Could that be the woman he loved?

Were the two of them living together right now?

Back then.

After overhearing that conversation, she had fought back, refusing to go through with the wedding.

But her father had used her grandmother's illness as leverage.

If she didn't marry him.

The specialist they had scoured the country for would never set foot in the Bellamy estate.

Her grandmother had been critically ill at the time; without that doctor, she would have died.

She knew perfectly well.

Her father was a man who only cared about corporate warfare and expanding the family empire. He didn't have a single drop of familial affection in him.

So, she was forced to agree.

And just like that, at the absolute worst possible time, she married the man she loved-who didn't love her back.

Three years of marriage, sleeping in the same bed but dreaming completely different dreams, spending almost zero time together.

Even when they were in the same room, the tension was suffocating.

Their relationship was more watered down than a glass of diluted juice.

They treated each other like absolute strangers.

"Sigh."

Lorelei pulled her wandering thoughts back to the present, her fingers lightly brushing against her wedding band as a flash of agony crossed her face. Forget it.

Love or no love, she was done with all of it.

The next day.

Lorelei boarded her flight, soaring straight toward Eclara City in Borealia.

Eight hours later.

The plane touched down.

Staring out at the unfamiliar cityscape, she felt a wave of disorientation and fear.

After hesitating for a moment.

She dialed his number, only to be met with an automated voice telling her his phone was turned off.

Was he in the lab?

Lorelei let out a soft sigh, pulling up the laboratory address he had given her in the past.

She hailed a cab and headed straight there.

By the time she arrived, an hour and a half had passed.

The research facility was located in the suburbs, a rather isolated area.

To make matters worse, the weather was miserable, with a freezing drizzle coming

down that made everything feel incredibly gloomy.

After some effort.

She managed to locate his building and stepped into the main lobby.

"Hello, who are you looking for?"

A young woman in a white coat approached the reception desk to greet her.

"Harold Houston."

Lorelei smiled politely. "Could you tell me if he's in the lab today?"

"Dr. Houston had an errand and stepped out for the day," the woman replied softly. "May I ask who is inquiring? Would you like me to give him a call?"

"No, that's alright." Lorelei shook her head. "His phone is off, so he must be busy. I can just wait for him."

"Alright."

The woman paused, looking slightly awkward. This is a private medical research facility, and there are areas with radiation exposure. I'm afraid you cant stay in the lobby for too long."

"I understand."

.nė.

Lorelei nodded accommodatingly. If Dr. Houston returns, could you please tell him that a Ms. Lorelei Bellamy came by looking for him, and that I'm waiting for his call?"

"Of course."

The staff member nodded, watching her walk away.

Good lord.

She had worked here for quite a while, and aside from his sister...

This was the very first time she had ever seen a woman come looking for him.

She was absolutely gorgeous, too, possessing a sort of classic, elegant beauty. Leaving the lab.

Lorelei looked around the desolate surroundings, planning to find an open area to sit down and wait for him.

She wasn't familiar with Eclara City at all, and dragging a suitcase around, she had no idea where else to go.

An hour later.

The sky suddenly blackened with heavy clouds, and the rain began to pour down with violent intensity.

Crap.

Lorelei grabbed her suitcase handle, rushing frantically to find some cover from the storm.

She was moving too fast.

Failing to spot a jagged rock jutting

out of the pavement, her ankle

violently twisted, and she crashed

heavily onto the concrete her Tuggage tumbling down with her.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town.

Harold wrapped up his external tasks and finally returned to the lab.

"Plug my phone in for a bit," he instructed, setting his phone down as he prepared to head toward the inner rooms.

Suddenly, a staff member called out to him. "Dr. Houston, someone was just here looking for you."

"Who?" Harold rubbed his temples, his voice thick with exhaustion.

"A woman. Her name was Lorelei Bellamy," the staff member said.

"Who?"

Harold stopped dead in his tracks, his head snapping back around.