Chapter 5

By the time the birthday party ended, it was almost midnight.

The servants finished cleaning up the last dishes, and the villa finally became quiet.

The mansion that had been filled with laughter and conversations earlier now only had four people left.

Me.

Alex.

Vivienne.

And Daniel.

Daniel was someone Alex had met during the early days of his startup.

He was also one of Whitmore Group's most trusted business partners now.

Back then, he had known everything.

He knew how I had stayed beside Alex through his hardest years.

But tonight, the way he looked at me felt completely different.

It was as if he was looking at someone who no longer belonged.

Because of what Alex said earlier, I didn't mention the broken pocket watch again.

I didn't want to ruin his birthday.

But unfortunately, Vivienne had no intention of letting it go.

She sat on the sofa, gently swirling the wine in her glass.

"Alex, actually, there's something I think we should clear up."

I looked up at her.

She smiled slightly.

"About that old pocket watch."

Alex looked toward her.

"Vivienne, I'm not blaming you. You don't need to feel guilty."

"I just think some misunderstandings should be explained to Evelyn."

She turned her head and looked at me.

"Evelyn, have you always believed that the pocket watch was very important to Alex?"

I didn't answer.

Because the answer was obvious.

Vivienne continued,

"But have you ever thought about the fact that people's identities change?"

"In the past, Alex was just a young man whose startup had failed and who no one believed in."

"So he needed an old pocket watch to remind himself what he had gone through."

Her eyes moved to the new watch on Alex's wrist.

"But now, he's the person in charge of Whitmore Group."

"What he needs is something that matches his current identity."

My fingers slowly tightened.

"So what you're saying is..."

"Everything from the past should be forgotten?"

Vivienne glanced at the other two people in the room.

"Not forgotten."

"Just that some things were meant to be left behind."

Daniel let out a quiet laugh.

"Evelyn, Vivienne actually makes a good point."

"Alex is dealing with the entire business world now. He can't keep living in memories of his old life forever."

I looked at Alex.

"Do you think so too?"

He was silent for several seconds.

Then he said,

"Evelyn, I think you're too attached to this."

"Now that I can make money and give you such a good life, why do you still keep holding onto those difficult years?"

At that moment, I suddenly didn't know what to say.

What he was erasing wasn't just the past.

He was erasing the memories that belonged to both of us.

I forced myself to calm down.

"Alex, you were the one who told me it was important."

"You were the one who said you would always keep it."

"You said it represented your determination not to give up."

Suddenly, Vivienne let out a soft laugh.

"Evelyn, I think you might have misunderstood something."

I looked at her.

She slowly said,

"No one denies that you were with Alex during his lowest moments."

"But suffering with a man doesn't mean you're always the right person to stand beside him."

"Many women make the same mistake."

"They think because they saw a man at his weakest, they deserve every part of his future."

My expression slowly turned cold.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Vivienne looked straight at me.

This time, she no longer hid the contempt in her eyes.

"I'm saying you should accept reality."

"The Alex today needs someone who understands his career, his world, and his future."

"Not someone who keeps reminding him how difficult his past was."

The living room fell silent.

Her words were too direct.

So direct that she didn't even bother pretending anymore.

I looked at Alex.

I waited for him to deny what Vivienne had said.

Even if it was just one sentence.

Even if he only told her:

"Don't talk to Evelyn like that."

But he didn't.

He only frowned.

"Vivienne, that's enough."

A small spark of hope appeared in my heart.

But the next second, he continued,

"Evelyn, don't keep obsessing over this either."

"I don't even care about it anymore. Why are you still thinking about it so much?"

His words were like a bucket of cold water poured over me.

I finally woke up.

I stood up.

"So in the end, you think this is all my problem?"

"That I'm the one who refuses to let go?"

Alex rubbed his forehead with a tired expression.

"Why can't you understand what I mean?"

"I feel like communicating with you is becoming harder and harder."

I lowered my head and gave a quiet laugh.

Looking at the three of them standing together, united against me...

I suddenly felt like a joke.

"Okay."

"I understand what you all mean."

"Let's leave it at that."