Chapter 111: So Close, Yet So Far
Two days later, Juniper was about to leave for treatment in the United States. The night before her departure, Christopher came to the hospital again to visit her. However, this time, Christopher brought a photo with him.
"Juniper, is the girl in this photo you?"
The photo showed a scene of her and Magnus throwing snowballs on a snowy day. She really wanted to deny it, but the girl in the photo looked exactly like her. She couldn't deny it.
Her face instantly turned pale. "Christopher, how did you get this photo?"
"So, are you really Magnus's wife?"
"Wife?" Juniper smiled bitterly. "I don't have that privilege. I am not his wife, we're no longer together."
"Then how did you know him?"
"We met in college, we had a relationship. We're just exes."
But if it was just a normal ex-relationship, why would Magnus go to such lengths to find her in Lindwood City?
Christopher, having mingled in the business world for many years, could see through the thoughts of others. When Magnus was mentioned, Juniper's emotions visibly changed. She was clearly hiding something from him.
Christopher noticed that she didn't want to talk about it, and he wouldn't force her.
"Now, Magnus is still in Lindwood City. He appears to be there to sign a contract with our group, but in reality, he's there to find you."
She trembled. She was flustered. "Christopher, thank you for helping me," she said gratefully.
"I won't ask about what happened between you and Magnus. But, Juniper, are you sure you don't want to see him? Your eyes tell me that you still have feelings for him."
She clenched the thin fabric of the blanket, subconsciously twisting it. Christopher noticed this.
"Magnus is currently staying at the Peninsula Hotel in the center of Lindwood City. If you want to go see him..."
Before he could finish, she interrupted, "Christopher, I don't want to see him, I don't want to meet him again."
Christopher sighed, "If you don't want to see him, why are you so upset?"
"Some people, even if they are sad, have to let go." If you can't let go due to a moment of weakness, it will only lead to more pain and hurt in the future. She forced a smile at Christopher and he reached out and touched her head.
"This is your choice, as long as you don't regret it."
After Christopher left, Juniper sat on the hospital bed, wrapped in a blanket, hugging her knees. The dull pain in her chest seemed to intensify, perhaps because her emphysema had worsened.
She picked up her phone and opened the map app. In the search bar, she typed 'Peninsula Hotel'. It was only three miles away from her.
In college, running a marathon was three miles. If the track was half a mile per lap, running six laps would get her to him. Running would only take about half an hour. Taking a taxi without traffic would only take about ten minutes.
So close, yet so far away.
She stood by the window, opened it, and let the night breeze in.
Lindwood City was a southern city, bustling like Imperial Capital, with clear night skies and high visibility. She could even see the brightly lit city center not far away. The spherical landmark building was the Peninsula Hotel.
She gazed at it for a long time. Tomorrow morning, she would leave for treatment in the United States, over ten thousand miles away. In the future, separated by mountains and rivers, it would probably be difficult to reunite.
She quietly closed the window, drew the curtains. Since she had decided not to be Juniper anymore, all the past related to Juniper should be sealed away.
Inside the Peninsula Hotel, Joseph knocked on the door and entered. "Magnus, I've ordered a meal for you. The hotel staff will bring it over later."
Magnus put away the photo in his hand. "Any news about Juniper?"
Joseph shook his head, "Not yet. Magnus, we've asked Christopher to help find her. Maybe we'll have news about Juniper soon, so don't worry."
But Joseph also knew deep down that his words were just to comfort Magnus. Juniper had been missing for over a month since she jumped into the sea. The chances of survival were slim. In fact, they had long accepted the fact that Juniper had passed away, including Juniper's friend Ophelia, who had been urging Magnus to hold a funeral for Juniper.
Only Magnus didn't believe it, and only Magnus went to such lengths to search for her everywhere.
Seeing the man silent, Joseph asked again, "Magnus, we've been staying in Lindwood City for several days. Calls have been coming in from Imperial Capital, should we book tickets back tomorrow morning?"
He wanted to bluntly say that Juniper was already dead, and continuing the search was meaningless, but no one dared to say such words.
After a few seconds, Magnus finally spoke, faintly. "Okay."
It seemed like a compromise. "Well, Magnus, don't forget to eat later. I'll be in my room if you need me."
He was about to leave when Magnus suddenly asked, "Do you think there's still a chance to find her?"
Everyone was directly or indirectly reminding him that Juniper was dead. Joseph, Robert, Michael, Patricia, Ophelia—none of them believed that Juniper was still alive. Only he and Jennifer stood in the endless wait, day after day.
Despair didn't come suddenly; it accumulated bit by bit, consuming his patience, eroding his perseverance. Each of his efforts felt like throwing a pebble into the vast sea, with no response.
Joseph was momentarily stunned, thinking about how to comfort him.
But Magnus, with his head down, said in a hoarse voice, "I suddenly feel tired. I don't want to continue searching. I don't think I can bear the silence and uncertainty anymore."
"Magnus..."
"Let's go back to Imperial Capital tomorrow morning and find a good burial site."
As he spoke, his face showed little emotion. It was as if he had already accepted Juniper's death.
Joseph felt that this calmness was more like resignation. Magnus's eyes were lifeless, devoid of emotion.
The man lit a match with his long fingers. The blue flame climbed up the corner of the photo, gradually engulfing Juniper's bright and smiling face. The flames burned brighter and brighter. In the end, he threw the remaining corner into the ashtray.
Magnus watched as the photo was slowly consumed by the flames, his expression unmoved. Juniper was gone, and hi had finally accepted it.
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