Queena was happy too. As she was about to follow, she spotted a cluster of vendors selling fruit and snacks. "Natty, wait up!" she called out. "There are a bunch of food stalls over there. I''m going to buy some things."


    Natalie jogged back to her side.


    "They have snacks?"


    Queena pointed to the nearby stalls, her eyes wide with excitement. "Let''s go, let''s go! We can get some roasted nuts, some corn on the cob, and some seasonal fruit. Look at how delicious those peaches look! And they have cherries! Oh my god, I love ces like this. This resort is amazing."


    Queena dragged her suitcase over, and the two of them bought a pile of snacks before finally heading inside.


    After checking in, they dropped their things off in their pre-booked rooms, changed their clothes, and headed for the hot springs.


    The water was flowing, channeled into pools sectioned off by smooth river stones, with a thinyer of steam rising from the surface. They had chosen the most expensive option, a private area with its own secluded pool. A small table and a wastebasket were set up nearby for their snacks and fruit.


    A fewrge, lush trees grew beside the pool, their leaves creating a dappled canopy. Sunlight filtered through, reflecting off the water in shimmering patterns. As soon as Natalie sank into the warm water, she felt her entire body rx. "Wow, Queena, this is pure bliss. I feel so much lighter already."


    Seeing her friend so happy, Queena felt relieved. Natalie was a resilient person, but it seemed her love life was destined for turmoil.


    She sat down next to Natalie and looked her in the eye. "Natalie, call me crazy, but I''m getting a strong ''he''s being yed'' vibe from your Mr. Mistake."


    Natalie scoffed. "He''s just Joanna''s backup n, pretending to be some tragic, devoted hero. Why would I warn him? Joanna is the love of his life; he can''t live without her."


    "Even if the man Joanna actually loveses back, he''d probably be willing to share her."


    "Oh my god, you knew?" Queena asked, stunned.


    A cold glint shed in Natalie''s eyes. "Knew? Please. Let''s not talk about him, Queena. Do you know I actually cried over that man before we left? Why bring him up? Now, any ce he''s been, I feel like the air is contaminated."


    "I remember a month ago, I was sick with a high fever. I wanted to ask him to take me to the hospital, but really, just wanted a little bit of his attention. I could have treated a simple fever myself."


    "But one phone call from Joanna and he was gone. And that didn''t happen just once or twice; it happened countless times."


    "I went from loving him deeply to slowly umting enough disappointment and despair to finally wake up."


    "Our connection was a cosmic mistake, so I''m not going to force it anymore. My grandfather really likes Matthew, doesn''t he? I think I might give things a try with him."


    In this life, she would not get entangled with Sebastian again. She''d let that toxic pair chain themselves together while she lived a life of freedom and joy.


    The man behind Joanna wasn''t simple. He never appeared in her past life. But in this one, so much had changed. She was certain she could find him.


    And when she did, she would let Sebastian have a taste of what it felt like to be betrayed by the one you love most.


    Queena seemed to be doing a mental calction. "There''s a connection between you two, but it''s not a destined one."


    Natalie was speechless. Was she supposed to keep wrestling with this toxic bond?


    “Queena, in that case, maybe I should just forget about getting married. Once I settle mypany''s affairs. I''ll leave this ce and start a new life somewhere else. That way, I can avoid all of this."