by and grant her this small wish. Perhaps the old man might suddenly have a kind heart and give her one.

The truth was, none of her fantasies ever came true.

When she watched Yvonne take Hendrix's arm and disappear from her sight, she quietly turned around. The lunch she had prepared ended up in the trash bin.

Ironically, as she walked back to the hotel, she saw someone selling cotton candy by the roadside. The colors were Just as vibrant, but the shapes were even more elaborate than before.

Noelle stood there watching for a long while before finally mustering the courage to buy herself one. She bought a red one with a strawberry flavor.

The moment she took a bite, the cloying sweetness and the taste of artificial chemicals filled her mouth. It wasn't good at all.

Standing on the street and holding that stick of cotton candy, she suddenly wondered-how would her seven-year--old self have felt eating this?

She knew she would be happy, no matter how poor the taste of the cotton candy might have been. That small joy and sense of satisfaction would have stayed with her forever.noveldrama

Nevertheless, her seven-year-old self never got to taste that cotton candy. The things out of reach remained forever unattainable, whether it was the cotton candy from her childhood or the love she longed for now.

Cynthia had once said she hoped Noelle's life would be full and happy, but she forgot that the full moon would only appear for a single day. The fireworks in the sky or a mirage would also be fleeting. One wouldn't even need to reach out to touch it. When the time came, it would simply vanish..

Right at that moment; on the unfamiliar streets of Sintrun, Noelle stood in one corner holding a cotton candy with tears streaming down her face.

Noelle couldn't remember how she got back to the hotel. She kept her head down the entire time. As she was about to step into the elevator, a crisp voice sounded from behind her, "Ms. Swanson."

Hearing the voice, she froze in place. After a long pause, she stiffly turned her head.

Yvonne was standing there, smiling as she looked at her. "Shall we talk?" she asked.

Noelle didn't respond, but Yvonne acted as though they were already close friends, stepping forward and wrapping her arm around Noelle's.

"Let's go. There's a café upstairs."