Chapter 5

Luckily, no vital organs were hit. When my lab colleagues visited me, they mentioned that Scarlett had taken a leave of absence during my recovery to go to the mountains and pray for good luck charms.

I bundled up warmly, preparing to leave. As if to help me acclimatize to the cold, it had started snowing here too.

Following the fresh footprints, I looked at my door. A pile of good luck talismans hung on the doorknob, the topmost one tattered but mended with clear tape.

A sticky note on the door read, "Apology."

I calmly averted my gaze and headed towards the Research Institute's main gate, turning back for what might be my last look at it.

The roar of a helicopter's propellers filled the air. Scarlett, breathless, lunged towards me. She touched a small patch of skin on my forehead not covered by my fleece hat.

"I'm useless. I couldn't convince the Director."

"Don't worry. Even if I marry him, my heart will only ever be yours."

She spoke earnestly, snowflakes dusting her hair. I watched her retreating back, a little surprised.

Pulling my suitcase towards the helicopter, the festive crackle of firecrackers stopped me in my tracks. It was only then that I remembered: today was also Scarlett and Brandon's wedding.

Scarlett had just sent me an apology gift. Soon, she would receive mine.

Reaching the helicopter, the escort personnel took my luggage. As I was about to step inside, I was tightly embraced, the sweet scent of jasmine filling my nostrils.

"Are you… angry because I'm marrying Brandon?"

So, all those promises were for Brandon.

She continued, "I'm so sorry…"

"I'll wait for you to come back, no matter what our circumstances are then. Please, can you stop pushing me away?"

She sobbed uncontrollably, as if making a difficult, pre-emptive promise. "If—if you truly don't come back, I'll live the rest of my life as your devoted widow…"

I grabbed the ladder and silently climbed up, wishing the noise of the helicopter's propellers was even louder.

Through the densely falling snow against the window, I shifted my gaze to the ground. Scarlett, covered in goose-down flakes, looked drained of life amidst the vast whiteness.

She pushed away the red wedding umbrella offered by her colleagues, tearing her heart out as she screamed into the sky:

"Brandon!"

Only when the helicopter's black speck vanished into the sky did Scarlett, shoulders heavy with snow, return to the Research Institute.

Her colleagues entered her room, helping her into a stunning red wedding gown and applying her makeup.