Chapter 426

The night was serene, with silver moonlight filtering through the drifting fog. Yet Evelyn and Liam couldn't bear to look at each other, their hearts shattered beyond repair.

Upon returning to Blackwood Manor, Liam locked himself in his study all night, claiming urgent military documents needed attention. At dawn, he departed without Evelyn, citing emergency duties at the base.

Their farewell was deceptively simple. Both understood this parting meant forever. Instead of tearful goodbyes, they chose casual indifference, as if it meant nothing.

Liam would return to his military command while Evelyn resumed her research in Solterra.

Packing her few belongings, Evelyn's gaze lingered on every detail of the manor. The mahogany bookshelves, the plush velvet drapes - each held memories too painful to bear.

Liam had renovated the entire estate when Victoria first arrived. He'd been preparing to marry the woman he'd loved for years.

Evelyn couldn't fathom how Liam had loved her so deeply for over a decade. He'd accepted every truth about her with quiet dignity, then let her go with equal resolve.

The mere thought of him brought fresh tears. She wiped them away fiercely before exiting Blackwood Manor with her luggage.

Rosalind waited outside, immediately taking Evelyn's bags. Seeing her swollen eyes, Rosalind murmured, "Evelyn, you've been crying all night."

Covering her aching eyes, Evelyn drew a shaky breath. "I'm fine."

"But you're leaving in days. Why did General Blackwood return to base? Doesn't he want to say goodbye?"

"He wants me to leave quietly," Evelyn whispered, fresh tears falling. "He's afraid he wouldn't be able to stop me if we said proper goodbyes."

Rosalind embraced her, stroking her back. "Don't cry. The General loves you truly. He only wants you free to be yourself."

Remembering how Liam had restrained himself despite his pain, never crossing certain lines, Evelyn's heart shattered anew. His love had been perfect. She had no regrets.

As the car pulled away, Evelyn craned her neck for one last glimpse of Blackwood Manor. When it disappeared from view at the turn, something inside her broke.

The cold wind mirrored her desolation.

Fingers trembling, she pulled out her phone, reciting Liam's number like a sacred mantra. Though memorized long ago, she needed to etch it deeper. Once in Solterra, all contact would cease.

Perhaps years later, after retirement, she might reach out again. The fragile hope was all she had left.

Tears fell uncontrollably as she bit her lip to stifle sobs. Curling into the seat, her body shook with silent grief.

This pain was unbearable. She'd never imagined love's farewell could hurt so deeply.

Now she finally understood Liam's agony a decade ago at the airport. His pain must have dwarfed hers to reduce such a strong man to tears.