Chapter 9 — The Path I Chose

She nodded, handing the phone over to me. "This is his fiancee, a prominent heiress from the City of Rivers. They say the two families are a perfect match in status and wealth, but look closely at her features. Don't you think she looks remarkably like you?" I leaned in, and the moment the image came into focus, I froze. "Yes, the resemblance is quite striking," I admitted. She chuckled softly. "Right? When they first went public, everyone’s initial reaction upon seeing the photos was to mistake her for you."

"Our old classmates have been gossiping incessantly, claiming that he only sought out a stand-in because he couldn't win your heart."

"Some even said your standards were impossibly high, that even someone like Pho Thanh Tay wasn't good enough for you. But honestly, I think it’s just that he was never worthy of you in the first place."

"In any case, I truly believe you made the right call in refusing to date him back then. The Pho family is incredibly complicated, and he isn't nearly as devoted or steady as he appears on the surface. Even if you had married into that family, there is no guarantee you would have found happiness there."

Finishing her thought, she gestured toward my boyfriend, who was currently preoccupied with capturing the sunset over the beach. She continued, "You are in a much better place now. Your boyfriend is not only handsome but treats you with such tenderness. I truly wish for your lasting happiness." I turned my head, and just at that moment, Louis caught the glow of the twilight and turned to smile at me. "I will be happy," I answered softly. He strode toward me, his movements hurried yet graceful, and reached out to tuck the loose strands of hair that the ocean breeze had whipped across my face. His fingertips carried the lingering warmth of the sunset, and in the depths of his eyes, there was room for nothing—and no one—but me. I looked up at the man smiling so gently beside me, my heart feeling like a vast, clear sky, immensely peaceful and serene. The ultimate fulfillment in life has never been about relentlessly chasing the halos of others; rather, it is found after one has struggled through the mire, relied upon one’s own strength to step proudly into the light, and finally, been embraced by a love that is honest, true, and entirely one's own.