---- Chapter 9 No.9 As the plane soared high above the clouds, Ava sat by the window, taking one last look at the sprinkling of lights below before putting on her eye mask to rest. When the plane landed in New York, it was the afternoon of the next day. The moment she stepped out of the airport, she saw her father waiting for her with a warm smile. After his business failed, her father's life had been difficult, but he had a knack for business and had recently made a comeback. Ava had only reconnected with him in the last few years. This was the first time they had stood together in a decade. Dad, she said, her voice choked with a mix of longing and grievance. She quickly suppressed her emotions and smiled. Her father's eyes were full of love. He took her luggage and led her to the car. Is everything settled back home? he asked. Ava hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "l don't plan on going back. | want to finish my studies first." ---- Her father wasn't surprised. "That's for the best. | can finally take proper care of you." He mentioned her mother's selfishness, and then he mentioned Ethan. Ava turned her head slightly and cut him off. "He's engaged now. He has his own life. It's not right for me to bother him." Her father saw that she didn't want to talk about Ethan. He patted her shoulder. "You decide for yourself. With me, you will always be free." Meanwhile, back in his office, Ethan was distracted. He kept waiting for a birthday wish from Ava. He put down his phone and rubbed his temples, a feeling of agitation growing inside him. He remembered how Ava used to make him calming tea and massage his temples to help him sleep. He tossed and turned in his office lounge, unable to rest. His phone buzzed. It was a message from Chloe. She wished him a happy birthday and suggested they spend it at the rose-lined beach. Ethan frowned in annoyance but replied with a simple "Okay." He exited the chat with Chloe and looked at Ava's chat window again. Still nothing. ---- This is for the best, he told himself. Her silence meant she knew she was wrong. But a strange sense of loss bloomed in his heart.