Mina was sobbing. "A woman came to my house just now. She said she''s pregnant with my brother''s baby and wants him to marry her."


    Noreen understood immediately.


    Sheforted Mina, "Your brother is a grown man. He can make his own choices and judgments. You shouldn''t get involved. The most important thing for you is to focus on your studies."


    "But I want you to be my sister-inw." Hearing Noreen''s words only made Mina more upset.


    She also noticed how calm Noreen was, as if she already knew about it.


    This realization sent a chill through Mina''s heart.


    For a woman to remain soposed after learning something like this could only mean one thing.


    She didn''t care about the man, so it didn''t affect her.


    Rosalind soothed Mina for a long time before she finally calmed down.


    Just then, Carman Holt called Noreen''s phone. When he learned Mina was with her,


    he immediately drove over to pick her up.


    Noreen walked Mina downstairs, and they waited for a few minutes.


    During that time, she tried to reason with Mina.


    She exined that the adult world wasplicated.


    Mina seemed to only half-understand, finally saying miserably, "But I really want you to be my sister-inw."


    Even though she knew it was impossible now.


    When Carman saw Noreen, he couldn''t even meet her eyes. He just muttered a quiet apology for the trouble she''d caused.


    "Drive safe," Noreen said, not adding anything else or asking any questions.


    Carman paused, then managed a "Happy New Year."


    Noreen replied in kind.


    As the car pulled away, Carman watched Noreen''s figure shrink in the rearview mirror.


    It felt like something in his world was slowly fading away.


    Mina slumped against the car window, listlessly drawing patterns on the fogged-up ss with her finger.


    "You''re going to regret this, Carman."


    After a long silence, Carman said, "I know."


    At the stroke of midnight, Henry was the first to send Noreen a New Year''s message.


    It was timed perfectly.


    There was nothingplicated about it, just a simple, concise sentence.


    [Noreen, Happy New Year.]


    It was clearly not a group message.


    Noreen thought for a moment and replied with a Happy New Year of her own.


    Across the river, fireworks lit up the sky in a dazzling disy.


    Noreen draped a shawl over her shoulders and went out onto the balcony to watch.


    This year''s fireworks weren''t as


    grandast year''s, but they were


    still beautiful, adding a festive atmosphere to the holiday


    On the other side of the river.


    Jude shouted over the noise, "Is that enough, Dn?"


    Only after Dn nodded did Jude climb up onto the riverbank.


    Rubbing his frozen hands together, he looked up at the fireworks still bursting in the sky and asked, "Why the sudden idea to set off fireworks" here? It''s so far out, and it''s freezing."


    "Isn''t this the designated area for fireworks set by the city?" Dn said casually.


    "Oh," Jude replied. "Then don''t you need to be with your fiancée?"


    He didn''t get along well with her.


    She was too delicate.


    She got upset at the drop of a hat, always making a scene.


    He couldn''t imagine what Dn''s daily life was like.


    Before Dn could answer, his phone rang.


    Jude nced over. Speak of the devil.


    Dn took the call and then drove off to be with Crystal.


    Jude stayed by the river a while longer.


    They say better


    the new year is always


    thest, but he felt


    each y


    year was getting worve


    Justst year at this time, everyone was together, and things were lively and fun.


    In just one short year, so much had changed.