---- Chapter 7 As she heard what I said, Scarlett's pupils contracted, narrowing slowly before she spat, "' Anna, are you out of your mind? I'm your love rival!" "But I don't like Dennis anymore," I replied calmly. "I came today to tell you there's no need to worry about me. I'm not going to compete with you. I'll be ending my engagement with him soon. After that, you two can be together without hiding. " "What did you just say?" Dennis had walked in without warning, his voice filled with surprise. I turned to look at him, offering a faint smile. " I've let go of you. I just came to tell you I'm ending the engagement, so you and your wife can be together openly." He froze. ---- It took him a while to respond. "Tf that's how you feel... I'm glad," he finally said. I thought hearing about the breakup would make Dennis happy. But his reaction wasn't what I expected. Not quite joy. Not even relief. As I was about to leave, he stood up. "Let me walk you out," he said. There was a 24-hour convenience store downstairs from the hospital. Back then, every winter, we'd always stop by stores like that for oden. "Do you want some oden?" he asked suddenly. 1 looked into his eyes and slowly nodded. He went and bought mea cup. We sat side by side in front of the glass doors, watching the snow fall outside. ---- Steam curled up from the cup as I blew on it to cool it. Then, out of nowhere, he asked, quietly by my ear, "Did that slap hurt?" I turned to look at him. His eyes were red. I let out a soft laugh. ''No. I've experienced pain far worse overseas." "Anna... you've really grown up." "Isn't that a good thing? Now you and Raymond don't have to worry anymore." I paused, then added, "Oh, right-Dennis, let's go and officially call off the engagement tomorrow. I need to return to Doctors Without Borders." "you're leaving again?" he asked, genuinely surprised. His reaction reminded me of what he said in the garden earlier. It struck me as oddly insincere. "Yes," I said. "Those years abroad... they made me