"Mom," Stanley interrupted Ang before she could say more. "Didn''t Jessica tell you? Wendy is Jolin."


    What?


    Ang froze for a moment.


    Of course, Ang had heard of Jolin. In their circle, Jolin''s name was famous- everyone knew her. Ang hadn''t expected Wendy to be Jolin.


    "So, Wendy wasn''t here for me. She was invited to the Zenith G. We just happened to run into each other. She has never been the type to rely on a man. Over the past three years, she''s only gotten stronger and more independent," Stanley exined.


    Ang didn''t actually dislike Wendy. Over the past few years, when she thought of Wendy, she remembered those clear, intelligent eyes. Now, she learned that Wendy was none other than the renowned Jolin. It was hard to believe


    -Wendy had be even more stunning, standing confidently by Stanley''s side.


    Ang looked at Stanley. As his mother, how could she not feel for him? A woman as brilliant as Wendy was someone no man could resist.


    s, Stanley couldn''t be with her.


    "Stanley-"


    "Mom, I know what you''re going to say," Stanley cut in. "Wendy and I can never be together. I met her daughter today."


    Ang paused, her heart sinking.


    Stanley smiled faintly. "Her daughter is beautiful, sweet, and soft, just like her. The girl is her and Samuel''s daughter. They''re a happy family now. I''ve missed my chance."


    With that, Stanley walked upstairs, leaving Ang standing in the hallway, feeling the weight of his words.


    Stanley entered his room, the lights off, leaving the space inplete darkness. He walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, his tall frame standing still in the shadowed room. He pulled out a cigarette, flicked the lighter, and lit it with a soft click before taking a long drag, the smoke curling up around him.


    In his mind, images of Wendy, Samuel, and Be-together as a family-kept reying. It was a picture of happiness, and it felt like a knife twisting deep in his heart, making him ache with a pain that seemed endless.


    That happiness should''ve been his.


    Yet, he lost it.


    He had spent three long years searching for Wendy, and now that he had found her, it felt like a death sentence.


    A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips.


    Meanwhile, Wendy was at the hotel with Be. She had nned to fly back to Florias soon, but she got a call from Halsey.


    Halsey''s voice was full of excitement. "So, you''re in the Capital? That''s fantastic! I''m here too. Let''s meet up! Bring Be along-I''ve got so many gifts for her!"


    Halsey was the darling of the Lincoln family, whose roots were in the Capital. She had moved to the Capital a year ago because Dwight''s sister, Madeline, had started at Stanfern University.


    Over the past three years, Madeline had be incredibly aplished. In her sophomore year of high school, she won a mathpetition at the state level andter brought home a first-ce prize from an international contest. By the end of that year, she had already entered Stanfern University.


    Halsey had taken Madeline under her wing, treating her like a sister. When Madeline came to Stanfern, Halsey and her parents had also moved to the Capital, making it easier to look after her, even though Madeline had since be quite independent.


    It had been a while since Wendy had seen an old friend, and she was genuinely happy.


    "Alright, I''ll bring Be and head over now."


    *