Chapter 550 Dawn
"Diana, you don't have to do this."
"Do what?"
"Take care of me like I'm some kind of patient."
His voice was low, but he finally dared to look her in the eyes.
"I've got my memory back. I can handle the company's affairs myself, and I can manage my personal life too. You've been so good to me, I..."
"What are you gonna do?"
Diana asked with interest, but he kept eating without answering.
They finished the meal in silence. Diana, like a servant, brought the food and then took the empty plates away.
Watching her leave, Charles silently finished the sentence in his heart.
'You've been so good to me, I don't want you to leave.'
The day Diana left, the villa was unusually quiet.
Benjamin had been haunted by the kidnapping incident, and although he was reluctant to leave Charles, he felt more inclined to follow Diana.
So, that morning, the two of them went downstairs together as usual. They didn't have much luggage, just Benjamin carrying a Snowy doll.
Charles was already sitting at the dining table, with three breakfasts laid out in front of him: golden fried eggs, perfectly toasted bread, and three steaming cups of milk. It was what he often made when he had amnesia.
"Have breakfast before you go."
He didn't look at her, his voice hoarse beyond recognition.
Diana noticed his red, swollen eyes and pale face, clearly indicating a sleepless night. This proud Charles was expressing his reluctance in his own clumsy way.
Diana and Benjamin sat across from him, and the three of them ate breakfast in silence, not mentioning the impending farewell.
Dean stood at the door and reminded them,
"It's about time to leave."
Diana nudged Benjamin's shoulder, signaling him to go ahead. Understanding her intention, Dean pursed his lips,
"Ten minutes, we'll wait in the car."
The living room fell silent.
"Aren't you going to see us off?"
Diana asked calmly.
"No, I have company matters to attend to."
Charles's fingers tapped the table unconsciously, a habit he had when extremely anxious.
She was always meant to leave. Loving her meant giving her what she wanted.
He had a plane ticket in his pocket, but if he went to the airport, he would become a stalker, and everything would be in vain.
"Charles." Diana took a deep breath, as if making a decision,
"I've been thinking, if losing your memory made you a better person, then maybe the 'real you' was never black and white. I hated the controlling you."
She paused for a moment, tilting her head slightly,
"But the you who learned to respect me and saved me after losing your memory, was quite lovable. Both are parts of you, aren't they?"
Charles's chest heaved violently,
"Diana."
He forced himself to calm down,
"It's different. The me with amnesia was like a blank slate, and now all the stains are back. I can't pretend those hurts don't exist."
"So what?"
Diana looked him in the eye,
"Do you want to escape, to push me away?"
Charles was silent for a long time, so long that Diana thought he wouldn't answer. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely audible,
"I just don't want to be your cage anymore."
This sentence hit Diana hard. She suddenly understood Charles's pain. He remembered the pure love during his amnesia and the twisted control before it, and now he was torn between the two.
"You know what?" she said softly.
"If you had understood earlier that love is about respect, not possession, we might have had a better ending."
Charles looked up sharply, a familiar stubbornness flashing in his eyes, quickly replaced by pain.
"Yeah, you're right. Go ahead, like a bird, I won't hold you back."
Diana took a deep breath, almost gritting her teeth.
"Charles, look at me."
He slowly raised his head, his eyes showing a vulnerability Diana had never seen before.
"I won't stay because you command me, because I hate being commanded," she said each word clearly. "But if you ask me to stay, I might consider it."
Charles's pupils dilated slightly, his Adam's apple bobbed.
"I... don't have the right to ask you for anything."
"Not as your subordinate," Diana continued, her heart racing. "But as an equal person, I'll give you a chance to get to know me again."
Charles's hand trembled slightly. He looked down at his bandaged right leg, his voice breaking.
"Even like this?"
Diana maintained her posture, looking him in the eye.
"Even the injured you, the controlling you, the respectful you, the complete you. But there's one condition."
"What condition?" Charles held his breath.
"Chase me again," Diana smiled, her eyes mischievous. "Without any control, sincerely chase me."
Charles's expression shifted from shock to disbelief, finally settling into a near-reverent hope.
He carefully took her hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it, as if kissing a fragile treasure.
"I will."
His heart, which had been dead for a while, started beating wildly again.
Charles felt like a young boy, already flustered. He wanted to present the most precious things in the world to make his beloved girl happy.
But at that moment, Diana withdrew her hand, raising an eyebrow.
"The plane is about to take off, I have to go."
Charles's heart, which had been burning hot, suddenly felt like it had been doused with cold water. His voice trembled.
"You're still leaving?"
Seeing him on the verge of tears, Diana held back her laughter.
"What? The plane ticket is bought, wouldn't it be a waste not to use it? I'm going on a trip, are you going to stop me?"
Remembering his earlier vow, Charles suddenly shivered.
"No! Go ahead, I won't stop you, have fun."
He hurriedly fumbled in his pocket, trying to give Diana a card, but his plane ticket fell out, as if mocking him.
The atmosphere was a bit awkward, but Diana couldn't hold back anymore, laughing heartily.
He blushed, pretending not to see, and handed her the black card.
"Buy whatever you like."
Diana took it without hesitation, spending Charles's money without any guilt.
"Thanks, I'm off."
She turned around, the hem of her dress fluttering like a nimble butterfly, quickly flying away.
Charles's gaze darkened as she left, then he bent down, trying to reach the plane ticket. But the distance was always just a bit too far. Just as he was about to give up,
A hand picked it up for him, Diana's voice sweet and laughing.
"It would be a shame to waste this plane ticket."
Outside, the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on the ticket to Celestria.
The long night was finally over, and their story was just beginning...
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