When she was fifteen 17

On the final day of the countdown, Celia came downstairs to find Lucas and Yvonne at the door, preparing to head out. She hesitated for a moment before calling out to him.

“Uncle, I know you’re busy, but could you come back tonight for dinner? Just one meal—just the two of us.”

She wanted to bid him a proper goodbye.

Her eyes were filled with reluctant longing, a quiet plea. But the moment Lucas heard her words, he instinctively assumed it was another attempt at a confession and was ready to refuse.

Before he could speak, Yvonne patted his hand, her tone light and understanding. “It’s fine, I’ll catch up with some friends tonight. It’s been a while. You’re her guardian. Don’t hold grudges with a kid over such trivial matters.”

With her gentle persuasion, Lucas eventually agreed.

Celia got the answer she wanted, yet the ache in her chest only deepened.

She stood silently by the door, watching as they got into the car and drove off, the sound of the engine fading into the distance. Suppressing the wave of emotions churning within her, she turned and went back inside.

She’d heard that when someone passes, their belongings are often cleared away to bring closure. Since it was her last day, she didn’t want to burden Lucas with handling her things. She started sorting through everything she owned, gathering it all to discard.

Her room was filled with traces of Lucas.

From her toiletries to the clothes on her back, everything had been chosen and provided by him.

At first, Lucas hadn’t been so meticulous in caring for her. Most of her daily needs were left to the housekeeper and his assistant.

That changed after one fateful incident: the housekeeper had been neglectful, and his assistant, overwhelmed with work, failed to notice when Celia came down with a fever. She had grown so ill that by the time Lucas returned home, her fever had left her burning up and barely coherent.

The doctor later said that if Lucas hadn’t arrived when he did, her fever might have left her with lasting damage. From that day forward, Lucas handled her care personally, never delegating her well-being to anyone else again.

Shaking herself free from her thoughts, Celia looked around at the belongings she had carefully packed away. A quiet sadness settled over her.