After finishing my meal with Cynthia, I parted ways with her rather quickly.
Honestly, I felt a strange, lingering pang in my chest, a sudden sense of loss, perhaps. She had been there since I was a child, constantly defending me and remaining steadfastly by my side, much like a protective older sister. In a way, I had simply taken her comforting presence for granted. But I suppose seeing that expression of relief and slight happiness on her face today was entirely worth it.
If she truly found greater happiness with Alan Dawnheart, then I would gladly break the engagement my late father had arranged. Her happiness ultimately mattered to me. And truthfully, I had not expected her feelings for Alan to run so deep. If I had known, things would have been vastly different from the start.
