Chapter 1

The woman he loves marries another man on his 18th birthday. He's alone during his birthday party, and he finishes the cake himself.

She deliberately pushes him away and neglects him, even skipping out on his birthday party. Unfortunately, she doesn't know that this is his last birthday ever.

He's about to die, and it'll happen on her wedding day.

Chapter 1

"Professor Lynch, I've made up my mind. Sign me up for the cryonics experiment," Edgar Lawrie said calmly.

On the phone, Ben Lynch replied, "Edgar, are you absolutely sure? I understand the cancer diagnosis has hit you hard, but there's still hope for treatment—"

"I have late-stage lymphoma. There is no cure."

Ben let out a heavy sigh. "But the cryonics technology isn't ready. They've never conducted live experiments before. There's a high chance you won't survive it. Please, think it over—"

"Professor," Edgar cut in with a faint smile, "my decision is final."

Then, he ended the call.

The phone displayed a breaking news headline from just minutes ago.

In a photograph accompanying the article, Cooper Dixon and Jessica Yale were holding hands, their fingers intertwined. And on Cooper's ring finger sparkled a radiant blue diamond ring.

Even through the screen, the gem's brilliance was blinding.

Edgar bit down hard on his lip, but in the end, he couldn't hold back his tears.

It was Jessica's birthday. She was the person he loved most in the world, and yet she had given the ring he designed to someone else.

"Jessica, why? Why do you hate me this much?" he thought bitterly.

The meal Edgar'd carefully prepared sat untouched on the dining table. He sat there while his heart grew colder by the minute, along with the dishes.

At 2:30 am, the front doors finally opened, and Jessica entered.

"Why are you still awake?" Her expression darkened when she saw Edgar sitting there. "Didn't I tell you I'd be out late with Cooper tonight?"

Edgar looked down and stayed silent for a long time before murmuring, "Happy birthday."

Her birthday had already passed hours ago when the clock had struck midnight.

"Edgar, what's the point of this?" Jessica snapped in annoyance. "Cooper's my boyfriend. It's normal that I celebrated my birthday with him. What are you even trying to do?

"We're not related by blood, and I'm your guardian at most. You need to understand your place. We can never be together! Whatever ideas you've cooked up in your head, they disgust me!"

With that, she slammed the door and left, likely heading to find Cooper.

As she'd said, he was her boyfriend.

Edgar remained where he was and stared at his feet. His voice was barely above a whisper as he said, "I'm sorry, Jess. It won't happen again. This will be the time I spend your birthday with you."

The room felt unbearably cold. Edgar shivered and couldn't help wondering which would be colder—this empty room or the ice chamber waiting for him.

He had always been afraid of the cold. As a child, he would run barefoot through the hallways with a stuffed bunny clutched in his arms and crawl into Jessica's bed for warmth.

Back then, Jessica had been kind to him. She would smile, pull him under the covers, and tell him stories until he fell asleep.

A while later, Cooper posted on Instagram a photo of him and Jessica holding hands, with the ring Edgar had designed on his finger. The caption read, "We're engaged!"

At the same time, Edgar received the experimental consent form from the cryonics research team. Instead of signing it, he dialed Jessica's number. When the call went unanswered, he tried again.

After declining the call five times, Jessica finally answered with great irritation. "What is it now, Edgar?"

Edgar pursed his lips and said, "I just wanted to congratulate you."

Jessica scoffed. "I hope you mean that."

He closed his eyes, paused for a moment, then asked softly, "When's the wedding?"

"December 12," she replied curtly.

Edgar's chest tightened at the answer.

December 12 was his birthday.

Chapter 2

Edgar's parents were long gone.

A faded old newspaper headline still preserved the details of their tragic deaths: "Heiress Suffers Mental Breakdown: Fatally Stabs Husband Over 100 Times, End Own Life, Leaves Only Son Behind."

He was that only son, who was then taken in by the Yale family out of kindness.

Jessica was a few years his senior. Perhaps moved by his plight, she'd showered him with utmost care. Anything Edgar wanted, she would find a way to give him, even if it were the stars in the sky.

And she had, quite literally, given him a star.

The trauma of losing his parents had left Edgar scarred, and he constantly sought reassurance and safety. Thus, one quiet night, Jessica had led him up to the rooftop.

Pointing to the brightest star in the sky, she smiled and said, "Edgar, see that star? I've bought it for you."

She'd handed him the star's ownership certificate, tapping the tip of his nose playfully. "From now on, that star is yours. When I'm not around, it'll always watch over you for me."

Edgar walked to the window now and pulled back the curtains to search the night sky for his star. However, the sky was covered in thick clouds, and his star was nowhere to be seen.

The next morning, Harry Torres, the person in charge of the cryonics research team, called. "Mr. Lawrie, we need you to come in for a physical examination."

Edgar smiled wryly. "Is that really necessary?"

He was dying, after all. No number of tests would change that.

"The examination is to determine the best freezing method and timing for your body," Harry explained. "It's to maximize your chances of survival. Please cooperate."

With no reason to refuse, Edgar drove to the cryonics lab.

…

After a long day of tests, it was finally over. Before leaving, Harry handed him a thick stack of documents.

"These include options for the design and storage of your cryonic capsule," he explained. "You may have a look and let us know your preferences."

Edgar nodded, thanked him softly, and headed home with the documents in hand. When he entered the house, he noticed the lights in the living room were on. His heart skipped a beat at the thought that Jessica was back.

Even after her harsh treatment, his heart still ached for her.

Steeling himself, Edgar quickened his pace into the living room. But instead of Jessica, he was greeted by Cooper lounging on the couch in a half-open bathrobe.

"Edgar, you're back!" Cooper approached warmly and said, "Have you eaten? Jess is in the kitchen cooking. Tell me what you'd like for dinner, and I'll let her know."

He behaved as if he was the master of the house.

A bitter ache welled up in Edgar's chest. He shook his head and was about to say that he wasn't hungry when Jessica came out of the kitchen carrying a dish.

"You're just in time," she said briskly. "Cooper and I are engaged. Starting today, he's the head of this household. All decisions, big or small, will be made by him."

Edgar looked down and mumbled, "Got it."

Jessica had expected resistance, and his calm acceptance surprised her.

"Don't be so serious, Jess. You're scaring him," Cooper remarked with a grin. "Come on, Edgar, let's eat. Don't mind her."

He then grabbed Edgar's arm and pulled him toward the dining room. The sudden movement caused the stack of documents Edgar was holding to scatter across the floor.

Jessica frowned and bent down to pick up one of the pages. It was a cryonics capsule design. Her voice turned icy as she demanded, "What's this?"

Although Edgar's heart raced, he kept a composed exterior and explained, "It's a design for a cryonics capsule. My professor assigned us a project to design something over the summer. I wanted to create a crystal casket to preserve bodies, so I printed out some reference materials."

It wasn't entirely implausible. After all, he was a freshman majoring in design.

However, Jessica's expression remained stormy. "Edgar, are you out of your mind?"

Chapter 3

Jessica had been the one to arrange Edgar's parents' burial.

On the day of the funeral, Edgar had locked himself in a wardrobe again. When Jessica found him there, she hadn't forced him to come out. Instead, she'd opened the door and climbed inside to sit beside him.

"Jess, is a coffin as dark and cold as this?" Edgar had asked her with red-rimmed eyes. "I dreamed of Mom. She told me to join her in her coffin because she's scared and cold all alone…"

"That was just a dream," Jessica had said gently. "Don't be afraid. You're not going anywhere. I won't let anyone take you away from me."

Edgar had wrapped his arms around her neck and whispered in her ear, "As long as you're with me, even being locked in a coffin wouldn't scare me."

…

It seemed Jessica still remembered that moment vividly, which was why she must have misunderstood. She thought Edgar was using an excuse for another veiled confession of his feelings for her.

"If you don't like it, I'll change my design topic," Edgar said softly. "It's just an assignment. Please don't be upset, Jess."

While Jessica was still angry, Cooper hurriedly chimed in with a conciliatory smile. "Yeah, you should change it to something else. Coffins are so morbid. Young people like you should think positively and be a bit more cheerful."

Edgar gathered the scattered documents from the floor. Then, he threw them all into the trash in front of Jessica. Only then did her tense expression ease slightly.

That night, when everyone was asleep, Edgar got up and tiptoed to the trash can to retrieve the discarded documents.

As he returned to his room, he bumped into Cooper, who was emerging from Jessica's room.

Cooper was wearing a loosely tied robe, exposing his body that was marked with traces of intimacy, including red scratches and faint bruises.

One didn't need to guess what had transpired in that room.

Edgar forced himself to look away while repeating in his mind, "Don't look. Don't think about it. He's Jessica's fiancé. Whatever they do, it's normal."

Jessica loved him. If Cooper was able to give her the happiness she deserved, that was all that mattered.

"Edgar, why can't you look me in the eye?" Cooper's tone was full of mockery, which was a stark contrast to his friendliness from earlier. "Even now, you can't accept the fact that Jessica loves me and not you?"

Edgar lowered his gaze and responded, "No. I've already accepted it."

"Drop your act." Cooper sneered disdainfully. "You think I don't see the way you look at Jessica? It's not normal. She raised you. She's like a mother to you. Edgar, are you some kind of sick pervert?"

Edgar said nothing.

Was he… really twisted?

That explained why Jessica had grown so disgusted with him after learning of his feelings. To everyone else, his love must have seemed revolting.

"I heard you became an orphan because your mother lost her mind and stabbed your father over 100 times in his sleep. She hacked him to death," Cooper continued, his tone deliberately provoking. "No wonder you're such a freak. It runs in the family. Your mother was deranged, and so are you."

Edgar could endure Cooper's insults about himself but not about his late parents.

"Shut up!" he roared as he lunged forward and grabbed Cooper by the throat. "You don't know the full story! You have no right—"

Before he could finish, a furious voice yelled, "Edgar, what the hell are you doing?"

Jessica stood in the doorway, glaring at Edgar, looking livid.

Chapter 4

Cooper explained, "Jessica, don't blame Edgar. It's my fault.

"I thought it was so late that Edgar would already be asleep, so I didn't bother to put on a shirt. But as soon as I opened the door, I ran into him. He saw the marks on me and started calling me shameless. He said someone like me doesn't deserve to be with you."

Just like that, Cooper painted Edgar as a twisted man who lurked outside Jessica's door late at night, eavesdropping out of jealousy and violently attacking her fiancé.

"He's lying! I didn't say any of that!" Edgar's eyes turned red at the corners as he protested. "He deliberately provoked me by bringing up my parents and… and calling my mom deranged!"

When Edgar was in elementary school, his classmates had bullied him because of his mother's story. They'd formed a circle around him, throwing trash at him while chanting, "Crazy kid with a crazy mom."

Jessica had been the one to step in and resolve the situation.

Surely, she knew he wouldn't lie about something like this, as that incident had traumatized him.

"Edgar, what are you talking about?" Cooper put on a confused expression. "What happened to your parents? All I know is that they passed away when you were very young. I don't know anything else."

Jessica gently comforted Cooper before turning to Edgar with a stern look. Disappointment was written across her face as she said, "Edgar, I never expected you to stoop so low just to slander Cooper! He knows nothing about your past. I never told him about it."

"He could've looked it up online," Edgar retorted, still upset. "It was all over the internet—"

"Enough!" Jessica cut him off sharply. "Do you think everyone is as malicious and petty as you? Always twisting the truth to stir up trouble?"

Edgar froze.

Malicious. Petty. Twisting the truth.

So this was how Jessica saw him.

At that moment, any words of defense felt meaningless.

"Apologize to Cooper immediately," Jessica commanded coldly.

Edgar stayed quiet. He refused to apologize because he did nothing wrong. Cooper was the one who should apologize!

"Looks like I've spoiled you for too long," Jessica added. "But not anymore. From today onward, you're not allowed to leave your room. Stay inside and reflect on your actions. When you've thought it through and are ready to apologize, you can come out."

For as long as Edgar could remember, Jessica had always been the one to defend him. But this time, she had chosen to defend another man.

Back in his room, Edgar curled up on his bed. Even so, he felt freezing cold.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed with a message from Harry.

"Mr. Lawrie, your physical examination results are out. Based on our research, your optimal cryopreservation window is between December 7 and 21. Please select a date at your convenience."

December was the next month.

Edgar's chest ached at the thought. He stared into the darkness for a long time before his trembling hands finally typed out his chosen date—December 12.

Not only was December 12 his birthday, but it was also Jessica and Cooper's wedding day.

There was no need for him to attend their wedding since Jessica was already fed up with him. His presence would only ruin their day.

Thus, Edgar decided he would leave quietly without bothering anyone.

Chapter 5

December was just around the corner, leaving Edgar with little time. There were still so many things he needed to do, and he didn't want to waste all of it locked in his room. Therefore, he swallowed his pride and went to Jessica to apologize.

"Jess, I've thought it through. It was all my fault. I'm sorry."

But Jessica's face remained impassive, and her gaze was devoid of the tenderness and indulgence that once directed at him. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. It's Cooper."

Edgar realized with deep sadness that her tenderness and care had already been given to another man.

"Fine! I'll apologize to him!" Edgar's entire body shook with emotion as he blurted, "Cooper, you're my brother-in-law. I'm sorry for what I did! "

The title stunned Jessica momentarily. She couldn't quite believe what she had just heard.

"Is this enough, Jess?" Edgar asked with a mocking smile. But as the smile lingered, his eyes began to redden. "Are you satisfied now?"

Jessica should have felt satisfied. But for reasons she couldn't explain, hearing him admit fault and call Cooper his brother-in-law left her feeling unsettled.

She averted her gaze, unable to look at Edgar any longer, and said, "From today onward, you'll move to a room downstairs."

Edgar froze for a moment before the realization sank in. Jessica believed Cooper.

He wondered in despair, "Jess, do you really think I'm the kind of person who would lurk outside your bedroom door, listening to what you do with another man? Is this what you think of me?"

The icy feeling returned, and Edgar felt the world spin around him, nearly making him collapse. But he didn't fall. Instead, he steadied himself against the wall, gritting his teeth to stay upright.

"Fine."

If Jessica wanted him to move downstairs, he would. Anyway, he didn't have long to live.

That evening, Edgar visited the cryonics lab again. He needed to discuss with Harry where his body would be stored after the procedure.

"I read in the documents that you also have cryostorage facilities underwater. Is that true?" Edgar asked.

"Of course," Harry replied. "Actually, most of our storage units are located under the sea. Maintaining the cryonic capsules on land at temperatures below minus several hundred degrees requires enormous energy. But underwater, the naturally low temperatures drastically reduce energy consumption."

"Perfect," Edgar said with a smile. "I'd like my capsule to be stored underwater."

"May I ask why?"

"Because that's a place where the star can't find me."

The star had been a gift from Jessica. She once told him that no matter where he went, the star would follow and always watch over him for her.

But now, Jessica didn't love him anymore.

And soon, he would die.

It would be too depressing for the star to guard a corpse that no one cared about. So, Edgar decided to set it free by disappearing into the depths where even starlight couldn't reach.

He would go away quietly.

To avoid seeing Cooper, Edgar deliberately stayed out late. Nonetheless, when he finally returned home, the villa was still brightly lit. Jessica sat in the living room, her face clouded with anger.

"Jess, what's wrong?" Edgar asked dumbfoundedly. He couldn't think of what he might have done wrong since he'd spent the whole day away from home.

Jessica threw a stack of papers at him, barely containing her fury as she demanded, "Explain yourself!"

Looking down, Edgar saw the scattered documents on the floor. Among them was his cancer diagnosis.

Chapter 6

"How could you rummage through my things without my permission?" Edgar panicked and dodged Jessica's question. "I'm already 18! You can't just barge into my room and go through my stuff!"

Furious, Jessica grabbed a glass from the table and smashed it to the floor. "That's not the point right now!"

The sound of the glass shattering echoed through the room, making Edgar flinch.

"Edgar, you've misunderstood Jess," Cooper interjected with feigned innocence. "She didn't go into your room. It was me. I didn't have any clothes to change into, and my clothes yesterday were…"

He paused deliberately before continuing, "I had no choice but to check your room for clothes to borrow. That's when I accidentally found the cancer diagnosis on your desk."

He was lying.

Edgar had locked the document away the very day he received it. In Cooper's version, it sounded as if Edgar had intentionally left it out in the open, waiting for someone to stumble upon it.

"Edgar, you're so young. How could you possibly have cancer?" Cooper's expression filled with sorrow and concern. "Be honest with me. Is the diagnosis real or just some prank?"

Edgar turned to look at Jessica and noticed her gaze was filled more with anger than worry. Before he returned home, Cooper must have said enough to convince her that Edgar was faking an illness just to gain her attention.

Edgar thought that perhaps this was for the best. At least his secret wouldn't come to light.

"It was a prank," he said softly. "I was just messing around with my friends. I didn't expect you to find—"

Before he could finish, Jessica suddenly stood up. "We're going to the hospital for a checkup. Now."

Whether it was a prank or not, they would find out at the hospital.

"Jess…" Edgar tried to resist, but her sharp glare silenced him instantly.

He knew Jessica too well. There was no way to avoid this.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, it was already midnight. Normally, only the emergency department would be operational at this hour, but Jessica had called the hospital director in advance.

Not daring to cross her, the director hastily arranged for doctors to conduct a full examination of Edgar.

Cancer screenings took at least two hours to process, and for Edgar, every second was torment.

He couldn't help but wonder, "If Jess finds out I'm dying, will she feel sad for me? Or maybe I'm just a burden to her. Jealous, twisted, and difficult. Maybe she's been wanting to get rid of me all along."

After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally emerged with the report in hand. "Ms. Yale, the tests are complete. Mr. Lawrie's health is excellent; there's no sign of cancer at all."

Edgar was taken aback by the announcement. He couldn't believe that after enduring such agony, this was the outcome.

He turned sharply to look at Cooper. There was no doubt in his mind who had tampered with the results.

Cooper exhaled a long breath of relief and said, "Thank goodness. It's just a prank. Edgar is fine… Jessica and I can finally stop worrying."

Meanwhile, Jessica said nothing. Her gaze lingered on Edgar, and for the first time, she seemed to notice how frighteningly pale he was.

The once vibrant boy she cherished looked as if he were slowly withering away.

Chapter 7

"Although Mr. Lawrie has no cancer, the test results show that his body is extremely weak, and he's severely malnourished."

Noticing Jessica's doubts, the doctor added calmly, "Has he been dieting recently to lose weight? Dieting for fitness is common, but doing so to this extent is harmful.

"Especially in your case, Mr. Lawrie, where it's already affecting your health. Just look at how pale your face is. It's no wonder your sister thought you might have cancer."

Jessica's expression darkened instantly.

Edgar indeed hadn't been eating well lately, which was understandable. Being sick, coupled with Jessica's coldness and disdain, had left him with no appetite or energy to take care of himself.

But to Jessica, it painted a very different picture.

"You've been starving yourself just to fake being sick and trick me?" she asked.

Her icy gaze bore into him as she scolded, "Are you trying to make me feel sorry for you so I'll agree to be with you? Edgar, can't you stop this ridiculous behavior?"

"I didn't…" He knew she wouldn't believe him, but he still tried desperately to deny it. "I really didn't."

Yet his denial sounded feeble against the cold, hard facts.

Jessica looked at him with profound disappointment. "How did I end up raising you into such a person?"

At that moment, Edgar felt his heart break into pieces.

Moments later, Jessica walked away with Cooper and left him at the hospital.

For the next week, she didn't speak to him at all. Edgar tried several times to mend their relationship, but every attempt failed. It wasn't until the day before Jessica and Cooper's wedding that he finally spoke to her.

"Jess, you're getting married tomorrow. Are you still not willing to talk to me?" Edgar's expression was heart-wrenchingly sorrowful.

Jessica's gaze remained indifferent. "Have you given up yet?"

Edgar's eyes turned redder as he nodded. "Yes, I've given up. I swear I won't lie to you this time."

He wasn't lying because he was about to die. Once his life ended, so would their heart, right?

Jessica glanced at his eyes, clearly unconvinced. Nevertheless, her heart softened in the end. After all, she'd raised him. She couldn't possibly ignore him forever.

"Come to my wedding tomorrow. Give us your sincere blessing, and I'll forgive you. But don't pull any stunts. No matter what you do, I'm marrying Cooper. Nothing will change that."

Edgar lowered his gaze. "I won't cause trouble."

His compliance and calmness tugged at Jessica's heart. A sudden irritation swelled in her chest. She averted her gaze, unable to look at Edgar any longer.

However, Edgar spoke again, "Jess, I'll attend your wedding. But can you join me for dinner after that?"

Jessica and Cooper's wedding was scheduled to conclude before noon.

"Tomorrow is my birthday. You've always spent my birthday with me. Could you do it one last time? I know it's selfish to ask this on your wedding day, but I won't interrupt the ceremony.

"The wedding should be over at 4:00 pm. Just come and have a piece of cake with me and wish me a happy birthday. That's all I ask for."

Jessica couldn't bring herself to refuse such a humble request. So, she answered stiffly, "Fine."

That night, Edgar barely slept. He kept his eyes open until dawn, then carefully prepared himself to attend Jessica's wedding.

Chapter 8

The wedding was lively, and nearly all the elites were present.

Cooper was dressed in a custom white suit and looked blissful as he held Jessica by the waist.

Jessica had changed into her wedding gown. Edgar thought she was simply stunning. Elegant, regal, and poised.

Time seemed to have favored her, leaving not a single mark on her face. 13 years had passed, yet she was just as beautiful as the day she had pulled him out of the wardrobe all those years ago.

His gaze lingered on her to indulge in a few more stolen moments. Only then did he step forward and present his wedding gift with both hands.

"Jess, congratulations on your marriage," Edgar said sincerely.

He truly wished her happiness and good health in the years ahead.

Jessica accepted the gift while casting a searching look at Edgar. Although she said nothing, a tumultuous emotion—something she couldn't allow to surface—seemed to churn wildly in her eyes.

Unfortunately, Edgar didn't see it.

After presenting the gift, he left the wedding quietly as he simply couldn't bear to witness Jessica marrying Cooper with his own eyes.

He didn't have that kind of strength. While he genuinely wished Jess well, he would never accept Cooper.

After leaving the wedding, Edgar went to the cemetery, where he laid one final bouquet of fresh flowers on his parents' graves.

"Mom, I think I finally understand why you chose to end your life. Living is so painful. Why didn't you take me with you? You hated Dad so much, but you took him. You said I was the one you loved most, yet you left me here alone."

The world was so vast, and suddenly he felt unbearably lonely. It seemed that no one had ever truly chosen him and loved him unwaveringly. Not even his mother.

"Never mind. If even you couldn't love me, Jess has already done more than enough. If you and Dad are watching from above, don't bless me. Bless her instead."

With that, Edgar bent down, planted a kiss on the gravestone, and turned to leave. He went to a restaurant and patiently waited for Jessica to join him for what would be his final birthday.

Fireworks erupted in the sky in the distance, their light bright enough to display large characters that read, "Congratulations Jessica and Cooper on your marriage!"

How extravagant. But admittedly, it was romantic.

Jessica was the type to spare no effort to pamper the person she loved. It was just a pity that the person she loved was never him.

As time ticked by, the laughter and noise from the direction of the wedding continued.

Even in the restaurant, people were animatedly discussing the event and marveling over how Cooper's wedding attire cost billions, adorned with real diamonds, and how Jessica had willingly splurged to invite his favorite singer to perform at their wedding.

Edgar listened quietly. The world was so vibrant, yet he was alone and isolated.

When it was finally 3:00 pm, he wondered if Jessica would be arriving soon.

An hour later, the appointed time had passed, yet Jessica was still nowhere to be seen. Perhaps, he thought, something had delayed her.

At 5:00 pm, the wedding had long since ended, and the restaurant patrons had stopped talking about it. However, Edgar still didn't see Jessica.

His phone buzzed with a notification. It was an Instagram post from Cooper.

"The wedding's done, and our honeymoon starts now. First stop, Sadores. Boarding the plane."

The photo showed two stacked plane tickets. The top one bore Cooper's name, and Edgar didn't need to guess to know whose name the bottom one bore.

The flight was scheduled to depart at 5:30 pm. At that moment, Edgar finally understood that Jessica wasn't coming.

The cake on the table had begun to melt. Edgar picked it up, his motions wooden and lifeless, and brought a piece to his mouth.

Why was the frosting salty? It tasted awful.

He forced himself to finish the cake, paid the bill, and left.

"Edgar, I wish you an unhappy birthday. May your death bring an end to your pain."

That was his birthday wish for himself.

Edgar drove to the cryonics lab. Inside, the staff were already waiting for his arrival. No one celebrated his birthday, but at least there were people to witness his death, even if they were strangers.

Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a letter and handed it to Harry. "If someone comes looking for me, give them this letter. If no one does… throw it away."

Nothing important was written anyway.

Harry accepted the letter. "I'll keep it safe."

Then, Edgar turned and walked toward the capsule that would become his coffin. He lay inside, just as he used to hide in the closet as a child whenever his parents fought to seek comfort in the cramped space.

The world was too vast and too complicated. He couldn't cope with it. So, he returned to his "wardrobe."

"All systems ready. Begin the cooling process."

At Harry's command, cold vapor enveloped Edgar, and he lost consciousness instantly.

Goodbye, Jess. Congratulations on your wedding.