Chapter 1665


    However, as she drew closer, she distinctly felt that piercing, icy gaze shift away from her, the


    oppressive force retreating, growing more distant by the second. She bit her tongue, resisting the


    urge to look back.


    It was only after the pressure hadpletely vanished and she had put a significant distance


    between them that she finally allowed herself to nce back, just in time to see Lysander pushing a


    wheelchair into the hospital—a fleeting glimpse before he disappeared inside, out of sight.


    The moment Lysander vanished, Thssa’s tightly wound emotions copsed. She had been


    fiercely holding back, trying not to let the heartache overwhelm her, but now, the intense pain burst


    forth from the depths of her heart like a flood, engulfing her whole being. Tears welled up, and a


    wave of pain washed over her, leaving her legs weak. She stumbled to a nearby bench and sat


    down, gasping for air, struggling to breathe. By the time she caught her breath, tears were


    streaming down her face.


    She felt the crushing pain and despair of being abandoned by the world. Joshua had said that since


    Rosalind had been coddled from a young age, her ability to cope was weaker, so he chose to fulfill


    Rosalind''s wishes. And because Thssa was stronger, able to face whatever setbacks came her


    way, he asked her to step aside, to make way for Rosalind.


    But he never considered that she, too, was human—that she could feel pain, that she could suffer,


    that she might reach her breaking point. Was being strong meant to be so cruelly hurt, so easily


    forsaken? If so, perhaps strength was a mistake. She could forgive anyone who hurt her, but


    Lysander''s detachment, his indifference, made her crumble, shattering all her resilience.


    Thssa watched her tears fall to the cobblestone, blending into the cracks, until the stones before


    her were soaked. A heavy weight seemed to press on her heart, a deep, throbbing pain that madeN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    even breathing feelborious. Her hand clenched on the stone as she mentally urged herself to


    calm down.


    She had realized days ago that in this world, you can only rely on yourself. Only by shining bright


    can you avoid being hurt. Only by awakening can you remain unharmed, fearless. Piece by piece,


    Thssa’s battered heart began to heal, steadying her once more.


    A woman''s strength is found in healing from hurt after hurt, in bing clear-headed, independent,


    and invincible through self-recovery.


    The jewelry designpetition proceeded smoothly. Thssa made it through the preliminary


    rounds with her Dogwood Blossom series, advancing to the semifinals.


    The day she received the notification for the semifinals, Thssa was ecstatic. She immediately


    picked up her phone to share the good news with Lysander. But as she held the phone, her heart


    suddenly sank. All the joy faded in an instant.


    Over the past three years, as she took care of theatose Lysander, she had grown ustomed


    to sharing every bit of happiness with him. It seemed she was still in the habit of sharing her joy with


    Lysander.


    Suddenly, she realized that she and Lysander were now on separate paths; he hadn''t reached out


    to her, and she hadn''t tried to contact him either. The person she once couldn''t wait to share her


    happiness with was no longer in her world. It still hurt, but she wasn’t going to dwell on it.


    Thssa quickly shook off the feeling and called Hertha instead.