He had already had the skin removed from his body. He lay pale on the hospital bed, but he felt no pain whatsoever; this was the final thing he could do for Celine.

From the day he met Celine to the day he brought her home, he had made countless mistakes.

Whether it was lying about his infertility to ignore her, or bringing Sienna home and having an affair, he had been hurting her all along.

Now, he was finally doing one thing right for her.

Even if she no longer loved him...

Even though his heart held a thousand regrets—watching her marry someone else, acting spoiled in another man’s arms. From now on, as she walked through mountains and rivers, seeing the world’s beauty, it would be another man accompanying her.

But he had no way to turn it back.

So be it.

Julian closed his eyes wearily and drifted into a deep sleep.

The surgery was a success. On the day Celine was discharged, the weather was beautiful and sunny.

During her hospitalization, Adrian stayed by her side, caring for her, working harder than she, the patient, ever did.

So, after she was discharged, they hosted a grand engagement banquet.

At the banquet, the piano piece Adrian had composed solely for her played in the background. Celine and Adrian held hands and shared a kiss under the blessings of their family and friends.

A long, century-defining kiss.

White doves flew overhead, and Celine thought, the happiness that belonged to her had finally arrived.

To love and be loved had happened at the same time.

——

Julian Sterling returned to the country, dragging his sickly body.

He had initially wanted to use work to numb himself, to numb the pain, but not long after, he fell completely bedridden.

Lying in the hospital, looking at the ceiling, he suddenly remembered something. Ignoring the protests of his doctors and assistants, he pulled out his IV line and returned home.

As soon as he opened the doors to the Sterling estate, he rushed into Celine’s room, ransacking the place.

The servants watched him as if he had gone mad; no one knew what he was searching for.

A short while later, Julian finally emerged from the room, a camcorder in his hand.

Julian spent his final days on his sickbed, holding that camcorder, playing a specific video clip over and over, night and day.

In the video, Celine, wearing a wedding dress and holding flowers, stood before Julian, her face full of anticipation, the happy smile threatening to spill off the screen.

The priest stood beside them, acting as witness, reciting the vows.

"Groom, do you take the bride to be your wife, whether in poverty or wealth, in health or sickness, to respect her, protect her, and walk through life with her?"

Julian replied: "I do."

At that moment, Celine’s eyes were more beautiful than any jewelry he had ever seen. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she whispered in reply: "I do, too."

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