Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 43

Simple, everyday things, yet warm enough to melt the coldest day.

That day, before he could even say what he wanted for dinner, the phone rang.

The news on the other end was better than he could've hoped for.

It was the answer he hadn't dared imagine.

He set his phone down, turned, and swept her up into his arms, spinning her right there in front of the bathroom sink.

His sudden move startled her. When he finally set her down, her wide eyes were still brimming with the startled innocence of a doe.

Adorable.

He chuckled softly, leaned in, and kissed her.

The water kept running from the faucet, splashing the sink in a steady stream.

Years later, Tyler looked up, meeting his own reflection in the bathroom mirror.

His face was streaked with water, droplets clinging to the ends of his hair.

His eyes were bloodshot, rimmed with exhaustion—he looked worn out, defeated.

Now, standing by this sink, he was alone.

Frowning, Tyler turned off the tap, grabbed a clean towel from the cabinet, and dried himself off.

He tossed the towel into the laundry basket, walked over to the wardrobe, and pulled out his clothes for the day.

Shirt, trousers, suit jacket. But when he reached for a tie, he hesitated.

There wasn't a spare tie anywhere in this apartment.

Back when Emilia was here, nothing ever got overlooked.

Tyler pressed his lips together.

A memory flashed before his eyes—last night, Emilia at the foot of the stairs, staring up at him, her eyes wide with disbelief and pain.

Ding-dong.

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

Tyler opened the door and found Vivienne standing there.

She greeted him with a frail but sweet smile.

"No," he said.

If Emilia was trying to push him this far, he'd show her—Tyler wasn't someone you could manipulate so easily.

"They're beautiful," he told Vivienne.

Vivienne only had six months left.

Her illness—he bore some responsibility. He owed it to her to take care of her. It was the least he could do.

"I'm glad you like them," Vivienne said, breaking into another gentle smile.

Afterward, the two of them headed out together.

Paparazzi trailed them.

Soon, a headline exploded across social media—

"Tyler and Vivienne leave the apartment together—meticulous Mr. Erickson steps out without a tie. Slip of the mind, or something more?"

The post was accompanied by photos: Vivienne arriving that morning with flowers, the two of them leaving the building side by side.

The internet buzzed with speculation. But this time, there was one difference—Emilia finally responded.