Chapter 460 - 463: Lovers Will Eventually Reunite

The spring days in Avenia were gentle and long.

From late autumn to the following spring, more than half a year of life in the mountains had completely healed Isla Griffith’s body and soul.

Mornings began with thin mist winding around the mountains, the air filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers. Evenings brought sunsets spreading across the fields and a soft, gentle breeze.

Her three daily meals consisted of seasonal vegetables and grains personally grown by Granny Foster, all light and easy on the stomach.

The old woman was warm and kind-hearted, never prying into Isla Griffith’s past, only quietly taking care of her daily needs.

She reminded Isla to bundle up when it was cold and would simmer hot soup for her at night, giving her a period of the most peaceful and pure recuperation.

Her body, once frail, sensitive to the cold, and prone to anxiety, had long since been nursed back to a state of health and comfort.

The pallor in her face was gone, replaced by a warm, healthy color. The gloom that had settled in her eyes had dissipated, leaving her relaxed and serene.

On the day of her departure, a fine, misty rain fell, dampening the bluestone path.

Isla Griffith rose early to help Granny Foster sweep the courtyard and gather the dried laundry. She quietly placed the nourishing supplements and living expenses she had prepared in advance on the corner of the main room’s table.

She hugged the old woman’s slightly stooped back and whispered her thanks, her voice raspy with reluctance to leave.

"Granny, thank you for taking care of me for so long. When I have time in the future, I’ll be sure to come back and visit you often."

Granny Foster patted the back of her hand, her eyes full of affection, repeatedly reminding her to eat well and stay safe while she was away.

Watching the old woman’s figure at the courtyard gate shrink until it disappeared into the misty rain and cooking smoke, Isla Griffith finally turned, picked up her simple luggage, and resolutely left the town that had healed her.

She didn’t return to Aston, a city filled with memories and entanglements.

That city held her joys, regrets, and ties—a past she didn’t dare to touch so easily.

She headed south, toward the perpetually warm city of Kalthorpe, where it was like spring all year round.

Isla Griffith rented a small apartment in a lakeside residential complex in the city.

The apartment was bright and airy, with a balcony that overlooked a swath of lush greenery where flowers bloomed year-round.

Kalthorpe had no biting winters. Warm breezes and gentle sunlight were a constant presence, and even time itself seemed to slow down.

Isla Griffith began to live a relaxed, slow-paced life.

There was no need to rush in the mornings or evenings, no complicated social obligations to handle. Her days were simple and healing.

In her spare time, she would read by the window, brew a pot of light tea, and stroll along the lake in the afternoons. She would wander through the old streets, filled with the gentle warmth of daily life, and watch people come and go in the alleyways.

She tended to flowers and plants, wrote essays, and occasionally took short trips to see the mountains and rivers, the trees and grass, the clouds gathering and scattering.

Her days were carefree, peaceful, and comfortable, yet deep in her heart, a void remained.

The more peaceful and quiet her life became, the more easily a secret longing would sprout.

She had long ago deliberately sealed away all memories of Aston, blocked all her contacts, and cut off any possibility of hearing news about him. But the name ’Sean Sterling’ was already etched into her heart.

Isla Griffith often thought of him in her moments alone.

At dusk when the evening breeze rustled past her window, in the silent depths of the night, or when she saw a similar silhouette on the street.

His sharp, handsome features, his calm and restrained voice, the way he silently protected her—it would all surface clearly in her mind.

During this time, Sean Sterling frequently appeared in her dreams.

In her dreams, there were no arguments, no distance between them—only tender moments from their past together.

He was still the same man who silently protected her, doted on her, and loved her.

Each time she woke, the pillow beside her would be cool and the night silent, leaving only an endless melancholy lingering in her heart.

A thousand miles away in Aston, traffic flowed endlessly and neon lights never slept.

Half a year had passed, and Sean Sterling had already completely severed all reliance and dependence on the Sterling Family.

He had disregarded his family’s constraints and doubts, resolutely starting his own business from scratch. Without borrowing a single resource from the Sterling Family or basking in any of their glory, he carved out a path for himself in the fiercely competitive business world.

The path of entrepreneurship was thorny and fraught with hardship.

For countless nights, a solitary light always remained on in the top-floor office of the high-rise.

While others rested and enjoyed themselves, he spent his time refining projects, connecting with resources, and analyzing market trends.

He endured lows no one knew about, shouldered the high pressure of funding shortages and project setbacks, and withstood suppression from competitors and skepticism from the outside world. Day after day, he was relentlessly self-disciplined, giving it his all.

Sean Sterling poured all his energy into his career.

His longing was suppressed under layers of high-pressure work, and his regret was buried beneath the daily grind.

Others only saw him becoming more composed and formidable, his presence intimidating.

But no one knew that when he looked up from his desk late at night, exhausted, his eyes held a loneliness no one else could see.

Day after day of hard work finally paid off. Sean Sterling’s company climbed steadily, his team grew more mature, and his business footprint continued to expand. Both reputation and scale soared, and the company flourished, rising straight to the top.

After several rounds of rigorous audits, research, reviews, and refinement, his company successfully went public in less than a year.

On the day of the bell-ringing ceremony, the financial center was brilliantly lit, and thunderous applause filled the air.

Dressed in a sharp suit, Sean Sterling stood in the center of the crowd, his posture upright and his demeanor composed. His eyes held the calm and certainty of one who had weathered many storms.

At such a young age, he had established a firm foothold in the business world on his own, broken free from his family’s shackles, and become someone others looked up to.

Everyone said he was a young prodigy with a limitless future, but no one knew that at this peak moment of infinite glory, his heart felt empty.

He had won in his career and earned everyone’s approval, but he had lost the one person he wanted to spend his life with.

Two cities, north and south; one life of leisure, one of hustle.

Isla Griffith was in Kalthorpe, mending her body and soul.

Sean Sterling was in Aston, blazing a trail through thorns.

...

「One month later.」

「Abroad.」

Elegant European-style buildings lined the streets, their walls adorned with delicate climbing vines. A breeze swept through the alleys, carrying the faint, fresh scent of greenery, diluting the unique sense of detachment and emptiness of a foreign land.

Isla Griffith had come here to travel.

She strolled slowly along the street, her gaze wandering casually over the lavish shop windows.

None of the luxury boutiques caught her eye, but a small flower shop on the corner did.

The transparent, floor-to-ceiling window was spotless. All sorts of fresh flowers were clustered in layers, but the white lilies displayed in the center of the counter were the most captivating.

The petals were a translucent, glistening white, and the buds were full and firm. Wisps of a light, clean fragrance drifted out of the shop, pure and healing.

Isla Griffith stepped into the shop and carefully selected a few stems of perfectly bloomed lilies, their stalks long and slender, still carrying fresh morning dew.

After paying, she pushed the door open to find the weather had suddenly changed.

The sky, which had been gentle and bright just a moment ago, suddenly darkened. Lead-gray clouds pressed low over the buildings.

Without the warning of thunder, a fine, dense rain suddenly poured down, weaving a hazy curtain that instantly enveloped the entire street.

Cool raindrops fell on the ends of her hair and her shoulders, carrying the unique damp chill of late spring.

Isla Griffith instinctively frowned, raising a hand to shield her head. She was about to step back to take shelter under the flower shop’s eaves.

The next second, the chill above her head vanished.

The patter of rain still filled the air, but her own little space was somehow shielded from it.

The rain falling around her was completely blocked by a steady, dark shadow, and even the breeze against her face seemed to soften.

Isla Griffith froze, her fingertips tightening around the bouquet.

A flutter of shock and disbelief rose in her heart. Holding her breath, she turned around very, very slowly.

The misty rain blurred the distant streetscape. The traffic and pedestrians melted into hazy spots of light. The entire bustling street seemed to fade as if a blur filter had been applied, receding into an insignificant background.

Only the person standing before her was so clear it caught her completely off guard.

Sean Sterling stood in the drizzling rain, dressed in a crisp, dark gray suit—his usual sharp look from years of traveling for business negotiations.

Having just finished days of high-intensity international talks, a trace of imperceptible exhaustion hid in his eyes, but his jawline remained sharp and firm, and the composed aura around him had not diminished in the slightest.

He had just finished his work and was taking a casual stroll, never expecting to run into Isla Griffith in a foreign country.

A black umbrella was held steadily over her head, its handle gripped firmly in his long fingers.

The umbrella was tilted significantly in her direction, perfectly shielding her head and shoulders, leaving no gap for the rain to get through.

Meanwhile, most of his own left shoulder was exposed to the downpour. The dark fabric of his suit was soaked by the fine rain, spreading into mottled water stains that clung to his warm skin.

He paid no mind to his own damp coldness; all his attention was locked firmly on her.

The moment their eyes met, the noisy patter of rain, the faint sound of cars in the distance, and the soft chatter of passersby all faded away with a deafening roar.

The world fell silent.

Time seemed to stretch on infinitely, frozen in place.

Through the vast, misty rain, the two of them gazed at each other in silence.

First, a layer of unguarded astonishment spread across Isla Griffith’s eyes. Her pupils contracted slightly, and her long lashes trembled, dotted with fine mist, looking soft and delicate.

After so long apart, his familiar face suddenly filled her vision. The emotions she had deliberately set aside and quietly hidden now surged forth, flooding her heart.

Her fingers holding the lilies tightened. The white petals were gently squeezed into a slight curve. The sweet fragrance of the flowers wafted between them, gently dissolving the unfamiliarity of their long separation.

She looked at the deep gaze in Sean Sterling’s eyes, her heart churning with a complex mix of bittersweetness and joy.

There was surprise, awkwardness, and an undeniable swell of emotion.

’It’s been so long. He hasn’t changed, yet he seems even more composed and reserved.’

Sean Sterling’s gaze remained fixed on Isla Griffith’s face, as deep as an ocean on a rainy night, hiding turbulent emotions no one could see.

He looked at her relaxed, gentle features, at the bouquet of pure white lilies in her arms, and at her profile, which seemed softened by the misty rain. All that remained in his eyes was a long-settled tenderness and longing.

The distance that had spanned mountains and seas, the longing that had been set aside for so long—it all found its resolution in this sudden, foreign rain.

He watched her quietly for a few seconds, his gaze lingering and full of unspoken admiration and cherish. His voice, low and rich, cut through the fine drizzle, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible hoarseness.

"Isla, long time no see."

Isla Griffith looked up at him, her voice trembling. "Long time no see."

The rain continued to fall, but the small world beneath the umbrella was quiet and warm.

In a vast sea of people, in a foreign land.

A sudden downpour, a reunion—it made the long separation feel like it had led to a perfectly timed meeting.

The fine rain tapped gently against the umbrella, a soft, rustling sound that completely isolated the two of them from the noisy world.

The space under the umbrella was small and intimate. They were close enough to hear each other breathe, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of lilies mixed with the damp, clean smell of plants after the rain, creating an atmosphere so tender it made one hesitant to speak.

Sean Sterling’s fingers on the umbrella handle loosened slightly, then quietly tightened again.

The back of his well-defined hand tensed, showing sharp lines. The pads of his fingers were calloused from years of holding a pen and handling documents.

He lowered his gaze slightly, his eyes sweeping over the bouquet in Isla Griffith’s arms. The pure white petals were dotted with tiny raindrops, delicate and pristine—just like the woman standing quietly before him.

"Here on a trip?" Sean Sterling was the first to break the silence, his voice still carrying a post-rain huskiness that was incredibly gentle.

Isla Griffith nodded lightly, her lashes lowered to avoid the man’s overly intense gaze. Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the smooth edge of a lily petal.

The small, subtle movement couldn’t hide the flutter of nerves in her heart. During their time apart, she had thought of him occasionally, but she had never dared to hope they would reunite like this.

"Mhm, just taking some time to get away." Her voice was very soft, blending gently with the sound of the rain. "What about you?"

"I’m here for a project," Sean Sterling replied, his gaze still glued to Isla Griffith’s face, not wavering for a second.

He could clearly see the fine mist clinging to the ends of her hair, dampening a few soft strands that stuck to the curve of her fair ear, adding a touch of softness to her appearance.

He fell silent for two seconds, his eyes sweeping over the hair at her temples, slightly mussed by the evening breeze. He suppressed the urge to reach out and smooth it for her, an impulse he had to fight again and again.

The sense of propriety required for a reunion after a long separation meant that all his tender gestures could only exist in his eyes.

Isla Griffith quietly lifted her eyes, stole a quick glance at Sean Sterling, and then quickly looked down again.

From just a short distance away, she could clearly see the weariness in his eyes. The fatigue from days of international negotiations was hidden behind his composed features, but upon seeing her, all his sharpness had faded, leaving only a gentle warmth.

Her peripheral vision caught his half-soaked shoulder. The dark suit had absorbed the rain, and a faint, cool dampness was spreading from it. Her heart suddenly sank, and she felt an indescribable mix of awkwardness and tenderness.

"The umbrella is tilted too much," she reminded him softly.

As her words fell, Sean Sterling let out a low laugh. It was a faint smile that settled in his eyes, creating ripples of tenderness.

He deliberately slowed his breathing and slightly adjusted the umbrella, straightening it a little, but still kept her firmly shielded on the rainless side.

That insignificant adjustment was merely a pretense of propriety; he could never bear to let her get touched by even a drop of rain or a gust of wind.

"It’s fine," he said lightly. "It’s just a little rain. It’s nothing."

The rain gradually softened from a sudden, dense downpour into a long, gentle drizzle that blurred the entire foreign street.

In the distance, streetlights began to turn on one by one. Their warm yellow halos pierced the misty rain and fell upon the two of them, casting soft shadows.

Beneath the umbrella, it was so quiet that only the sound of their breathing and the soft rain remained.

The unspoken longing, the separate journeys they had taken, the concern that had crossed mountains and seas—it all melted silently into this small, rainy night.

There was no forced small talk, no polite distance. Even after a long separation, their interaction still held a tacit understanding that no one else could penetrate.

Holding the lilies, the shock and nervousness in Isla Griffith’s heart slowly faded, replaced by a sense of peaceful ease.

She looked up into his deep eyes again and asked softly, "Are you finished with your work?"

"Just finished." Sean Sterling looked down at her, his gaze lingering and tender, tinged with a restrained longing. "I never expected to meet you here."

All the world’s chance encounters hide a wish in the heart that has never been extinguished.

He paused, looking at the gentle light in her eyes, and then spoke slowly, his tone careful and tentative, yet gentle and sincere. "The rain won’t stop for a while. Do you want to take a walk together?"

The evening wind, carrying the misty rain, brushed past them, and the fragrance of the lilies grew stronger.

Isla Griffith’s fingertips paused. She looked up and met his eyes, which were brimming with tenderness, and gazed at this small, gentle, rainy world that belonged only to her.

After a moment of silence, a faint, soft smile touched her lips, and she nodded lightly.

"Okay."

A bright warmth instantly bloomed in Sean Sterling’s eyes, and the hand holding the umbrella unconsciously tilted toward her again.

They walked side-by-side, slowly moving forward along the sidewalk.

The warm yellow light of the streetlamps pierced through the layers of misty rain, casting two overlapping shadows on the ground. The shadows were extremely close, swaying gently with their steps, inseparable.

There wasn’t much small talk along the way, but it wasn’t awkward at all.

It was exceptionally quiet under the umbrella, with only the patter of rain, the sound of their slow footsteps, and the lingering fragrance of lilies in the air, mixed with the crisp scent of the post-rain air—a gentleness one could drown in.

Isla Griffith held the bouquet of white lilies with both hands, the stems resting gently against her chest, warm and steadying.

She walked very slowly, her pace relaxed. Her profile looked especially soft in the warm light, her long lashes cast downward, a faint warmth hidden in her eyes.

Sean Sterling deliberately slowed his pace to match hers the entire time, the umbrella held steadily over her head, never letting a single drop of rain or gust of wind touch her.

His peripheral vision never left her for a second, his gaze heavy with a longing and restraint he had suppressed for too long.

During their time apart—the distance spanning mountains and seas, the days and nights spent alone, the countless times he wanted to speak but held back his concern—it all surged up in this moment.

He had seen countless dazzling cityscapes in foreign lands and navigated innumerable tense business gambits, but the empty space in his heart could only ever be filled by the person before him.

As they walked, he suddenly stopped.

Isla Griffith stopped instinctively as well, turning her head in confusion.

"What’s wrong?"

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with pure confusion. Her features were soft and clear, and the sight of her in that moment instantly shattered all of Sean Sterling’s restraint and composure.

The halo of the streetlight fell on the crown of her head, scattering into a gentle glimmer. Fine raindrops gently brushed her temples.

In that instant, all his reason, his sense of propriety, and his concerns about their reunion after so long—all of it crumbled away.

Sean Sterling didn’t speak.

He lowered his gaze, locking it onto Isla Griffith’s clear eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.

The next second, he leaned down, raised his arm, and gently pulled her into an embrace.

The movement wasn’t reckless, but it held a firmness that allowed no refusal. It was an irresistible impulse born from long-suppressed emotions.

One hand held the umbrella handle steady while his other arm wrapped gently but firmly around her waist and back. His touch was both tender and restrained as he carefully drew her into his warm embrace.

Isla Griffith’s whole body stiffened.

His warm, solid chest pressed against her forehead. Through the thin fabric of his clothes, she could clearly feel his steady, powerful heartbeat—THUMP, THUMP—so clear and hot that the vibrations sent a tingling numbness through her own chest.

The lilies were gently pressed between them, their sweet fragrance mingling with the crisp scent of cedar from his clothes, completely enveloping her.

Sean Sterling’s embrace was warm. It was the reassurance she had longed for through countless restless days and nights of missing him, the most moving salvation on this rainy foreign night.

He lowered his head slightly, his chin resting gently on the crown of her head. The movement was utterly tender, and his warm breath brushed against her soft hair.

His arm held her lightly, not daring to grip her too tightly, yet unwilling to let go in the slightest, determined to hold onto this long-overdue embrace.

"Isla."

He lowered his voice until it was huskier and deeper than the rain, filled with a tenderness and longing that no one else knew.

"I haven’t held you in so long. I’ve missed you so much. I’ve been thinking of you every second of every minute."

After a moment of stunned stillness, Isla Griffith’s rigid body gradually softened.

She subconsciously relaxed her tense fingers, and the hand holding the lilies curled slightly.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she gently, tentatively, leaned into Sean Sterling’s embrace.

The black umbrella remained motionless above their heads.

Sean Sterling’s warm breath fell on Isla Griffith’s hair, mingling with the cool post-rain breeze.

He kept his head lowered, remaining silent for several seconds before raising his free right hand.

His fingertips were slightly cool to the touch. His movements were extremely light and slow, as if he were touching a fragile treasure.

He carefully brushed back the strands of hair at her temples, which were damp from the misty rain, gently tucking them behind her ear.

The moment his fingertips grazed the shell of her ear, his movement paused, filled with a restrained longing so subtle it was almost unnoticeable.

His palm was broad and warm. He slowly stroked down her soft hair, again and again, his movements so gentle they were almost caressing.

Stripped of all his sharpness and dominance from the business world, all that remained of him now was a tenderness and softness reserved only for her.

In his arms, Isla Griffith completely let go of all her nervousness and rigidity.

Her lashes were slightly lowered, her face resting gently against his warm chest. She could clearly hear his rapid yet steady and powerful heartbeat, which calmed all the panic and fluttering in her own heart.

The lilies were pressed between their chests, their sweet fragrance wafting out to neutralize the faint, cool scent on him, creating a perfect balance of tenderness.

Through the thin fabric, Isla Griffith could feel Sean Sterling’s slight tremor—the uncontrollable emotion that follows a surge of feeling.

Her nose tingled and her eyes grew hot. She subconsciously raised her slender arms, wrapped them gently around his trim waist, and leaned into him, silently answering all of his longing.

The response was light, yet it was scorching hot.

Sean Sterling’s heart suddenly softened, and all the turbulent emotions in his eyes melted into gentle, doting affection.

The misty rain blurred the entire foreign street. The warm yellow light of the streetlamps fell on the embracing couple, casting a long, tender silhouette.

The sea of people is vast, mountains and oceans are far apart, but those who are in love will always find each other again.