Chapter 104: A New Beginning, or the End of Something?

ELLIE

The trauma of abandonment had haunted me my entire life, even though I didn't quite understand why, given that I had wonderful parents. But scattering Lilian Cooper's ashes into the sea had somehow helped me overcome the lingering sense that I'd always carried within me.

It was so painful yet liberating at the same time. Although it took me a whole afternoon, I managed to say goodbye and express all the things I wanted, even if she couldn't hear them, but deep down, I felt she could. After forgiving her and forgiving myself, I truly felt at peace.

But there were still other issues to deal with, ones that had nothing to do with my biological mother. And it seemed that spending a week in Santa Barbara with my parents hadn't worked as I had hoped, with all my problems disappearing.

Ethan was still living in London. We had genuinely broken up. And I had no idea how I was going to get through this. But I decided to try my best. Immersing myself in my work, as usual.

I returned to New