Chapter 9

Everyone at the Ford family was busy prior to Cameron and Jocelyn's wedding. It was late at night, but the house was still brightly lit as Ivy instructed the maids to decorate Cameron's bedroom. Upstairs, Evelyn's room was also dimly lit. She sat on the carpet and packed all the gifts Cameron had given her over the years into a box. One of them was a teddy bear. He'd given it to her on her first day at the Ford residence as a welcome gift. At the time, she'd been so scared that she hadn't been able to sleep at night. He'd sneaked into her room and told her bedtime stories while holding the bear. He'd also told her the bear was a part of him. It would protect her on his behalf. Another was a pair of dance shoes. Cameron had instructed someone to have them custom-made abroad on the day she'd decided to go into dancing. He wanted her to wear them as she shone on stage. There was also a pair of crystal shoes. He'd helped her put them on on her 18th birthday after saying that his little girl had finally grown up. He'd also wished she would continue clinging to him for the rest of her life. Evelyn put the gifts away one after another. Then, she picked up the box and slowly headed downstairs. The house was silent now. There were festive decorations everywhere; every inch of the house reminded her that a new woman was about to move in. She stopped looking at the decorations and headed out with the box. That was when she ran into Cameron, who was just returning. For some reason, he felt anxious when he saw the box she was holding. He asked, "Where are you going?" "Just throwing away things that I don't need anymore," she answered indifferently. Then, she sidestepped him to leave. "Evelyn!" Cameron's heart clenched as he looked at her back. She'd become a different person since the incident. He thought she would kick up a fuss over being unable to dance anymore, but she'd reacted calmly. She was so composed that it was almost scary. She turned to look at him. He said, "Jocelyn said she hopes you'll be her bridesmaid." Evelyn didn't even bat an eye. She said politely, "She's my sister-in-law now, not my best friend. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to take on that role. You guys should ask someone else." After that, she turned and left. It wasn't that she wasn't right for the role; it was that she would leave on the day of their wedding. … The night before the wedding, Evelyn sought out James and Ivy while holding a box. "Mom, Dad." Her eyes reddened slightly when she saw their loving faces. "I can't attend Cameron's wedding tomorrow. The flight my birth parents bought for me leaves tomorrow morning; I have to go." James and Ivy exchanged a look. Then, they asked in surprise, "Why are you leaving on such short notice?" Evelyn shook her head with a smile and pulled out a thick envelope. She handed it to them. "It's not; I should've left long ago. This envelope carries all the money I've saved over the years—it should be enough." It was enough to repay the money the Ford family had spent on her for the past 15 years. James and Ivy shook their heads and tried to stuff the envelope back into her hands. "Oh, you…" She insisted they accept it. Then, she held them tightly as tears welled in her eyes. "Thank you for the love and care you've given me for the past 15 years, Mom and Dad. I'll never forget everything you guys have done for me. I won't be able to be by your side in the future, but I hope you'll live long, healthy lives." … On the day of the wedding, Cameron was supposed to head to the Irwin residence to pick Jocelyn up. However, he didn't leave the house when it was almost time, and instead, paced before Evelyn's door. His heart twisted painfully as he looked at the shut door. Something told him he couldn't leave. He would lose something important if he were to go. "What's wrong, Cameron?" Evelyn opened the door to see him standing there while clutching his chest. The distance in her eyes made his heart sink. He took a deep breath and asked, "How about you come with me?" That took her aback. Why would she want to go with him? Did he want to show her how in love he and Jocelyn were? Evelyn checked her watch. She didn't have time for that, anyway. She shook her head and said, "I have something else to do. I'll wait for you guys at the wedding venue." Cameron was about to say something else when Ivy urged him from downstairs. "Hurry up, Cameron! You're going to be late!" Despite Evelyn's rejection and his parents' urging, he refused to leave. He remained in Evelyn's doorway with one hand on the door. Only when the urging grew louder did he suppress the hint of fear in his heart. "Come to me before the wedding. I have something to tell you." Evelyn didn't respond. She lowered her gaze. Cameron seemed to be insistent on an answer, though. He said, "It's important. You must come to me!" Seeing that he wouldn't leave without an answer, she nodded and lied. "Okay. I'll be there." That seemed to placate him. He let go of the door and left. She watched as he headed downstairs and got into the car. Everyone else followed him in other cars. The entourage of cars left. Their cheers and honks gradually faded. Finally, they were out of Evelyn's sight. That was when she said softly, "Happy marriage, Cameron. We won't see each other anymore." After that, she picked up the luggage she'd packed and headed downstairs. She left the house and went to the airport without another look back.