At that moment, Lina noticed me. Her face lit up with joy as she quickly walked over, her eyes filled with excitement.


    She said enthusiastically, "William, you''re here too? What a coincidence! Are you here to shop? I never expected to run into you here. If I had known, I would''ve put on some makeup. I didn''t do anything to my hair, and I feel so embarrassed to talk


    to you."


    She touched her hair, then her cheek. She avoided my gaze, looking shy beyond


    measure.


    She really hadn''t done much with her makeup, but it made her appear even younger, purer, and more beautiful.


    As the former campus belle of Welsington University, her appearance was undoubtedly wless.


    I might have been captivated by that face in the past, but now, as I look at her standing before me, my gaze held neither sorrow nor joy.


    I felt nothing for her anymore.


    Looking at her was no different than looking at a piece of clothing.


    She fidgeted awkwardly, and for a moment, it felt like we were back to when we first met. She was so shy and innocent back then. She couldn''t even meet my eyes, keeping her head lowered for a long while before sneaking a quick nce


    at me.


    Her timid expression made her seem pitiful. But sadly, this innocent act that had once fooled me no longer had any effect on me.


    "It is a coincidence, but I have things to do, so you can continue shopping. I''m leaving."


    I turned to walk away, but Lina immediately blocked my path.


    "Wait, William! If you''re alone, can we shop together? There''s so much I want to


    say to you, and I need to apologize properly."


    "Apologize?"


    I was confused. She hadn''t really done anything recently.


    "Apologize for what?"


    Tears welled up in Lina''s eyes as she softly spoke. "I want to apologize for betraying, using, and deceiving you... Maybe you won''t believe it, but these past days have been unbearable.


    "Every day Thoped to run into you to talk. I hoped to apologize properly and reflect on everything. William, I truly am sorry. You are the person I''ve hurt most in my life!"


    As she spoke, she suddenly covered her mouth and started crying.


    I sighed. "Lina, I don''t need your apology. It would be better if you just left me


    alone. I''m leaving."


    With that, I turned and started to leave.


    But just before I left, I made a gesture to the store manager, signaling thetter to give a 20% discount to Lina.


    Although I said I didn''t care about her apology, I would be happy for her if she genuinely regretted her actions.


    After all, we had been in a rtionship once. I hoped she could find the right path and turn her life around.


    I felt disappointed as I walked out of the store.


    I had hoped to meet Felicia, but it was a misunderstanding.


    I immediately called Isabelle, hoping to meet up with her. But strangely, she didn''t


    answer the phone.


    Had she bought too much and


    couldn''t answer? Or did she not hear


    the call? I remembered that her


    phone was always in hand while we


    were shopping. How could she not answer the phone?


    Unless she didn''t want to.


    Recalling how Charlotte looked down on me, I started to suspect that Charlotte pressured Isabelle and purposely avoided my call.


    Nevertheless, I had promised


    Matthew to take care of things. So,


    even if left, I needed to let Isabelle


    know. I returned to the boutique


    where we were earlier.


    Unfortunately, I couldn''t find them there either.


    Where had those two women gone?


    I called Isabelle again but couldn''t get through this time.