Back in the city she knew so well, ra could already feel that her perspective had changed. She walked beside Selina, wheeling her luggage along as they talked happily on their way out of the airport.


    While they were chatting, Selina noticed her parents in the distance and waved. Once Selina introduced ra, her parents immediately asked her toe home with them.


    But knowing they had a lot to catch up on, ra politely declined so she wouldn''t be in the way of their reunion.


    After they parted ways, ra left the airport alone, only to find it was pouring outside. With no cabs in sight, she pulled out her phone to book a ride.


    Just as she was about to book one, a ck car pulled up in front of her. She instinctively looked up—and there was Damon, walking toward her with an umbre.


    It had been months since theyst saw each other. He looked noticeably thinner. He wore a dark green trench coat that made him look tall and lean. He was almost like a reed in the wind.


    ra hadn''t expected him to show up, and for a moment, she just stood there, stunned. He walked straight up to her. His eyes held an emotion she couldn''t quite read.


    His voice was low and steady as he said, "It''s been a long time, ra. How have you been?"


    ra instinctively took a few steps back, putting some distance between them.


    "I''m fine," she replied tly.


    Her cold response made something sink in Damon''s chest. Still, he knew this was just how things were now. They were exes and nothing more. He pulled himself together quickly.


    He noticed the suitcase in her hand and said, "It''sing down hard. Let me drive you to the hotel."


    ra checked her phone to find that her ride was already confirmed. She shook her head. "No, thanks. The car will be here any minute."


    "Then at least take this umbre. Your luggage is going to get drenched."


    ra couldn''t figure out why he was suddenly being so considerate, and an uneasy feeling crept over her: "I ''t I don''t need your help, and I don''t see


    any reason for us to stay in touch. Don''t you agree, Mr Croft


    Her words cut deep. They were sharp as a de. Hidden inside his sleeve, Damon''s hands trembled slightly.


    With a strained smile, he asked, "So we can''t stay friends after the divorce?"


    ra slipped her phone back into her pocket, pulled out her umbre, and watched as her ride pulled up.


    "We were just ssmates even before the divorce. So let''s leave it at that. We were never really in the same world, so there''s no reason to be friends now," she said.


    There wasn''t a trace of warmth in her voice.


    Damon was rooted to the spot. His eyes followed the driver as he packed her suitcase into the trunk. She opened the car door and snapped her umbre shut.


    Suddenly, he felt something slipping away from him. Without thinking, he lunged forward and grabbed the door just before it closed.


    His voice came through steady and clear over the pounding rain. "I don''t think we came from different worlds, ra. Maybe you''ve heard people gossip about where you''re from or say you shouldn''t have married me, but need you to understand that I never looked at you like that.


    "Not once did I think you weren''t good enough to be with me. You''ve taken on life straight on and gone after what you want without hesitation. You don''t have to put yourself down."


    ra had been on her own for nearly ten years, and no one had ever said


    anything like that to her. She turned slightly and gave him a smile she hardly ever showed.


    "Thank you," she said.