The Day I Finally Let You Go

Evelyn returned home and began packing the luggage she would take to Southport.

Meanwhile, Mason—who had said he would “be right back”—didn’t contact her for the entire afternoon.

It wasn’t until late at night that the landline in the living room finally rang.

Evelyn guessed it was Mason calling.

She glanced at the phone but didn’t feel like dealing with his excuses, so she let it ring unanswered.

Early the next morning, she was woken by a rapid knock on the door.

When she opened it, Mason was standing there, looking anxious.

“Evelyn, why didn’t you answer my call yesterday?”

There was a hint of grievance in his voice.

“I was too tired from packing and fell asleep.”

Mason’s gaze instinctively shifted past her shoulder, and only then did he notice the piles of packed luggage stacked in the middle of the living room.

A sudden unease rose in his chest.

He grabbed Evelyn’s arm and asked urgently, “You’re packing? Where are you going?”

Evelyn freed herself from his grip and replied calmly, “I’m going to Southport.”

Mason let out a breath of relief.

“So you’re going to visit your parents. When are you leaving? I’ll prepare some gifts for you to bring along. Give them my regards.”

“Tonight’s train.”

“Alright, I’ll drive you to the station. But come back soon, okay? I’ll miss you.”

The last sentence carried a faintly playful tone.

Evelyn smiled silently.

Once she left this time, she would never return to Westbridge again.

Mason didn’t think much of it and helped her close the door behind her.

“Perfect timing. There’s a high school reunion at noon today. Let’s go together.”

Evelyn didn’t refuse.

After she left for Southport, the chances of ever seeing her old classmates again would be slim. She decided to treat this reunion as a farewell.

Just as she was about to get into the car, she realized Anna was already sitting inside.

“We’re all old classmates, after all. Evelyn, you wouldn’t stop me from hitching a ride to the reunion, would you?”

Anna deliberately exposed the cut at the corner of her lip and glanced at her with a provocative smile.

Mason’s expression changed.

He quickly stepped in front of Evelyn, blocking her view as he explained, “Evelyn, don’t overthink it. Her foot hasn’t fully recovered yet. As her commanding officer, I…”

“I know,” Evelyn interrupted lightly. “You’re just giving her a ride as her commanding officer.”

She opened the passenger door and sat down. “Let’s go.”

Mason froze for a moment.

For some reason, even though that was exactly the explanation he had been about to give, hearing her say it so calmly stirred an uneasy feeling in his chest.

After the car started, Evelyn closed her eyes and pretended to rest.

Anna glanced at the woman in the passenger seat, a flash of jealousy crossing her eyes.

She cleared her throat and said with a smile, “I left an earring in the glove compartment last time. Could you take it out and pass it to me?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Mason’s grip tightened unconsciously on the steering wheel.

He glanced nervously at Evelyn beside him.

Evelyn opened the drawer.

Inside were three earrings.

Two pearl studs were hers.

And one tassel earring was identical to the one Anna was wearing.

When Mason first got his driver’s license, he had once looked at her with complete sincerity and promised, “Evelyn, from now on, the passenger seat will belong only to you.”

Now, clearly, there was a second person in that seat.

Evelyn’s face remained expressionless as she took out all three earrings.

She handed one to Anna, then slipped the other two into her bag. After she got out of the car, she would find a trash can and throw them away.

The unease in Mason’s chest grew stronger.

He wanted to say something, but when he saw Evelyn close her eyes again, looking unwilling to talk, he could only give up awkwardly.

When they arrived at the private room for the reunion, Evelyn and Mason immediately became the center of attention.

“Wow, after all these years, the two of you are still inseparable. The golden couple from our class really hasn’t changed at all.”

“Exactly! You two must already be married by now, right? Do you have kids yet?”

Before either of them could answer, Anna—who had been ignored by everyone—quickly spoke up.

“Don’t say things like that. Mason and Evelyn aren’t married. Right now, they’re not even together.”