At that moment, the atmosphere of the banquet reached its height.
Gabriel watched Sylvia as she was surrounded by the other guests. His gaze was deep and distant, his sharply defined, handsome features calm and resolute as always.
He gazed at her for a long while. Finally, as more and more people gathered around her, blocking her from his sight and increasing the distance between them, he turned away and quietly left in the opposite direction.
Old Mr. Jarvis listened to Sylvia’s words and felt that something was off. He turned to look for Gabriel, but saw only the silhouette of Gabriel’s retreating back outside the crowd.
Sylvia, too, gazed at Gabriel as he walked away. She kept a smile on her face, but a sudden pain struck her heart.
Their meeting at the Citadel had drawn them closer, yet it seemed that fate, quietly and constantly, was pulling them apart.
…..
Estelle didn’t see Gabriel again for the rest of the banquet.
She called him, but he told her he’d had to leave for something important and told her to stay with their grandfather, reminding her not to overthink things.
*
After the family gathering ended and the guests had all departed, Sylvia went home and sought out Old Mr. Jarvis to tell him about her decision to leave with Georgia.
Old Mr. Jarvis was a little surprised. “You’re leaving with Georgia?”
Sylvia nodded. “I’m sorry, Old Mr. Jarvis.”
Naturally, Old Mr. Jarvis felt a pang of sadness. He’d already sensed it at the banquet, and remembering Gabriel’s departure, the pieces finally fell into place.
Old Mr. Jarvis shook his head with amusement, then stopped walking and turned to her. “You don’t need to worry about me, but I do have one request.”
Sylvia answered right away, “Anything. Please tell me.”
“Before you go, say a proper goodbye to Gab. Don’t just leave without telling him—he can handle it,” Old Mr. Jarvis said with a sigh. “And after you’re settled in Y Country, call him from time to time.”
Tears welled up in Sylvia’s eyes. She lowered her head, and after a pause, replied hoarsely, “I will do exactly as you say, Old Mr. Jarvis.”
“Then I can rest easy.” Old Mr. Jarvis chuckled, his kindly eyes full of affection and understanding.
Sylvia looked at the venerable man whom so many admired, swallowed the lump in her throat, and gave him a warm, grateful smile in return.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Thank you for the updates....
I love it, I love it! Thank you for the updates....
Dear author Lucy, may we please have updates. Thank you....
There's a song currently playing via YouTube and TikToc by LowDii "Touch Me Softly" that makes me think of Norah and Xavier (Gonzalez). Please, I'm looking forward to updates. Thank you for your writing....
May we please have updates. Thank you....
As the plot thicken. Adrian is done for and he can't try to control Norah, so he'd probably tattle to Janice who's gone for two weeks. Thank you soooo much for the updates....
These updates were too funny. Thank you so much for the updates....
I forgot to add Amy to the group of pregnant women,since she was the first. Emily and Sylvia better be careful since pregnancy is in the air....
Wow! This is great, both Estelle and Magdalen are pregnant at the same time and I hope that Xavier is Norah neighbor. Thank you for the updates....
Author Lucy you're a blessing. Thank you so my for the updates. I hope that Norah's neighbor is Xavier she gets her memory back....