Chapter 6
"Mr. Finch?" A small, childish voice called out from beside Zack.
Zack looked down and saw Elara, who had somehow run over without him noticing, her little face tilted up to look at him.
She wore a red dress today, looking like a doll.
"Do you know me?" Zack's voice softened unconsciously as he crouched down so their eyes were level.
Elara nodded, then shook her head. "Mommy said yesterday that you're someone unimportant. But you looked really sad yesterday."
She tilted her head, her eyes full of curiosity. "Why were you sad? Was it because Mommy didn't talk to you?"
Her innocent question made Zack's heart ache.
"Yes," he admitted hoarsely. "I made a mistake and made your mom sad."
Elara nodded, only half understanding. "If you do something wrong, you should say sorry. Lily in my kindergarten took my crayons, and when she said sorry, I forgave her."
Zack gave a bitter smile. "But my mistake was way worse than just taking crayons."
"Then you gotta say sorry, super serious," Elara said, her face earnest. "Mommy says you can always tell in their eyes."
She leaned in closer, peering into Zack's eyes, then scrunched up her brows. "Your eyes look sad."
Zack's eyes grew misty. He reached out, wanting to pat her head, but feared overstepping, his hand frozen uncertainly in mid-air.
He said, "Elara, you..."
"Elara!" Queenie called out, her voice tinged with urgency. She rushed over, pulled Elara behind her, and kept a wary eye on Zack. "Mr. Finch, please stay away from my daughter."
"Queenie, I was just..." Zack tried to explain.
"It's time for us to go," Queenie cut him off, then gently spoke to Elara, "Sweetie, say goodbye to Mr. Finch."
Elara waved obediently. "Goodbye, Mr. Finch."
Queenie took Elara's hand and walked away without ever looking back.
Zack watched them walk away, his gaze lingering on Elara as she skipped off. The emptiness in his chest only grew, swelling with a regret and pain he'd never known in the past four years.
He realized his quest to win Queenie back had just begun. And he was only at the very start of his own personal hell.
As for Queenie, she was already out of reach, standing on a level he could only dream of climbing to.
*****
Zack stayed in Eldholm for another week.
He canceled all his plans, acting like a desperate stalker, trying every trick in the book just to get close to Queenie and Elara.
He went to Starfield Studio.
It was a two-story loft tucked away in the old town, styled in minimalist Norrheim fashion with plenty of natural wood and greenery. The first floor served as a display and reception area, while the second floor was where all the creative work happened.
As Zack pushed the door open, the wind chimes above tinkled softly.
A local girl at the front desk smiled and greeted him. "How can I help you?"
"I'm here to see Queenie Goodman," Zack said.
"Ms. Goodman is upstairs with a client. Do you have an appointment?" the girl asked.
"No, but I can wait," Zack replied.
Zack sat down on the soft sofa in the waiting area. A few photography books were stacked nearby, and he grabbed one and flipped it open. On the title page, he saw Queenie's name written in elegant script.
Inside were breathtaking shots of Norrheim's landscapes: frozen lakes, forests bathed in the Northern Lights, and the endless summer sun that never set. Each photo was so beautiful that it took his breath away.
Zack flipped to the last page and found a small, handwritten note: [For my Elara. You helped me rediscover the world.]
Zack traced his fingers over the words, his chest tightening with a dull ache.
Footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Zack looked up and saw Queenie coming down with a foreign client.
Queenie was dressed in a simple white shirt and jeans, her long hair loosely tied back in a low ponytail. She was chatting with the client in fluent Mistforska, her face lit with professional warmth.
After seeing the client out, she turned around and spotted Zack. Her smile vanished in an instant.
Her voice cooled. "Mr. Finch, this is my studio. I don't appreciate uninvited guests."
"I just wanted to see your studio." Zack stood up and did his best to keep his voice steady. "Queenie, can we have a real conversation? About Elara, and about us."
"Us?" Queenie let out a frosty laugh, her eyes cold. "Zack, have you forgotten? We got divorced four years ago. You never signed the papers, but to me, that marriage ended a long time ago."
She walked over to her desk, picked up a document, and handed it to him. "This is the updated divorce agreement. I've already consulted a lawyer.
"After four years of separation and a broken relationship, the court will grant the divorce regardless. Just sign it, for both our sakes."
Zack didn't take the agreement. He met her gaze, speaking slowly and firmly, "I'm not signing it. Queenie, I don't want a divorce."
Queenie shook her head, as she'd just heard something absurd. "Zack, you never wanted a divorce. You didn't want to lose someone you could summon and dismiss whenever you pleased.
"But the woman standing in front of you isn't Mrs. Finch, waiting for whatever affection you decided to give. I'm Queenie Goodman now. I don't need you anymore."