---- Chapter 6 In truth, I should probably thank Dennis. If he hadn't lied to me, I wouldn't be who I am now. Just then, my phone rang. It was Raymond McMillan, Dennis's father. "Anna," he said, his voice warm and familiar, " are you coming back to Veldere soon? Once you're back, you can finally become my daughter-in-law. My heart skipped a beat. For him to say something like that... it meant he didn't know. He didn't know that Dennis was already with someone else. Acough crackled through the receiver-twice, sharp and dry. "This body of mine's not what it used to be," he said. "All I'm waiting for now is your wedding." ---- His words made me swallow what I had been about to say. After all, how many springs and autumns can one experience in a lifetime? I didn't want to disappoint him. But even if I didn't tell him now, he'd find out eventually. So I decided I would tell him in person-that I wanted to end the engagement. "I'm already back, Raymond," I told him. "I'll come see you tomorrow." That night, after checking into the hotel, I sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, cradling a mug of hot milk. It used to be Dennis's favorite place in Veldere to bring me. He'd always say the hotel had the best view of the city's nightscape. Thad once given him a golden locket here-a lock- shaped charm I'd worn since childhood. "Dennis," I'd told him, "this golden locket was ---- left to me by my parents, according to the director at the orphanage. It's for protection. I'm giving it to you now. May you always be safe." Thinking of that, I picked up my phone and called him. I asked for the locket back. He sounded irritated. "Scarlett's in the hospital with a fever right now-because of you. I don't have time to talk about this. You'd better come and apologize to her." I went. Not to apologize. But to see for myself what was going on with her. I brought along some tonic soup and health supplements. When I pushed open the hospital room door, Dennis was feeding her soup by hand. They looked close and intimate.