Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 397

A gentle breeze swept by, carrying a drift of iridescent bubbles through the air. Then, with a flourish, he reached into his tall top hat and produced a half-face mask for a woman, encrusted with shimmering gemstones.

He tipped his hat, sending a shower of petals swirling around them, bowed slightly, and extended the jeweled mask to Emilia.

She hesitated for a moment—but took it all the same.

As he straightened up—

*Snap!*

Another crisp snap of his fingers. The patch of black on his chest was suddenly replaced by a small sign.

Written on it, in familiar handwriting: “Will you wear this for me?”

Emilia stared at the words. Then at the man before her, whose figure and presence she knew so well. She smiled and nodded.

“All right,” she said, and, with a soft laugh, raised the glittering mask to her face.

He watched her, his gaze warm and quietly affectionate.

Once Emilia had fastened the gemstone mask in place, he set his top hat back on his head, plucked the sign from his chest, and with a quick twist of his hands, set the paper alight. The sudden burst of flame illuminated Emilia’s eyes.

When the flames faded, a single, perfect red rose—an unmistakable symbol of love—appeared in his hand.

He bowed again and offered the rose to Emilia.

His smiling eyes met hers, bubbles drifting all around, the gentle cooing of doves echoing nearby. The air was rich with the scent of burning spices.

The rose in his hand bloomed in brilliant red, almost glowing.

Somewhere, deep in her memory, Emilia felt she had seen a scene just like this before.

“Hm?” he prompted softly.

Emilia smiled, slipping free from her reverie.

She reached out, took the rose, turning it over in her hand, still unable to fathom how he’d conjured it from thin air.

By now he was standing tall, extending his right hand to her.

“My lady, may I have the honor of showing you around the island?” His voice—Theodore’s—was unmistakable.

So she followed the attendants inside.

They dressed her in a gown heavy with embroidery and gemstones, perfectly complementing her half-face mask. In the mirror, the woman staring back at her sparkled with an almost otherworldly beauty.

When she emerged, there was a man waiting outside, his attire perfectly matched to hers.

“Theodore?” she called.

She already knew it was him.

“It’s me,” he said, smiling as he offered his hand once more.

She slipped her hand into his, and together they returned to the bustling streets.

In the short time she’d been changing, night had fully settled over the island.

But the darkness was far from ordinary—strange, colorful lights filled every corner, their glow a blend of lanterns and the burning spices in the air.

If one were to look down from above, they’d see the entire island illuminated in a pattern of lights, spelling a single word: Emily.