Past Love's Expiry Date

He grows up with Sabrina Reed, who used to be his brother's fiancée. He's always respected her as his future sister-in-law. But after his brother's untimely death, she slowly becomes the woman who holds his heart. He thinks she'll eventually marry him… until she shows up with her hand in another man's. She says, "I'm getting married. From today onward, you can only think of me as your sister!" Chapter 1 "Mr. Scott, I've made up my mind. I'm going to Euressa to pursue my career." On the other end of the phone, Jefferson Scott was all smiles. "You should've done this sooner. With your talent, if you'd come earlier, you'd definitely be an internationally renowned photographer by now." Hendrix Gorman smiled politely. "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Scott." "When are you planning to come?" Hendrix thought for a moment before responding, "Probably in about two weeks. I still have some things to wrap up here." "Alright. You know, Nicholas passed away early. Sabrina has been looking after you for all these years. She's been incredible to you. Now that you're planning to settle abroad, you should have a proper talk with her." After hanging up, Hendrix glanced over at the woman who was trying on her wedding dress in the distance and the man standing beside her with a smile. He couldn't help but give a bitter smile. Sabrina Reed had indeed taken great care of him. She had been attentive to every little detail and had always been there for him. In fact, Sabrina was an orphan. But she and Hendrix's older brother, Nicholas Gorman, had been betrothed to each other since childhood by their families. So when her family had fallen on hard times, the Gorman family had taken her in. Unfortunately, Nicholas had passed away at a young age, and their engagement had never been fulfilled. All these years, it had been just Hendrix and Sabrina growing up together. Even the elders had joked, "Why are you two always sticking together? People might start thinking something's going on." Sabrina had asked, "What would they think?" "They'd think you two are a couple!" Sabrina had looked at Hendrix with that gentle smile on her lips just like now and replied, "Let them think whatever they want." Back then, Hendrix had felt a mix of confusion and surprise. But when he had looked into Sabrina's warm and loving eyes, his face had turned slightly red. People lived in moments. And that moment had become the happiest of his life. He had been waiting for Sabrina to confess to him so he could marry her in the grandest ceremony without hesitation. But as he waited, what he got was her eyes looking toward another man. Rowan Shepard was her secretary. At the time, Sabrina had laid several resumes in front of Hendrix and said, "Hendrix, help me pick one." Hendrix had been hesitant. "I'm not good at this. You should let HR handle this." But Sabrina had insisted, "My secretary will probably be seeing you often in the future. Pick someone you like, so you'll feel more comfortable when you interact." Rowan had been the one Hendrix had picked out to be Sabrina's secretary. But what he hadn't expected was that he had actually chosen a romantic rival instead of a secretary. "Hendrix!" Rowan excitedly called out to him from a distance. "Come help me pick. What do you think about this suit to match Bri's wedding dress? She can't decide. She says it's all fine, no matter what I try on." Hendrix sighed. "It's your suit. If you think it looks good, then that's what matters." Rowan, ever so patient, said, "Hendrix, you know my background isn't great. I'm afraid my taste isn't high enough to match Bri's. You, though, you're a photographer. Your taste must be top-notch!" "I'm only good with photography, not picking out suits," Hendrix replied. Rowan's tone dropped slightly, and there was a hint of hurt in his voice. "Hendrix, are you still upset with me?" Hendrix opened his mouth to explain but wasn't sure how. He wasn't upset with Rowan. He just couldn't understand how Sabrina, who had once been so close to him, could suddenly fall for someone else. "Bri, why don't you go talk to Hendrix? I think he's still upset about what happened last time." Sabrina replied, "He wouldn't be." "It was my mistake. I accused him wrongly. Maybe we should hold off on the wedding until Hendrix is okay with it." Sabrina frowned. "How can we delay the wedding just because he's upset?" "But he's your family and someone you care about. I want his blessing," Rowan said. Sabrina hesitated before slowly walking toward Hendrix. Her voice was slightly cold as she asked, "Are you still mad about last time?" Hendrix turned his head away. "I'm not." "You suddenly hugged me that time. It's normal for Rowan to misunderstand. How can you suddenly hug me like that? Hendrix, you're an adult now. You should be more mindful of your actions." Hendrix looked at the slight reproach on her face, and his eyes instantly welled up. Back when Sabrina had still loved him, it had always been her clinging to him. Whenever others had been around, he had tried to keep a little distance from her, but she had pulled him right back to her side with a hint of dissatisfaction. When he had traveled to the countryside for inspiration, she had been right there with him. When he had gone to Afrona to film the animal migration, she had followed him there too. Sabrina had once said that no matter where they were, she would always stand by him. Anytime Hendrix turned around, she would always be there. It had been the day he had won an award for his photography in an international competition. He had instinctively hugged Sabrina, wanting to share the joy with her. But Rowan had barged in without knocking and had seen the whole thing. From that day on, Sabrina had become distant and cold, avoiding Hendrix at every turn. Hendrix took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. "Sorry, I was too excited at that time and caused Mr. Shepard to misunderstand. I'll be more careful from now on. It won't happen again." Sabrina nodded slightly. "I'm glad you understand." He gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment and said, "You two continue. I'm not feeling well. I'll go first." As he turned to walk out of the bridal shop, his heart ached. Hendrix pulled out his phone and booked a flight. Two weeks from now, he would board that plane and leave this place and Sabrina for good. Chapter 2 Hendrix didn't get home until the early hours of the morning. Making the decision to leave had been instantaneous, but the bond he'd had with Sabrina for over 20 years wasn't something that could just vanish. He wasn't that strong to simply let go. To avoid any regrets, he figured it was best to stay away from Sabrina for the next couple of weeks. When he got back to Gorman Manor, the house was pitch dark. Hendrix didn't bother turning on the lights. He dragged his tired body straight toward his bedroom. But then, a voice called out to him from the living room, "Hendrix." He turned around and saw someone sitting on the couch. "Yes, Mr. Shepard?" Rowan was wearing a black silk robe. It was a robe Hendrix knew too well. Sabrina had one just like it, but in red. It was obviously a matching set. Rowan gave a slight smile. "Bri got this robe for me. Do you think it looks good?" As he sat up straight, the red marks on his body gradually became visible. Against the black silk, they seemed even more suggestive. He gently touched the mark on his neck and winced in mock pain before complaining, "Bri's taste in dresses is questionable, but her taste in sleepwear? Spot on. She says… my abs are the most attractive she's ever seen." Hendrix stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at Rowan with a cold gaze. He smirked slightly. "Rowan, you should tone it down." "Tone it down? What do you mean?" "The sleaze." Rowan chuckled softly. "But Bri loves it. The second she gets home, she insists I take a shower and then—" "Enough. I don't want to hear it." "Whether you want to hear it or not, it's the truth. She's crazy about my body. Your 20 years of history don't even matter. People just choose who they're most compatible with in bed." Hendrix didn't feel like wasting any more time on Rowan. He turned to walk away. "Go ahead and perform your little show. I don't have the time to watch." But Rowan didn't let up. He quickly caught up to Hendrix. "You can't see the marks Bri left on me from way over there, can you? Don't go, Hendrix. Come closer and take a good look." As he spoke, he had already caught up and grabbed Hendrix's arm. A wave of disgust rose in Hendrix's stomach. He instinctively pulled away. "Don't touch me!" From down the hall, Sabrina emerged from the bedroom and asked, "What are you two talking about at this time?" Just as Hendrix was about to speak, Rowan flashed him a sly grin. Then, in an instant, Rowan's expression shifted to one of shock. He tumbled down the stairs with a shriek. "Rowan!" Sabrina immediately set down the glass of milk she was holding and rushed to him. She pulled him into her arms. "Are you okay?" Rowan lay in her embrace and said, "I'm fine. Don't blame Hendrix. It wasn't his fault." Sabrina lifted her gaze. When she looked at Hendrix, there was clear disappointment in her eyes. "Hendrix, no matter how you feel about Rowan, you can't push him down the stairs! Do you realize how dangerous that could've been?" Her voice softened as she turned back to Rowan. She gently helped him to his feet. "Let's go back to the room. I'll check to make sure you're not hurt." Rowan said, "We should probably keep a little distance in front of Hendrix from now on. It's natural for him to feel possessive. After all, he used to be the one by your side, and now there's me. It's tough for him to accept. We should give him time to adjust." Sabrina coldly replied, "He'll have to get used to it eventually." She helped Rowan back to their bedroom. Before they went in, Rowan turned around and flashed a gesture of victory at Hendrix. Hendrix suddenly felt as if the world he knew was slipping away from him. Rowan's presence had shattered his world entirely. He couldn't understand why Sabrina had fallen for someone like Rowan. Could it really be, as Rowan claimed, that people always went for the thrill when it came to love and desire? Hendrix didn't get it. But at that moment, he didn't care to understand. The next morning, Hendrix went to the magazine office. He had been a staff photographer there for three years, and his relationships with his colleagues were excellent. When the editor-in-chief, Noah Richardson, received his resignation letter, he was surprised. "Is it because of the pay? You could've just mentioned it. I can talk to the boss about it." Smiling, Hendrix shook his head. "Thanks, Mr. Richardson, but it's not about the pay." "Then what's the reason?" "I have other plans for my life." Noah's face lit up in understanding. "Are you planning to marry Sabrina? I've seen how much she's cared for you all these years. Getting married is a good thing. I won't stop you, then." After hearing the first half of Noah's words, Hendrix wanted to explain that Sabrina was getting married, but the groom wasn't him. However, after Noah finished speaking, Hendrix lost the desire to explain. With the complicated mess between him, Sabrina, and Rowan, there was no way to explain it all in a few words. Right now, he just wanted to wrap up his resignation and leave this painful place in two weeks. "Oh, by the way, Hendrix, when's the wedding? Be sure to send me an invite so I can celebrate with you both," Noah said. Hendrix gave a stiff smile. Just then, Nathan Cooper, the receptionist, came rushing over. After knocking on the door, he poked his head in excitedly. "Hendrix, Sabrina's here to pick you up again. And she came with a surprise today!" Chapter 3 As Hendrix exited the office, he saw Sabrina leaning against her black Cullinan, lost in thought. He walked closer and finally saw what Nathan had meant by "surprise". The car was filled with fresh, red roses. The front passenger seat was the only place not covered in roses. Both the back seat and the trunk were packed to the brim with them. Behind him, Hendrix could hear the laughter of a few female colleagues, whom he usually got along with. Hiding behind the company sign at the entrance, they were secretly peeking over and giggling. Sabrina had always brought him small surprises when she picked him up—figurines, game merch, or food he liked. The colleagues had seen it all before, but they still always teased him about it. "Every time Sabrina comes, the whole office gets a treat. We're all just lucky to be around Hendrix." Hendrix usually just laughed it off and divided up the treats Sabrina brought for everyone. Now, it seemed like everyone was just waiting to get their share of roses from her car. He called out, "Bri." Sabrina lifted her head, but her face darkened. Her tone remained icy. "Don't address me so affectionately. Call me Sabrina from now on." Hendrix froze for a moment. He slowly nodded. "Got it, Sabrina." "I was too harsh last night. Don't take it to heart," Sabrina said. "I won't." "But you're not a child anymore. Don't do something as dangerous as pushing someone down the stairs next time." Hendrix looked up in disbelief and laughed in frustration. "So, you came all the way here to reprimand me?" Sabrina's face darkened further. "You still don't think you were wrong?" "Sabrina, you've known me for over 20 years. Even if I wanted to hurt him, I wouldn't be stupid enough to do it in my own house!" Hendrix yelled but immediately regretted it. It didn't matter. He was leaving anyway. There was no point in explaining. "Forget it. Go. Don't disturb me at work." As Hendrix made his way back to the office, his colleagues, who had been joking around moments ago, suddenly sensed the tension. Their expressions changed to concern. "Hendrix, did you and Sabrina have a fight?" "Don't be mad. She brought so many roses to make up for it. Give her a chance." "Yeah, Hendrix. You should be grateful. You're really lucky to find someone like her." Hendrix kept a blank expression and softly said, "Stop standing here. Get back to work." His reputation as an accomplished photographer gave him authority in the office. The younger staff followed his lead and walked back to their desks with their heads down. Nathan, who was closest to him, pulled him aside. "Hendrix, can I ask Sabrina for a bouquet of roses? It's my girlfriend's birthday today, and I want to give them to her." Hendrix felt a headache coming on. "I'll buy you some later." Once back at his desk, Hendrix tried to focus on his work, but his mind was still a mess. After he had barely managed to edit a few photos from an earlier shoot, his phone buzzed. Rowan had sent several pictures of different robes. "Which one of these do you like?" He ended the text with a blushing emoji. But those weren't just ordinary robes. They were sheer, almost completely see-through. Before long, those messages were deleted. "Sorry, Hendrix. I sent that to the wrong person," Rowan wrote. Hendrix turned off his phone and shoved it into his drawer. They both knew Rowan hadn't made a mistake. He had meant to send it to him. It wasn't until after work that Hendrix took his phone out again and turned it on. There were no missed calls or messages—absolutely nothing. In the past, if he couldn't be reached for even half an hour, Sabrina would bombard him with calls and messages or even show up at the office. But now there was nothing. However, he had received an Instagram notification. He opened it and immediately saw a familiar scene—a black Cullinan filled with roses. Rowan was holding a bouquet in one hand while his other arm was around Sabrina's waist. The two were very close. The caption read, "Thank you, darling. This is the best birthday gift I've ever received." Oh. So today was Rowan's birthday. All the flowers in Sabrina's car were for him. After work, Hendrix didn't feel like going home. But then his mother, Carley Schroeder, called. She sounded worried. "Hendrix, why have you been staying so late at work lately? Bri asked me if she should pick you up just now." Hendrix didn't want to ride with her anymore. Neither the front seat nor the roses belonged to him. "I'll take a cab home, Mom." "Alright." Hendrix ordered a cab. When he got home, he found both Sabrina and Rowan already there. Rowan, carrying a large suitcase, was walking out of Hendrix's bedroom. "Welcome back, Hendrix." Hendrix's temper flared instantly. "Who let you into my room?" Chapter 4 Upon hearing Hendrix's question, Sabrina slammed her cup onto the table. "I let him in. Any problem?" Hendrix's voice rose. "Without asking me? How can you let him invade my room and mess with my things?" "Hendrix, I bought everything you own. Since I bought them, Rowan has every right to touch them." Her words hit him like a cold slap. Rowan gently chided, "Bri, don't talk to Hendrix like that. You'll hurt his feelings." Then he turned to Hendrix and said, "I heard from the household staff that Bri's clothes and shoes used to be kept in your room. Apparently, she had so many that they took up half your closet, and you had no space for your own. So I thought I'd help and move her stuff to our room." Sabrina used to cling to Hendrix all the time. Growing up, he had never received a single love letter—Sabrina had intercepted every one of them. Later, she had gone as far as moving all her clothes into his bedroom, claiming it was so she could wear the dresses and heels Hendrix picked for her each morning before work. He knew her wardrobe better than she did, down to which shelf held each dress and bag. Hendrix hurried upstairs and rushed straight into his room. The room looked like a tornado had swept through. There were clothes, gadgets, and figurines scattered everywhere. Hendrix angrily pointed at the mess scattered across the floor and demanded an explanation from Rowan. "Is this what you call helping?" Rowan apologized, "I'm sorry, Hendrix. I accidentally—" "Accidentally? You've accidentally turned my room into a post-tornado disaster? Your 'accident' must have been quite something!" Sabrina's voice cut through like a whip. "Watch your tone, Hendrix!" Hendrix smiled bitterly. "I did nothing this time, yet it's still my fault?" "Rowan is my fiancé. You need to respect him," Sabrina shot back. "Why don't you come up and take a look for yourself first, Sabrina?" Sabrina slowly walked upstairs. As she saw the utter chaos in the room, she was taken aback for a brief moment. But that moment passed quickly. A soft laugh escaped her lips as she turned to Rowan. "Maybe we should have the staff tidy our bedroom from now on." "But I don't want anyone touching my clothes, especially... my robes." He emphasized "robes" in a suggestive tone, and his gaze grew more intimate. Sabrina sighed and nodded in resignation. "Fine, I'll handle it from now on. Okay?" Rowan asked, "Bri, do you think I'm a little silly?" "It's alright. As long as I'm here, it's okay if you're a little silly." Hendrix squeezed his eyes shut. He had never hated the dreaded resignation handover period so much. Otherwise, he would have already flown across the ocean, avoiding this chaotic and disgusting scene. "Hendrix, calculate how much damage Rowan's done to your clothes and equipment. Just give me a total, and I'll compensate you for it," Sabrina said. Hendrix let out a bitter laugh. Sabrina was actually using money to shut his mouth. Rowan casually nudged his arm and whispered, "Hendrix, feel free to overstate the cost. With me here, she'll have to pay whatever you ask." Sabrina shot back with affection, "So now you're teaming up with an outsider to empty out my wallet, huh?" Rowan stuck his tongue out. "Well, I'm like Hendrix's brother now. Of course, I'm going to support my little brother." Hendrix scoffed at those words. Sabrina had actually called him an outsider. Well, she and Rowan were the closest to each other now. He was indeed the outsider among the three of them. Just then, Hendrix's phone rang. It was Jefferson. He composed himself and answered, "Yes, Mr. Scott?" "I remember your bird photography series was impressive," Jefferson said. "The magazine editor wants to see it again. Could you send me the negatives?" "Sure, Mr. Scott. Just a moment." Hendrix made his way back to his bedroom. He had always preferred using film cameras, and his negatives were stored safely in a locked drawer. As he reached for the key, he noticed the entire cabinet was damp. "I'm sorry, Hendrix," Rowan's voice echoed. "I accidentally spilled some coffee earlier and didn't want it to stain your cabinet, so I washed it down with water." Hendrix's heart sank. Ignoring Rowan, he hurried to unlock the drawer. The moment he opened it, his worst fears were confirmed. Rows of negatives were all soaked in water. Some had already unraveled, others had changed color, and many were tangled up in a mess. The water was now a brownish hue. These were the negatives of all his photography work from over three years. They were completely ruined! Hendrix's body trembled with rage. He could barely speak. Sabrina, having entered the room, saw the damage and shrugged nonchalantly. "You should tally up the cost of these negatives. I'll cover it for Rowan." Hendrix snapped. "Can you even afford this? He doesn't understand what these negatives mean to me, but don't you?" Sabrina frowned. "But they're ruined now. Getting upset won't change anything. Rowan was just trying to help by tidying up my clothes. The coffee spill was an accident." "An accident? Does that mean everything can just be brushed off as an accident? If someone accidentally crashes a car and kills someone, is 'sorry' enough to make it okay?" "Hendrix Gorman!" Sabrina's voice hardened. "Stop being unreasonable. A ruined photo is not the same as a lost life. You can always take new pictures. Why are you making this so dramatic?" On the other end of the phone, Jefferson's voice held a note of concern. "Are you okay, Hendrix? Is everything alright?" Hendrix sighed heavily and replied, "Mr. Scott, I'm afraid I can't provide the negatives right now. I'll try to re-shoot the series and send them to you as soon as possible." "Alright. Take your time," Jefferson replied. "The visa process will take at least half a month anyway." "Okay." Sabrina caught the key word. "Visa? You're going abroad?" Chapter 5 Hendrix hung up the phone. He took a deep breath and began quietly cleaning up the mess on the floor. "Mr. Scott's visa expired. He's too old to be traveling back and forth, so he asked me to help sort it out." Sabrina looked at him suspiciously. "But isn't his daughter in the country? Why doesn't he have her handle it?" Hendrix snapped, "Why don't you call him and ask?" "I'm not that free." "Then stop asking so many questions." Hendrix spent the entire night cleaning up his bedroom. The clothes and shoes Rowan had left in a mess weren't worth packing, so he piled them in the corner of the closet. He did manage to salvage a few rolls of negatives. But having been soaked in water, they were ruined beyond repair. Rowan sent him a message. "Today is just a warning." It stayed on the screen for two minutes before it was deleted. That way, Hendrix would see it, but there would be no proof left behind. But after what happened last time, Hendrix was prepared. As soon as he saw the message, he took a screenshot. He smirked as he sent the screenshot to Rowan. This time, Rowan didn't respond for a long while. Hendrix couldn't help but laugh. Did Rowan really think his tricks could work over and over again, with no caution on his part? That was an insult to his intelligence. About ten minutes later, Rowan finally replied, "What's your point?" "No point. Just a warning. If you keep acting like this, I'll send the screenshot to Sabrina." After sending the message, Hendrix turned off his phone. Rowan could delete the message if he wanted to. Hendrix didn't care what Sabrina would think if she saw it. Since the day he had decided to leave, he had stopped expecting anything from her. At breakfast the next morning, Carley noticed his pale complexion and asked with concern, "Hendrix, did you not sleep last night? You look awful." Hendrix muttered, "Yeah, but it's fine. A couple of days of rest, and I'll be good." Carley nodded. "Right, you need to rest. You've got a lot to do for Bri's wedding. She's practically grown up in our house, and I treat her like my own daughter. It's such a big deal that she's finally found someone she loves. We've got to make sure her wedding goes off perfectly." Hendrix looked up. "They've set a date?" "Yeah, it's next weekend. Bri didn't tell you? She used to run to you with every little thing, but now she didn't even tell you her wedding date?" Next weekend? Hendrix checked the calendar. It was the day he planned to leave. At that moment, Sabrina and Rowan came out of the bedroom. Rowan greeted Hendrix with a big grin as if nothing had happened. "Hendrix, I've talked to Bri. We've decided you're going to be the photographer for our wedding. You've got to make sure we look amazing." Hendrix flatly refused. "I've got plans that day. I won't be able to make it." Rowan pouted. "Are you still mad about what happened yesterday? I'm sorry, really. If you're still angry, I-I'll apologize on my knees." He bent slightly, as if he were about to kneel. Sabrina quickly pulled him back. "He's not worth you kneeling to." Carley stepped in to smooth things over. "No need for that, Rowan. Hendrix is just upset about the negatives. I'm sure he's angry, but you don't need to get on your knees." Rowan whimpered, "I just feel like I can't do anything right. I'm really sorry, Hendrix." Sabrina reassured him, "It's fine. Just be more careful next time. Let's eat. Didn't you say you were hungry earlier?" Rowan winked at her playfully. "Well, that's because of you. If you hadn't made such a fuss this morning... I wouldn't be so tired and hungry." "Alright, it's all my fault. Now sit down and eat." She spread jam on her toast and continued, "Hendrix, my wedding is next weekend. No matter what happens, I want you to push everything aside and be our wedding photographer. It's a way to honor the bond we've shared for over 20 years." Suddenly, the doorbell rang. A maid went to answer it, only to see a person she didn't recognize standing outside. "May I ask who you are here for?" The person at the door was a modest-looking middle-aged woman. Smiling, she said, "Hi, may I speak with Mr. Hendrix Gorman? I'm from a charity organization. "He contacted me about a batch of clothes he wishes to donate to the impoverished communities in the mountains. We had arranged to pick them up today." Hendrix stood up immediately. "I'm Hendrix. The clothes are all packed. I'll go get them." He went upstairs and brought down several large bags full of clothes before handing them to the woman. The woman thanked him warmly. "Thank you so much for your generosity, Mr. Gorman. The weather's getting colder, and many people in the mountains don't have enough clothes for the winter. These will really help." "No problem. Please make sure the clothes get to them soon." "Don't worry. We will—" "Wait." Sabrina walked over with a puzzled look. As she glanced down at the large bags of clothes on the floor, she frowned. "You donated all your clothes?" Chapter 6 Carley was surprised as well. "Hendrix, I get that you want to help out, but we could just donate money. Why donate all your clothes? It's getting cold. What are you going to wear?" Hendrix looked at Sabrina and chuckled lightly. "You said you'd help Rowan compensate me, right? These clothes are old, and I don't need them anymore. I'll use the money to buy new ones. Is there a problem with that?" Sabrina stared at him for a moment before nodding. "Fine, how much do you need? I can transfer it now." Hendrix raised one finger. "A million dollars? Okay," Sabrina agreed. "No," Hendrix replied. "Ten million?" Rowan immediately panicked. "How are a few clothes worth ten million dollars?" Hendrix gave him a cold look and then turned to Sabrina. "One dollar." The clothes were all gifts from Sabrina. Now that he was leaving, he didn't want to take her things or her money. Just like she said, he was an outsider. One dollar was a fair exchange. Over 20 years of feelings would be wiped clean. Sabrina frowned slightly. "What exactly are you trying to do, Hendrix?" "Are you giving it or not? Transfer the money now or forget it." After a moment's pause, Sabrina finally made the transfer. "I've kept my promise. The damages Rowan caused have been compensated. Don't take your frustration out on him anymore." Hendrix glanced at the dollar in his bank account and smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I won't." "And one more thing. You're going to be the photographer at our wedding. It's Rowan's wish. You have to come." Hendrix thought for a moment. His flight was in the evening, and it would be their wedding night. He nodded. "Alright." In the days that followed, Hendrix barely returned to Gorman Manor. He took a trip to the countryside and spent some time photographing birds. He sent the new shots to Jefferson. Jefferson was ecstatic when he saw them and immediately video-called Hendrix. "Hendrix, your composition and color work have improved so much! Several magazines are eager to work with you. When you get here, we'll meet with them and pick the best one!" Hendrix was genuinely happy with the praise. "Thanks, Mr. Scott." "By the way, did you talk to Sabrina? Did she agree to let you develop your career in Euressa?" Hendrix laughed. "She probably can't wait for me to go now." "That's great! No more worries. Honestly, I thought convincing her would be a hassle," Jefferson said. Hendrix asked Jefferson for his address and sent his equipment ahead. Jefferson would keep it for him until he arrived. On the day of Sabrina and Rowan's wedding, Hendrix picked up the camera from the wedding planner. Since Rowan got what he wanted, his face showed an undeniable smugness. When Hendrix was taking photos, he struck a pose like a victorious winner. While Sabrina was chatting with the guests, Rowan insisted on pulling her away and urging her to take photos with him. Feeling sorry for Hendrix, Carley stepped in to intervene. "Rowan, you've had plenty of photos already. Let Hendrix take a break." Rowan replied, "Hendrix is so talented. A few photos won't tire him out. Right, Hendrix?" Carley wasn't having it and snapped, "I'll have the photographer from the wedding planner's side take your photos. Hendrix needs a rest." "But no photographer compares to Hendrix. Today is a once-in-a-lifetime day for Bri and me. We must have Hendrix capture our happiest moment." Hendrix said nothing. After taking the last shot, he handed the camera back to the wedding planner. With that, he turned and walked away. Carley hurried after him. "Where are you going, Hendrix?" Hendrix smiled. "Mom, Bri will have Rowan to take care of her. You should take better care of yourself." "Why are you talking like that? Even though Bri's married, I still have you." Smiling, Hendrix took her hand. "Yes, I'll always be your son." Carley sighed. "Hendrix, I really thought… Bri would end up with you. I thought she'd become my daughter-in-law. But she suddenly—" "Let's not talk about this, Mom." "Alright." Just then, Hendrix's phone rang. It was Jefferson. "Hendrix, have you reached the airport? What time do you land? My wife and I will pick you up." "I'm heading there now," Hendrix replied. "Great, we'll see you in eight hours." "Okay." After hanging up, Hendrix checked the time. It was almost time to leave for the airport. He didn't even go back to Gorman Manor. He grabbed a cab straight to the airport. While he waited in line to board, Rowan sent him a message. "Thanks for photographing Bri and me. We both love the pictures. I'll be like a big brother to you from now on. Let's get along well." He ended the text with a victory hand emoji. Hendrix snorted and took a screenshot. This time, he sent the screenshot directly to Sabrina. "Sabrina, congratulations on your wedding. We'll never meet again." After sending it, he blocked both Sabrina and Rowan. From now on, they would be completely erased from his life. The flight attendant greeted him with a smile. "Have a pleasant flight, sir." Hendrix returned the smile politely. "Thank you. I'm looking forward to it." Then, he boarded the plane without a second glance.