Chapter 9

I was grateful for all the online support. After six months, the cottage renovation was complete, and I'd become a successful content creator with hundreds of thousands of followers.

This new career path was working out - the video income was enough to live on.

I hadn't seen Adeline for months, until she suddenly appeared after half a year.

I'd turned the cottage into a vacation rental, and that day brought an unexpected guest.

It was pouring outside. Looking at the gloomy rain, I sighed, figuring we wouldn't get many guests.

Just then, someone rushed in. I hurried to greet them. "Welcome! Are you here for a room-"

I stopped short - it was Adeline!

She'd lost weight, cut her hair short, and had a new scar on her face.

Her eyes welled up when she saw me. "Henry, I finally found you."

"Why are you here? This isn't a shelter - you've got the wrong place!"

I kept my face cold. Adeline froze, shaking her head. "No! That's not it!"

Seeing her soaked and shivering in the rain, I co