CHAPTER 128 A MIS-ENCOUNTER

Ethan strained to see more clearly, but the car continued its smooth, unyielding pace. The girl’s laughter, her fluid movements on the skates, and the way she turned to smile at someone just out of view—it all seemed so much like Emily. Ethan’s pulse quickened, his longing almost palpable. Before he could tell the driver to slow down, the park was behind him, the girl’s image fading as the car sped onward. He slumped back into his seat, a bittersweet smile playing on his lips. Whether it was her or not, the brief glimpse had sparked a glimmer of agony and his regrets in living them behind. Ethan’s thoughts drifted back to the days when he would take Emily to the park, teaching her to ride her bike and cheering her on during her first attempts at skating. Those moments felt distant, yet they were the ones he cherished the most. He remembered making s'mores in camp by night. He had left everything just because Claire had fooled him. The car turned a corner, and the city swallowed hi