I gazed at her, unwilling to sign. Although I had not read the contents of the document on the desk, I was certain it was an agreement regarding the transfer of shares.

She slammed the pen down with force. "Sign it quickly, don't make me lose my temper."

I felt that everything, when it came to her, seemed to take a different turn. Who could demand another's shares like this? From her eyes, I saw her stubbornness, her unwavering determination.

"What are you staring at? Hurry up. The meeting's about to start," she urged.

I picked up the pen and, after a brief hesitation, signed my name. She flipped through the agreement, directing me where to sign. It felt as though I was signing a contract that sold my soul for a fortune I hadn't earned.

She examined the document with satisfaction, her voice soft and tender. "Now, that's better." Then, she added, "We need to get to the meeting. Oh, wait—do my eyes look a bit swollen?"

I looked into her eyes and gently replied, "Yes, a little swollen."

She shot me a playful glare, her tone tinged with mild reproach. "It's all your fault." With that, she took out a makeup bag from her purse and began touching up her makeup with skill and grace. "How's this? Better?"

I scrutinized her for a moment and nodded. "Yes, it's hardly noticeable now."

"Good. Let's go," she said, snapping her makeup bag shut and rising, her expression resolute.

I was puzzled. "Do I need to go too?"

She gave me a look that left no room for argument. "Of course, you're the general manager. If you don't go, who will?"

I was taken aback, a wave of mixed emotions surging within me. "You planned this all along, didn't you?"

She flashed a sly smile, her eyes gleaming. "Naturally."

We walked together towards the meeting room, our hearts filled with anticipation and a touch of nervousness. Inside, the company's senior executives had already gathered, all eyes fixed on us. Sophie was the first to speak, her voice clear and commanding. "I've called this meeting today to make an important announcement."

She paused for a moment, surveying the room, then continued, "From now on, Ryan will be the General Manager of Eldoria Vanguard Industries, holding 30% of the shares, making him the largest shareholder. I trust you will all cooperate with him more diligently moving forward. As for me and Ryan, we have matters to attend to, so we'll adjourn the meeting for today. Ryan will assign your tasks tomorrow."

The room fell silent, everyone stunned by the unexpected news. I looked at their bewildered expressions, feeling equally uncertain.

Vincent and Charlotte Hayes quickly sent me messages, clearly caught off guard by this sudden change.

Back in the office, her silhouette appeared faintly by the window. Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting a golden glow upon her, as though wrapping her in a shimmering veil. She turned, her eyes locking with mine, peering deeply into my soul as if trying to see through me.

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"Ryan, we're about to part ways again." Her voice trembled slightly, but her gaze remained firm. "I really can't accept this."

A weight settled in my chest, as though a great stone were pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe. She reached into her bag and pulled out a key, handing it to me with trembling hands, her eyes reddened, tears welling up. She clutched my hand tightly, as though unwilling to let go.

"I've bought this house. You should move in," she said, her voice thick with emotion, yet still clear. "And the car, you can drive it. Now that you're the general manager, stop thinking about saving every penny and taking taxis to pay off debts. Focus on managing the company well."

Her tears fell, one by one, onto my hand, as if each drop seared into my heart. My heart felt as though it were being torn apart; I wanted to tell her, "I love you," but I could not. Her gaze, blurred with emotion, remained fixed on me, her hand gently caressing my face.

"You missed a spot," she said, forcing a smile, tinged with a hint of playful reproach. "I can't shave you anymore."

Her tears flowed relentlessly, and her voice trembled with immeasurable sorrow. "Ryan, if I had another life, I hope I would never meet you again. I fell in love with a man who hurt me, and not just once. He loves me, yet he leaves me time and again."

My eyes welled with tears as well—so I still cared for her. I gently wiped away her tears, my heart heavy with guilt. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." No number of apologies could ever convey the depth of my remorse.

After a long moment, she released my hand, wiped her eyes dry, and took a deep breath. "Take me to the airport. I have to go."

"You're leaving?" I asked, startled, unable to believe my ears.

"Yes, I'm returning to Virelia," she sighed softly, weariness and resignation in her voice. "I had planned for you to manage things here eventually, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon, or in this way." Her tone was no longer as forceful as it once was, but softened with a touch of helplessness. She picked up her bag from the desk and waved her hand. "Let's go." She was the first to leave the office.

I followed her, my mind in turmoil. She did not speak along the way, and the heavy silence seemed to echo her frustration and dissatisfaction. Her back, once straight and unyielding, now seemed burdened with sorrow, as though, in this moment, she was no longer the indomitable woman I knew, but a woman about to leave the man she loved.

At the airport, we collected our boarding passes, and I accompanied her to security. Suddenly, she turned, her gaze complex, as if it held both resolve and sorrow. "I will wait for you. I searched for you for seven years, and I will wait another seven," she said, her voice choking with emotion, her eyes slightly reddened. Without another word, she walked toward the security check. I watched her retreating figure, a sharp pain stabbing at my heart.

Her motion, wiping away her tears, shattered me. I stood frozen, watching her disappear behind the security barriers. My cheek was cold, and only then did I realize I was crying without even knowing it. "Sophie, take care of yourself. You don't have to wait for me anymore. I'm not worth it," I whispered silently in my heart.

Back in the car, I could no longer contain my emotions. I let out a low, guttural cry. The heart I had sealed away for so long was now ripped open by this woman, torn to pieces.

When I returned to the house we once shared, it seemed as though I could still see her moving around the rooms. She had always insisted that I move in with her, as though it were a given. After our reunion, she had hinted at it countless times, but I had turned a blind eye. Only now, when I had lost her completely, did I realize my mistake—but it was too late.

"Ryan, when are you coming back? Mom and I are ready to cook," Elena's call broke through my desolate thoughts.

I took a deep breath, trying to sound casual. "I'll be home soon."

After hanging up, a rush of conflicting emotions overwhelmed me, each feeling jostling for dominance in my heart. The voice on the other end of the phone still echoed in my mind, like a lingering nightmare. When I arrived home, Elena and my mother had already set the table, the delicious aroma of freshly cooked food filling the air. Clearly, they had been waiting for me.

"Ryan, come eat," Elena called to me with a warm smile, her eyes brimming with tenderness. Her smile, like the sunlight of spring, was bright and soothing, instantly lifting the clouded heaviness in my heart.