Seeing his face, on the verge of tears, Mio felt a twinge of helplessness. “Don’t act like a woman,” she said softly. “All good things must come to an end. It’s time for us to part ways.”
“Mr. Walsh…”
“After we settle everything, I need you to do one last thing for me,” Mio said, her tone calm.
“What is it?”
“Sell this house for me, along with the cars. Leave just one for my daily use.”
“Mr. Walsh, what exactly are you planning to do?”
“Me? I just don’t want to carry all of this anymore.” Mio’s voice trailed off as a new thought crystallized in her mind. She no longer wanted this life.
Her private collection of cars was extensive. The house, from its selection to its extravagant renovation, had cost her a fortune. Having grown up in poverty, Mio had once vowed to rise above it all. After achieving wealth, she spared no expense, filling her home with custom-made luxuries, down to the smallest lamp.
And now, she was ready to sell this opulent villa? This house, which she had painstakingly designed and furnished to embody her ideals?
“Mr. Walsh, will this make you happy?” her secretary asked hesitantly.
“I think I’ll be happier than I’ve ever been,” Mio replied with a faint smile, her face devoid of pretense or coldness for once.
“Alright…” The secretary suddenly understood. Perhaps this was the life Mio truly needed.
After seeing the secretary off, Mio sat alone by the window, watching the sun set and rise. She spent the entire night there, finally coming to terms with what she wanted to do.
The following morning, the secretary arrived early with stacks of documents and contracts for Mio to sign.
“Mr. Walsh, I’ve listed the house for sale. You’ve set the price quite low, so I’m sure it will sell quickly. But after selling this house, where will you live?”
“Do you think I don’t have a place to stay? I’ve already found an apartment. Just over a hundred square meters-plenty of space for one person.”
“Only a hundred square meters? Are you sure that’s enough?” The secretary looked skeptical. When Mio had bought this villa, her requirements had been exacting. The property spanned over seven hundred square meters, not including the garden and pool.
Now she was suddenly moving to a much smaller apartment. The contrast was staggering.
“I’m just one person. A big house feels lonely. Something smaller will be better.” Mio’s tone was unexpectedly patient-quite unlike her usual self.
The villa had only one cleaning lady, who came by twice a week. Mio disliked having people at her home. No housekeepers, no chefs-she had always managed everything on her own.
“Alright then, if you’ve already decided, I’ll help you handle the move.”
“There’s no need. Starting today, you’re no longer my secretary. You no longer need to follow my instructions. Head to the company-you’ll be late otherwise. You’re going to have a busy day.”
“Very well, Mr. Walsh. But if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me, no matter the time.”
The secretary bowed deeply. “Thank you for all your guidance and care over the years.”
“Go on.”
—
One month later, in an office at Radiant Horizons.
“Vice President, here are the documents that need your signature today.” The secretary’s voice startled Rebecca out of her daze.
In the last month, Rebecca often found herself lost in thought. Her office was filled with white roses-some freshly delivered, others already wilted. Every day, a new bouquet of white roses arrived, each uniquely wrapped. The delivery person never revealed who sent them, but rain or shine, even on weekends, the flowers were always left at the front desk.
Rebecca knew who was sending them. What she didn’t understand was why he kept doing it.
At first, she had thought it was Mio’s way of pursuing her again. But oddly, there were never any cards hidden in the bouquets. When she tried calling him, she discovered his number had been disconnected. She later heard that Mio had resigned from the family business, willingly relinquishing all his shares to Aurora.
Rebecca couldn’t shake the memory of the words she had overheard in his villa. For the first time in her life, she felt guilty.
“Vice President? What are you thinking about?” The secretary’s voice broke through her thoughts again.
“Nothing… Just give me the documents.” Rebecca took the stack of papers but clearly wasn’t fully present.
Her mind was filled with thoughts of Mio. She had once believed his kindness toward her was nothing more than an act. Only later did she come to realize that his feelings had been genuine all along.
She had been the brightest light in his life, but she had cruelly extinguished it.
From Aurora, Rebecca learned about Mio’s childhood. The reality was far harsher than anything he had ever shared with her.
For the past month, her nights had been plagued by dreams of a little boy being bullied. She, who had grown up in privilege and never suffered a single hardship, now found herself wracked with unease.
“Vice President, you don’t look well. If you’re feeling unwell, you should go home and rest. You’ve been working non-stop for a month, even on weekends. No one can keep this up forever,” the secretary urged.
Rebecca couldn’t admit the real reason she came to the office every weekend-to receive the bouquet of white roses. It had become her only connection to Mio.
“I’m fine. By the way, how’s the investigation going?” Rebecca asked, pulling herself back to the present.
“After Mr. Walsh left R Corporation, he didn’t join another company or start his own. Instead, he sold his villa and cars.”
“What? Why would he sell everything?”
“I don’t know. That’s all I’ve been able to find out.”
“And where is he now?” Rebecca asked, her voice tinged with urgency.
“No one knows. I have a slight connection with his former secretary, and that’s how I got the information. Apparently, Mio moved into a smaller apartment, but no one knows the address. After handing in his resignation letter, he cut off all contact.”
Rebecca’s heart sank. “Alright, I understand. You can go now.”
“Okay.”
Left alone in her office, Rebecca gazed at the bouquet of white roses that had just been delivered. Dewdrops clung to the petals, which glowed in the sunlight. A gentle breeze brushed against the flowers, causing them to sway delicately.
She thought of the look in Mio’s eyes that day-filled with despair as he said, “Rebecca, whether you believe me or not, I’ve wronged the entire world, but I have never wronged you. Today, you’re the one who doesn’t want me.”
He had looked like a stubborn child, his eyes brimming with sorrow, yet he had held his head high as he walked out of her office.
Since then, every time she thought of his retreating figure, she felt an unbearable ache. A single tear slipped from her eye, landing softly on the petals of the roses.