Suddenly, Seren realized why the room had felt so empty before.
It was because Lennon wasn't there.
With that thought, she drifted off to sleep, half-awake and half-dreaming.
Lennon looked down to see her sleeping soundly, her face peaceful in the dim light. She'd curled up into a tiny ball, arms wrapped around herself, her forehead pressed against his chest—like a newborn, completely different from her usual composed strength during the day. In sleep, she seemed so vulnerable that it tugged at something inside him. Without thinking, he held her closer.
The bedside lamp cast a soft, amber glow. Against it, her pale skin looked almost luminous, smooth and flawless, like porcelain or polished marble.
Lennon's gaze grew deeper, more thoughtful.
He slowly reached out, long fingers gently pulling the blanket up to her shoulders. Then he brushed a stray lock of hair off her forehead. Without realizing it, he bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to her brow.
Fifteen years of waiting—all those years didn't seem so hard, looking back. But now, even a single day apart felt unbearably long.
The next morning, when Seren woke up, she had a hazy memory: had Lennon kissed her last night? She couldn't tell if it was a dream or if it had really happened.
She touched her forehead. Her fingertips still tingled with residual warmth.
The room was empty. Lennon was gone. But on the table, she spotted a breakfast box—no doubt left by Lennon's assistant.
Seren checked her phone out of habit. Sure enough, there was a message from Lennon on WhatsApp:
"Eat your breakfast."
She replied with a simple "Okay."
After breakfast, a notification popped up on her phone—a local news alert.
The headline was bold and unmistakable:

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The readers' comments on the novel: Watching You Burn In Regret
Why is it stopped at 69.. please update...
Lovin' this!...