Chapter 19 Chapter 19 : Someone Has Loved You for a Long Time When Hayden came back , he asked me , " Where are my parents ? " I pointed to the side room . " Madam Hughes wasn't feeling well , so Mr. Hughes took her inside to rest . " Hayden nodded . He looked at me , hesitating , like he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words . I smiled and asked , " Is Ranran okay ? " Hayden shook his head gently . " That's just how she is , a little clumsy . She accidentally cut her hand while she was cooking . " " Cutting your hand while cooking is totally normal . Even top chefs do it . I've done it before , too . " " She's not like you . She's not as smart . " We were both a little surprised when he said that . Hayden cleared his throat and explained , " I didn't mean anything by it . I just meant that Ranran is ... simpler . She's not manipulative . ' 11 Hayden realized he'd messed up again . " I didn't mean to say you're manipulative , I just ... " " Hey , " I cut him off . " It's fine . I didn't say you were throwing shade at me Hayden seemed a bit flustered and just mumbled , " Yeah . " " Aubrey . " " Hm ? " " What are ... your plans for the future ? " " Me ? " I said . " I just prayed for a good match . " Hayden let out a slow breath . " What I mean is , since you're not with Julian Coleman , and he's moving abroad in two months ... you don't have to go with him , right ? " I hesitated for a second . " You don't want me to go ? " " No. " I chuckled . " Don't worry . Even without Julian , I'm still leaving ." " I'm not trying to kick you out . " Chapter 19 " I * want to go , " I said . " I really want to get out there and see the world . " Hayden said , " You studied painting ? " " Yeah , how'd you know ? " " Mr. Jenkins added me to the alumni group chat . I heard it from some of ouch Fucked I nodded . old classmates . " Back then , I'd worked my ass off to get into Capital University just to win a bet with Hayden . But my real passion was always painting . I ended up minoring in oil painting . " We really were in love , weren't we ? " I tilted my head up slightly to look at him . " I asked a few classmates and teachers , and they all said ... I used to love you a lot , too . " 11 " You weren't lying to me. " A sharp pain lanced through my heart , but I kept a smile on my face . " Why worry about that now? We're both moving on to new lives . You missed it , but Madam Hughes had the master read our birth charts . He said himself that we're not fated to be a couple . That's why she got so upset and had to go lie down . " Hayden said , " Aubrey , I'm sorry for how I treated you before . " " What's there to apologize for ? It's not your fault you have amnesia . " " As long as you can get along with Ranran , you don't ... you don't have to leave by yourself . It's not safe for a girl to be out there alone . " I waved my hand magnanimously . " Hayden , could you not flatter yourself so much ? Sure , I want you and Ranran to be happy , but leaving isn't all about you two . I'm an oil painter , you know . Can't a girl just want to go see the medieval castles in Europe ? " I knew something was off with Hayden these past few days . So that was it . Mr. Jenkins had added him to the class group chat . No matter how I'd tried to tell him we were once in love , he'd always reacted with resistance and disgust . But when everyone around him was saying the same thing , he had no choice but to believe it was probably true . Hayden had always been a black - and - white kind of guy . Chapter 19 He misunderstood me before , so he disliked me . Now that he knew the truth , he was apologizing for his mistake . That was the guy I knew . Honest , kind , and willing to own up to his actions . But that was all . At this point , nothing could change . Hayden asked me , " What did we do the last time we came to the Serene Peace Temple? " " What else ? We burned incense and prayed ." " Did you make a wish ? " " Of course I did . Why else would I come here ? " " What did you wish for ? " I put on a mysterious act . " A wish won't come true if you say it out loud . I can't tell you . " " Then do you know what I wished for back then ? " " How would I know what you wished for ? " Hayden said , " I just have a feeling ... my wish had something to do with you . " I pressed my lips together and didn't say a word . " This temple is for people seeking love . My wish ... it was to be with you forever , wasn't it ? " " I broke my promise . " I took a deep breath and patted his shoulder . " We were just kids back then . You can't take that stuff seriously ." " Aubrey , " Hayden said , " is there anything you want now ? I want to do whatever I can to make it up to you . " * What do I want ? * * I just want us to go back . Back to those carefree days when we cherished each other . * * I want to be wild and crazy , and I want you to watch me and smile . * * But is that even possible ? * " I want to go to Europe and see the medieval castles , set up a little easel by a fountain in a square , and paint sunsets , pige LU live a good life . That's enough . " As we were leaving , the old monk walked us to the entrance of the Serene Peace Temple . I was walking at the very back . The old monk quietly asked me , " His Wish Scroll ... you saw it all , didn't you ? " I nodded . " I thought you would have a good cry after seeing it . " I forced a smile . " What's there to cry about ? I wouldn't want to disturb the peace of the temple . " " Young lady , you could show him that Wish Scroll . He'd surely recognize his own handwriting . He might even remember . " I took a deep breath and let it out slowly . " If I weren't sick , I would fight for him with everything I have . He's mine . I would never hand him over so easily -I don't care if it's some ordinary girl or a literal goddess from the heavens , I'd still fight . " But I'm not fighting anymore . I've tasted the pain of losing the one you love most , and I can't bear to make him go through it again . A compassionate smile touched the old monk's lips . " Those who are fated to be together will always find their way back to each other . " " Are you talking about him and that girl ? " " I am speaking of all people in this world . " I couldn't help but facepalm . " Master , you've gotten even more profound than you were five years ago . " The old monk stroked his beard and laughed heartily . " You , on the other hand , haven't changed a bit , young lady . Still as mischievous as ever ." " Aubrey- " Hayden was calling for me . The temple gate opened onto a long , long flight of stairs . I stood at the very top , and at the very bottom stood the man I loved most in this world . I looked at him , and it was as if I could see the boy he once was - the one whose eyes and heart were filled with nothing but me . Back then , I would have sprinted down , and he would have crouched slightly , opening his arms to catch me . 4/5 Chapter 19 The impact would knock him back a few steps before he found his balance . He'd pull me in for a tight hug and tease me , " You've gotten heavier again . " I would just giggle , squirm out of his arms , tell him to turn around , and then leap onto his back . " Well , if you think I'm so heavy , then don't carry me . " Hayden would sigh in resignation, hoist me up higher on his back , and start the long walk home down the tree - lined path . " Just hold still , you little troublemaker , or you'll make us fall . " The old monk's voice was in my ear . " Go on . He's waiting for you . " " Okay . " I didn't go barreling down the stairs this time . Instead , I walked down calmly . When I reached his side , Hayden asked , " What did the old master say to you ? " " He said ... "